| Children grow up in a society that demands expertise | | | | After school programs keep your teenager busy. He |
| in everything. You really cannot sit back and decide | | | | or she thus has some amount of protection from |
| that learning from textbooks is enough for the overall | | | | destructive habits like drugs and alcohol. Surveys |
| development of your child. It's the age of specialization | | | | indicate that children who are kept busy through |
| and your child cannot afford to miss out on this | | | | diverse absorbing activities are less prone to abuse, |
| window of opportunity. So, scour your locality for the | | | | depression and burnout. Significant increase in |
| most advantageous programs and enroll them for the | | | | achievement and attendance and a reduction in drop |
| ones you think are the best. | | | | out rates are other advantages of a good after school |
| After school programs are basically designed to | | | | programs. |
| develop a talent or a skill that is ignored by regular | | | | Most after school programs have children interacting |
| schools. These programs could be educational or | | | | with one or more adult. This allows them to benefit |
| recreational in nature. Whatever type they are, they | | | | from positive relationships with adults. Children often |
| basically aim to keep the child active and interested. | | | | find it difficult to confide in parents and teachers, but |
| The most important advantage of a good after school | | | | may open up with other adults. |
| program is that it widens your child's area of interests. | | | | Many children are put into recreational after school |
| He or she is introduced to new things, sometimes | | | | programs so that they reduce weight and remain |
| interesting, sometimes challenging. Mastering a new art | | | | healthy. A newly emerging trend shows that about |
| form or a new skill increases the child's self-esteem. It | | | | 15% children below the age of 16 are obese. Parents |
| also allows you to introduce your child to new career | | | | who cannot put their children on a strict diet resort to |
| options. A child attending a music class may decide | | | | sports and games to burn fat. With cases of child |
| that she likes it so much that she wants to make a | | | | diabetes on the increase, this has become a prime |
| career out of it in the long run. | | | | focus of many after school programs. |
| Socialization is another great advantage of after | | | | A good after school program has many benefits. It |
| school programs. Children get to meet others who | | | | keeps the child entertained as well as busy, and thus |
| share their interests and make new friendships. An | | | | prevents children from becoming addicted to TVs and |
| acting class or a soccer class can be lots of fun. Many | | | | PCs. By giving them ways to burn up their excess |
| of these programs coach children for performances or | | | | energy and explore their creativity, after school |
| matches. Performing on stage or playing a match can | | | | programs help to shape the overall personality of the |
| be a great experience for a young child. | | | | child. |