Benefits of Afterschool Programs for the Community and its Youth
December 14, 2017
Many parents these days have, in one way or another, struggled to come up with something meaningful for their kids to do once they get home from school. One of the biggest hurdles of parenting these days are excessive social media use where kids spend hours upon hours staring at digital devices which leaves them vulnerable to exposure to inappropriate content, which can negatively influence behaviours and perspectives in life.
A good afterschool program can help children turn these purposeless hours after school into a productive time where they learn in more practical ways than what they are taught in school. Especially for kids with learning and attention problems, this comes as a huge benefit.
Here are 3 ways having your children participate in afterschool programs can benefit not only them, but also the rest of your family:
Discover a sense of belonging
Part of growing up is having to go through social challenges where some struggle to find a group where they can fit in. Having our youth participate in afterschool programs gives them an opportunity to explore a variety of interactions.
If the afterschool program is situated outside of your local community, your child can get to know other kids than those that they see in school. This could be beneficial for some as they won’t have to deal with the same social issues or cliques that they might be struggling with close to home.
On the other hand, should you choose to send them to a nearby facility such as a community center, the afterschool program presents your child with an opportunity to interact with kids that they know or are familiar with in a different environment which can offer reap different outcomes.
For instance, we at TEL HI provide outstanding afterschool programs. You’ll find that there is more adult supervision in the environment we place our children in, than what you can find in school environments. As a result, kids who are generally challenged in socializing are more likely to be included and feel part of the group.
Develop and enhance confidence, self-esteem, and social skills
Afterschool programs present our youth with many opportunities to socialize. Having smaller groups than what they are accustomed to in school, such programs help kids feel a lot more comfortable in interacting with their peers and teachers.
TEL HI’s afterschool programs promote cooperation, support, and respect. This helps kids feel more comfortable about engaging in conversation or participating in various activities. Kids are prone to slip-ups, which is why our staff and volunteers are always actively engaging with the kids throughout the day to give them gentle reminders to take turns or not interrupt each other.
Support with academics
Attending afterschool programs can improve students’ academic performance. A national evaluation found that over 40 percent of students attending 21st Century Community Learning Center programs improved their reading and math grades, and that those who attended more regularly were more likely to make gains (Youth.gov)
Children who participate in afterschool programs develop the necessary organizational and time management skills needed to succeed in school. Having access to homework support has proven beneficial not only to kids but also to their families. Many parents of young children can attest to the fact that doing homework together with their kids tends to put a lot of stress for both parent and child.
Good afterschool programs provide adequate support by means of providing kids with a dedicated space wherein they can have access to research materials or peer support. At home, most parents often find their hands full, which tends to lead to not being able to provide full supervision towards kids. Educators in afterschool programs dedicate a specified amount of time for kids to complete their homework which also promotes the development of routine.
TEL HI offers afterschool programs to the youth of the San Francisco community. Our top priority is to be able to support and nurture every child who participates in our program. Our programs are designed to allow our children to reach their full potential so they can succeed in school, as well as later on in life.
For more information about Telegraph Hill Community Center’s (TEL HI) afterschool programs, give us a call at (415) 421 – 6443, ext. 30 or drop by our center at 660 Lombard Street, SF, CA.
