After school and summer programs help provide safety and supervision to youth while still letting them expand their cognitive, physical, and social skills with fellow classmates and other children in the community. After school and summer, programs offer a wide variety of activities to the attendees. Some after school activities include, but are not limited to, movie nights, craft day, nutrition day, and exercise. Some summer activities include, swimming class, mini-lifeguard courses, camp outs and gardening classes.
When a child is in an afterschool program mentors who are there to deter the child from negative activity surround them. “Juvenile crime and victimization peaks in the hours after school, yet 1 in 5 kids are left on their own during these hours.”1 Adolescents who are left alone in those couple of hours after school and before mom and dad return home are more prone to wander out and experiment with negative things such as drugs, alcohol, and destructive behavior. “For every dollar invested in afterschool programs, $2.50 is saved in crime-related costs.”1 I think it is important to be able to give the parents who work the late shift or can’t always be there, a chance for affordable after school care. Many kids who roam around in the park or in the streets are not purposely left unattended but it seems like the only option for a parent.. If we could give these kids the chance to build relationships in after school programs, it would impact them in the most positive way. I mean really it’s just a little more time to expand their knowledge and ensure that they are in a safe environment.
Sure, during the school year is incredibly important. However, what happens when school lets out? Should we just let kids run around freely for two and a half/three months? I do not think so. We give them programming for the summer as well. I think it is important to ensure that the kids are learning things year round. Yes, summer is their ‘time off’ but that does not mean the brain shuts down. We can come up with activities that are still extremely fun but also a learning experience. Especially those that cannot afford childcare through the summer. “Summer learning programs have the potential to help children and youth improve their academic and other outcomes. This is especially true for children from low-income families who might not have access to educational resources throughout the summer months and for low-achieving students who need additional time to master academic content.”1 I believe that every kid regardless of class, race or gender should get a fighting chance to learn and be involved.
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| SISD students enjoying Splashville. Photo Credit: Cherisa Verastigue |
These programs help to provide a fun, healthy, and fit environment for today’s youth. After school and summer programs are an excellent way for parents to feel sure that their child is safe after school and during the summer. These programs provide children with extra help with their studies, learning new skills, getting out of their comfort zone and encourages them to stay healthy.
References
1 “After School Programs." Youth.gov, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
2 McCombs, J. S. (2011). Making summer count: how summer programs can boost childrens learning. Retrieved November 22, 2017.