Are after-school activities important? After a whole year of these opportunities, we’ve realized how crucial time off is for our kids and families.

This is a time of excitement for the field of education after school. There is a change from last year’s experience: fortunately the after-school programs are back, and we’ve made it easier for families to be involved in a variety of events and clubs that go beyond the normal school hours. Chess, robotics and yoga with the family or trail running and many more are all added to our Afterschool Hub, which helps to improve learning, enhance the development of social, emotional and cognitive abilities, encourage healthy lifestyles, develop the development of new talents, and create an environment that is safe and secure for youth and children.

After a whole year of avoiding these activities, we’ve realized how crucial time for time off and after-school activities is important for families and their children. We’re not the only one to think so. According to various researchers and authors, effective afterschool programs don’t just provide educational environments but also provide more advantages for families, children and the communities.

Learn about the six main advantages of taking part in 課外活動:

1-Strengthen lifelong learning for any age:

A well-planned after-school program can provide a valuable learning experience. This is an excellent advantage, especially for children who think and learn differently. According to Gardner the human being is not naturally gifted with all of the abilities they’ll ever need. Thus, practice and experience are essential. For this reason, an afterschool program with a wide offer of activities that can foster multiple intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical…) and offer your child a variety of ways to learn is a good way to set your child up for success. What kinds of intelligence do you want to help your child develop?

2-Improve brain function and improve school performance:

Involvement in afterschool activities is directly related to improved cognitive function and improved school performance. A study recently conducted by researchers at University of Illinois University of Illinois and published in the journal Pediatrics found that students in elementary schools who exercised for a minimum of one hour each day in an after-school program showed more cognitive capacity as well as higher levels of focus than children who didn’t engage in vigorous physical activities.

3. Improve emotional and social abilities:

There is increasing evidence that the emotional and social skills that children and adolescents acquire during after-school programs can be instrumental to their academic success and throughout their lives. These are known as “life skills” these essential skills range the ability to communicate and solving problems through critical thinking, self-awareness , or assertiveness. Children learn to collaborate and to be self-reliant.

Additionally, after-school programs provide the perfect environment for this type of social learning , with smaller groups, a sense that you are connected and opportunities to build solid bonds with peers of the same or various age ranges…

4. Promote healthy habits:

Active children make active adults. Being physically active throughout your life is an essential element of good health and wellbeing. There is evidence that suggests that high levels of activity in the early years of childhood could “track” into the peak of activity in early adulthood. Particularly, research has observed that after-school activities of high quality contribute to children’s physical activities.

-Boost new talents

Outside of the bells, children are more likely to experiment with new things as they discover new passions, and take risks. This could increase self-esteem as well as self-awareness. Psychologists are often in favor of the importance of knowing as much as you can about yourself in order to discover your true passions in your life.

6-Provide a secure and supportive environment

The positive relationships that kids have with their peers in the afterschool club or in the hub create a sense of belonging and acceptance. The school provides a safe environment that is positive, supportive and uplifting in which children can spend their final hours of their day engaged and productive. Additionally, keeping children busy will keep them from engaging in high-risk behaviour. This is good news for parents who work, and can breathe a sigh relief and end your day with high-quality childcare in your child’s school.