Create A Do-It-Yourself After School Program
In today’s economy, no school has been left untouched by budget cuts. Extra-curricular activities have fallen to the wayside as schools struggle to meet the demands of academic child development, yet this has left millions of students with nothing to do at the end of every school day. The disturbing byproduct of these cutbacks is an alarming increase in crime and drug use by young people. Many communities are combating this trend by developing low cost, after school program options for families who can’t afford organized sports or classes. The proof that these programs work is demonstrated in reduced crime rates, a lower dropout rate, and a reduced need for special education programs due to poor academic performance. With a little initiative by parents, this is doable in any community. In this article, you will find some advice on how you can team up with other parents to create these valuable programs in your own neighborhood.
The most important part of all community programs for kids is fun. Ideally, after school programs should allow kids to have new experiences that aren’t a part of their normal creative activities and seat work day in school. This can include sports, music, dance, drama, or learning a new language. If you want to start an effective after-school community program, then look at where there is a need or want. Do the kids want to learn how to play basketball? Is skateboarding popular in community? Motivation is the key to success. Children who like the activity and choose it will work harder and do well. To make the program successful, you need coordinators who are skilled in the activity and are strong leaders.
Running your program out of a school has a number of benefits, including easy access for students, lots of space, and access to materials and school printables, as well as equipment. You’ll have to meet with the principal to discuss your idea and encourage his or her participation in the planning. Choose a time that does not conflict with other sponsored programs. You also must be very clear about liability and safety responsibilities. Establish a “contract” that details the ground rules for your program and make sure that all parties agree on all fronts.
Once you have the logistics out of the way, it’s time to let the community know about each and every after school program that you are making available to them. Your afterschool alliance resources can include local schools, community centers, churches and local businesses. Start by posting flyers around the community. Make sure that they are bright and attention grabbing, and include all of the information that parents will need to get their kids registered, and be very clear about any fees involved. You may even want to hold an event like a car wash or bake sale to raise awareness and some money to fund your programs.
Community based programs really are an important part of growing up. It’s during this time that kids learn about things outside of the classroom that interest them. Without you even knowing it, your after school program could nurture a future professional athlete, musician or writer. Starting an after-school service such as this for the community is a big commitment, so make sure that you have the time to dedicate to the project. Once you have the ball rolling, you’ll have parents and kids depending on you to provide services during after school hours.
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