After-school care for adolescents; 3: 30 am, do you know where are your teen?

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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

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Value of extra-curricular activities after school

When the child has full-time in school and come home tired and hungry, he then goes back to some extracurricular activities! This may include a lot of things, depending on the interests of the child (and his parents budget!) Popular after-school activities can include: Karate, table tennis, cooking and baking, dancing, singing and piano lessons.

Some may wonder why they are necessary.Eventually the child will just not work full-time in school, stimulates and learning something useful and worthwhile? what's the point again to go out and do something else?

The answer to this is that as the older kids are not necessarily their home for a very long time. When they were younger, they would come home, have something to eat and you may go to sleep. An hour or two to play up to shower, dinner and bed was enough.But for older children, they need more social interaction and stimulation or are they boring. one of the main reasons for older children, getting into all sorts of problems is boredom.Thus, after-school activities can literally be a lifesaver.

The good thing about extracurricular activities is that after a day of learning in the classroom, children need to be able to release steam. Unwinding doing something creative and fun is a great way to do it.

For this reason, we recommend that parents if they can afford to send their children so much extra-curricular activities, as they can. it will expand the horizons of their children, give them some fun and give them an opportunity to relax.

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After school activities-how much is too much?

When I was growing up, I came home from school, then spent the next few hours away from running around, playing and just a kid. After lunch I would settle for homework and then talk on the phone and finally make the night. I made a couple of afternoon events I attended, but I'm still a lot of time to hang out with friends and run nearby.

My oldest daughter had not been allowed to run unattended, as I was, but it participates in many after school play dates in our home or the home of her classmates, she also had a lot of time to play with friends, homework and even participate in multiple after programmes school.

What I see today are children, who are so overscheduled, they eat dinner at 8: 00 pm and sitting down to do your homework after 10: 00 at night.

I'm a very busy schedule here in the city of assignment of the clergy.Part of his responsibility meets families of 12-year-olds as prepare for the coming year.I always sad when parents tell me that only "free time their child has, on Sunday night at 7: 00 veceraKaždyj day after school assortment of music lessons, art lessons, dance lessons, sports, and many other things. Kindly if they can reschedule your child a lesson for one-time clergy meeting often met with great resistance. It makes me wonder how much is too much?

I really agree that busy child is less likely to get into trouble, but I also believe, when the child is not free hour in any given week overscheduled child.

As adults we often make choices about how to spend our time.We visit the other party or premiere plays? We attend dinner or our children sports banquet?We are the night with the girls or take a night class topics of interest for us?We constantly make a choice, where we spend and invest our time training our children how to make a choice is an important lesson we can teach their parents education of our children, we really cannot do all of this is also an important lesson.

I know I like an hour here and there to relax with a good book, or play the game of dominoes on your computer or even dig up my scrapbooking supplies to create multiple pages. children too have down time; just chilling with friends or talking on the phone as parents it is up to us to ask how much is too much? "

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Your home school program – what does look like?

You may be wondering what you should do to home school ing. It is true that your House school is unique. It is like any other home school in the world. You and your children are unique individuals and will learn and apply differently.

Here are a few things that will determine how your home school:

1. who are you and your child as a person? As each of you to learn better?Public school s, as a rule, use a Visual or auditory learning main school ing can enrol your children in learning styles and how they learn best. Then you can implement to help them find the way, they learn best.

2. How was your day? Most people need the basic structure of their day. This can be created around food. Get up, get dressed and eat. Then you can do some thing in the morning, some other procedures in the afternoon and after dinner.Once children can read, they can learn many things on their own. reading, writing, and arithmetic operations are the most important procedures. You can then add other issues you think are important. If your expectations clearly, your children will know what is expected of them every day.

3. What are the boundaries in your home? what people are allowed or not allowed to do?Are your children watch television, before their work in a day?As they are allowed to talk with your parents and siblings? if you lay down some guidelines for the proper conduct, everyone knows where the border lines, and you shouldn't feel guilty, compliance with those.

Most of all your child needs to feel loved and accepted, they will not remember many of their lessons, while they will grow up to work everyday. the fact that they will remember the most is how they felt when they were around you as you are to them.

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The choice of the most effective after school activities for your kids

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In this day and age, there are a significant number of after school programs and activities available to your children. The trouble can be not that there are too few after school programs to choose from, but that there are so many after school programs that it can be difficult to find the most appropriate program for your children.Through this article you are provided with a list of characteristics that a solid after school activity or program should possess.

Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing when it comes to an after school activity or program. As a parent, you will want to have a clear understanding of what benefits can be derived from a particular after school program or activity.

A solid and worthwhile after school program or activity will provide plenty of opportunities for children to increase their level of understanding of complex and interesting concepts. This
is true of recreational activities as well. In the end, the development of academic, personal and social skills should be one of the primary goals of any after school program activity.The truth is that as the skills develop, the child's self-esteem also increases.

After school activities are all about boosting a's competence. Good and effective after school activities and programs work to the abilities of children and help them to enhance their talents. This will have a long term and positive impact on the lives of your children.

Safety is one of the important elements of an after school program or activity. The
adults in charge of such a program or activity must be qualified, adequate and alert.The staff should be friendly and should have a positive relationship with children while all the while remaining totally professional on all levels. Therefore, the program should have
professional and trained staff that loves to interact shop with children within appropriate boundaries.

Routine evaluations are an important part of effectively managed after school programs and activities.There should be a continuous accounting of the effectiveness and worth of the after school activities and programs.By taking this important step, you will be able to ensure that an after school program or activity continues to meets the needs of your children.You can determine whether it is appropriate for your children to continue participating in a particular after school program or activity.

By considering the different characteristics that are associated with meaningful after school programs and activities, you will be in a better position to determine which activities or programs will be most appropriate to the needs of your children.You will be able to select an after school program or activity that will benefit your children on many different levels.

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What is better for after school activities, Recreational or educational?

After the program school: Recreational VS educational

Children need entertaining. Moreover, as they grow older.Communication is also an important part of growing and doing activities outside school extends the range of communication and social skills; it gives them an advantage when going out into big world than those who chat confined during school classes.

What approach you as a parent are going to take, when it comes to giving your child the opportunity depends only on you there are pros and cons for educational and entertaining extracurricular activities.

Some parents believe that sending your child to another school to install directly from school, or during the weekend was too much pressure, and they have an opportunity to relax and go to clubs and youth centers, where they can just chat and play games with friends.

It can be argued that by sending your child to education after school Club such as the French classes gives them more communication and education, which is not as active as the school and is therefore more pleasant. You know who your kids are mixing with and how the fact that these groups often perform teaching your child already.

Said that not all extracurricular clubs in school or parameter topics be education.Hockey, basketball, and soccer are performed on both school s (for school groups) and youth centres, therefore, may be classified as an educational and entertaining, covering, increase their knowledge of the subject that is studied in school, but also very physical and can only be done for fun too.

Drama and singing are often classified as rest, but can bring many benefits for your children in school, too.Children who take part in such activities tend to be more comfortable, bright and improve the functioning of the Social Milieus. when it comes to presentations in school and more importantly in College, who joined the activities for "rest" are more likely to succeed without feeling too much pressure, thereby improving their educational opportunities.

Usually the best thing you can do for your child to take note of their likes and dislikes. just because your child good science does not mean that they love and don't want to spend more time doing this can be with some encouragement from you it is quite possible that they could grow to love the subject, but this is not to be confused with pushy parents. promotion Is far more important than whether the activity that your child does education or rest, both are just as more profitable than doing nothing.

See what your child would like to make, and providing them with a platform to participate in these events, you give them free House for themselves and to develop their own personalities, but also at the same time, earn their respect and love for you, just for taking the time to listen and get what they want.

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After school activity ideas for kids

After the end of school are essential to improve the social and intellectual development of children, especially those in grades K-12. The following four after school activities help children learn and have fun at the same time, a lot of ways.

Gardening

Gardening is a great opportunity for children to use their hands and learn about healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits while having fun at the same time! Start small. Make a kid-sized garden and fill it with colourful flowers and vegetables.Remember that kids love things that are big and bright.Sunflowers, cherry tomatoes and a lavender flowers are examples of good plant in your after-school-garden Gardening also gives children a long-term project to work, patience and commitment you can also take advantage of the opportunity. teach your children about composting.

Photos

Photography can be a great after activity school, especially when traveling, although it may be big in school.It's easy, dynamic and fun way for children to be creative and let their imagination fly.It can also be quite cheap disposable cameras are a great option, inexpensive and convenient kids love not only photos but also see them after they have been identified. Images also teaches children to be careful to take a closer look at things, you will notice things out of the ordinary and creatively. When you get back the image, to encourage children to put them and see which stories they can create.

Fitness Club

After school fitness clubs are a great way to Let children run loose and spend all that energy they had collected all day long.Plan of the fitness of a particular group every day.Teach children about the importance of stretching and eating well, and emphasize the teambuilding activities, such as relay or volleyball.Obstruction of kid friendly courses is also a great idea and always a hit with kids.

Drama and puppet theatre

This can be a bit more difficult to deal with more complex operations like putting on a play, a group of children, particularly with children K-12. Nevertheless, you can make this easier by making the process fun and colorful. using dolls such as letting children design their own stages are great ways to do this. Let come with costumes and stories. it may be ongoing activities. not every day, but what you're working on two or three times a week at the end of the game to offer families and put on a show.

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