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The start of a new school year brings schedule changes for many families. Working parents of middle school students, in particular, are wondering if the after-school program that worked when their child was in elementary school is still appropriate for young teenagers. What are appropriate solutions for that critical time period between the end of the school day and family dinner time? What do parents need to know?
Keeping kids safe: Let's begin with the facts: It is between the hours of 3p.m. and 6p.m. on weekdays that the majority of episodes of high-risk behavior occur, including sexual activity, substance abuse, and criminal actions. Lack of adult supervision has been linked to lower GPAs, increased likelihood of accidents and injuries, and lower social competence. Teens who are unsupervised after school are 37% more likely to become teen parents*. Among the many reasons to provide supervision, as well as a structured environment for your young teen, the most pressing reason is simply to keep your teenager safe.
Yet - 34% of middle school students are unsupervised in the after school hours; only 6% are in any kind of program.**
Do teens resist the structured environment, and feel they have outgrown after-school programs? What do teens need in a program? What's at stake for parents, and for kids? What kinds of options can parents come up with that will satisfy everyone?
The challenge for parents: Many parents struggle to find the time to help their children with homework, and sometimes it's hard to make sure all their kids' needs are well met. Schools' primary focus on intellectual development and academic success has gained emphasis under No Child Left Behind, yet young peoples' development in the social, emotional and physical areas are no less important. Now less likely to be addressed in school, these areas can be addressed in quality after-school programs.
Teenagers that are fortunate enough to make the sports team often have their afternoons consumed with practice. What about the non-athletes? Or the kids who don't make the team, the band, the play? As a practical matter, parents of middle schoolers may find their after-school needs changing during the course of the year, the season, or even on a weekly or daily basis. This can become a complicated matter to manage for parents.
In fact, the issue of what happens during the after-school hours is such a problem to parents, researchers have been examining it. Dr. Rosalind Barnett at Brandeis University has named the phenomenon "PASS": Parental After School Stress. It's a well-known reality in the workplace that the phones begin to ring at work once kids are out of school. And Dr Barnett's research has shown that businesses suffer a measurable cost due to parents' stress in providing after-school coverage for their kids***.
Benefits abound: Quality out-of-school programs complement the efforts of schools and families. They offer activities that encourage good decision-making, problem solving, and they build self-esteem. They offer health education and positive role models in a supervised setting, all activities that support healthy outcomes for youth. Additionally, they can provide important experiential learning opportunities and homework assistance, both providing critical support that enhances educational efforts.
Young people say programs that meet their needs offer activities in the arts, allow them to spend time with friends, mentors and learn about careers and sports.*
Where do parents find after-school programs for teens? 67% of principals report their schools offer after school programs, but this figure includes elementary schools. Of the after school programs offered in this country, only 15% are for kids in grades 6 - 8 and 8% for those in grades 9 - 12. Other after school programs are offered by YMCAs, religious groups, Boys and Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement, private schools, parent cooperatives and family in-home programs.
Creative approaches: Parents who have difficulty finding appropriate programs for after school care may need to take things into their own hands and create their own solutions. Beth Fredericks, a parenting educator in the Boston area, refers to parents of teenagers and says "Parents have to get very creative at this stage." Sometimes they will need to create a "patchwork arrangement" that requires both parents to find some flexibility in their work schedules. She references arrangements she made when her kids were in middle school, cooperating with another family so that their collective 4 children always had a parent in charge and available for errands, driving and homework support. In another instance she refers to 3 families in a neighborhood who have, in total 6 kids. All 6 teens get off the bus and go to one house where there is a parent in charge. Each family takes responsibility for one week at a time.
Another area that parents need to focus on, is to teach teens the skills they will need to be home alone, comfortably and safely. What to do in an emergency, how to answer the door, and reviewing all possible "what-if" scenarios prepare teens for what they may face. Don't assume kids know how to do these things; teenagers, particularly middle school aged students, are still kids, and they need your attention, teaching, and tools.
Here's the bottom line:
Young teenagers are in need of after-school care. Without it, they are more likely to engage in risky behavior, waste precious time watching tv or engage in other meaningless activities.
After-school presents opportunities to engage kids in physical activities, to develop in social, and emotional growth, to spend supervised time with friends, and to enhance and support their academic efforts.
Although parents and teens often want to find programs, there aren't many.
This need is gaining visibility and expert attention.
But parents' can't wait; if a program is offered locally, use it! If not, be creative and take things into your own hands to find a way to keep your kids supervised.
Teach your child the specific skills that are required should s/he find herself home alone.
*Making the Case: A Fact Sheet on Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time; National Institute on Out-of-School Time, 2005.
**Findings from the America After 3 PM study conducted by the After School Alliance.
***Brandeis University Communities, Family and Work Program
