Sunday, January 9, 2011

How Much is to Much?

Ought to your infant go for the footy practice five days a week? Are three days
? It is common for parents to be a small confused when it comes to
deciding how much is much with reference to after school activities.
They argue that since most of the activities are fun (as different from
studies), children will basically lap up these classes. But, much of fun
can also make a infant sick. Here is a simple guide that will help you
pick how much is much for your infant.

Kindergarten:
Your infant is beginning to learn to interact & get used to
discipline. His or her after-school life ought to be simple & carefree.
 or classes per week are at the beginning. One time the infant
settles down, look for more challenging activities like a music program.

Grade one:
 or activities per week, play dates & playground visits are
recommended. Avoid competitive sports activities. The infant is still
young to must worry about winning & losing. After the pains of a
full day at school, they or he needs a healthy outlet for pent up energy.
Physical activities & noncompetitive sports are best for this age.

Grade three:
Socialization begins to take middle stage. Team sports are a sensible choice.
Developing motor skills, painting, drawing etc are nice . Let the infant
explore areas of interests. But leave aside time for the relatives &
for fun activities.

Grade two:
Your infant is elderly to voice opinions on what activities they or he
desires. Sports, skating, swimming or computers - steer him towards things
they likes. Plenty of children start lessons on a musical device around this
age. But, permit your infant some 'alone time' in the coursework of which they can unwind
& do whatever they wishes.

Grade four:
At this age, the infant will tell you what they likes. They needs to get
involved in activities that will boost his confidence. This will also help
him manage stress as this is the time when social pressure is beginning to
build. But, watch out for the home-work devil. Your infant needs more time with
his studies. Balancing his schoolwork with other activities is
important.

Grade five:
The fifth grader is bubbling with energy & will require to do
about everything. But they or he may conveniently push studies to the
background. So, close supervision is necessary. Keep or days free for
relatives time & other activities. Now is a nice time to get your infant
interested in community service.

What you pick for your infant & how long they ought to work at it is
fundamentally decided by the kid's temperament. As a parent, you ought to
closely observe your infant & base your decisions on feedback from the
infant himself.

Middle school:
Steer him away from TV. Get him engaged in activities that reinforce
learning. Academic performance can be improved by encouraging your preteen
to join clubs like the Girl/Boy Scouts program, language clubs, chess
clubs etc. As a thumb rule, 16-20 hours a week of additional activity ought to be
over . But look out for signs of burnout.

Keeping Children Motivated

Preliminary enthusiasm in after school activities tends to wane after the
first excitement is over. This is but natural. The trick is to keep up the
hard work even after this. How do you keep your kid motivated? This is
of particular importance when the kid goes in for educational after
school programs.

Make the career-academics connection early on:
Let your kid understand how important studies are. Let him know that
an excellent career is wholly dependent on wholesome learning. To create
his interest in studies, plan relatives activities that are connected with
his studies. Emphasize the real-world connection to academics whenever
feasible.

Set goals:
Let your kid know, through example, that hard work will be rewarded. If
your kid believes that achievement is a natural by-product of work, they
is more likely to put in hard work. Such children are also less likely to
drop out of programs & college at a later stage.

Reward success:
When a kid achieves something, it is necessary to praise his hard work.
Positive reinforcements enhance confidence & increase self-esteem.
Conversely, watch out for criticism. It can ruin the frail ego of children &
play havoc with their minds.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

How to Find After School Activities

Start off by making enquiries. Nothing can beat the power of knowledge.
Approach the school authorities first. Find out in the event that they are offering any
after school activities. Receive a list of the various classes that are
available in your school. In case the school does not provide any
extracurricular activities for the child, approach your neighbors. Collect
knowledge about any after school programs, the quality of the courses
taught and the timings etc. Also, check out some of the community
resources. These may include places of worship, community centers,
Museums, libraries, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club etc.

After you have colleted all the necessary knowledge, speak about the various
options together with your child. Find out what his interests are. The best way to
find out what is most suitable is to ask your child. When tiny kids
are tiny, you cannot depend on their feedback. In this case,
monitor the development of the child on a regular basis. If the child
shows excessive resistance to an activity, it may be necessary to look for
other options. Always think about your family's schedule when planning the
extracurricular activities. If it is difficult for you to chauffeur your
child, you may require to employ tutors at home or conduct some activity at
home itself.

Developmental After School Programs

As a infant grows in to an adult, different aspects of his physical,
emotional and mental self needs development. To help a infant reach his
full potential, it is necessary to recognize the kid's developmental
needs and abilities. To be effective, after school programs ought to assist
children with tasks they must accomplish in the work of each stage of development.

A kid's growth curve can be divided in to main parts:
one) Young infant (ages 3-5)
two) Middle school (ages 6-8)
three) Older school (ages 9-12)

The important domains of development are: The Physical Domain, the
Social Domain, the Emotional Domain and the Intellectual Domain. Each of
these domains needs to be separately addressed in the work of the various phases
of a kid's growth. After school programs ought to concentrate on
developing each domain as applicable to the age of the infant. Although the
children participating in these programs may have similar developmental
needs and age, do not expect development to be uniform. Children will
create as and when they are prepared.

Physical Domain:
When children are young, they need to ideal skills that they have
learnt to control. A variety of movements such as leaping, catching and
throwing delight them. The middle school infant, on the other hand, wishes
to learn more complex skills and get involved in team sports. This is also
the best time to learn about rules and discipline in sport. The older
school infant is prepared for more adult-like activities that need greater
structure and discipline, like dancing, gymnastics, music classes etc.

Social Domain:
Young children are observing others and will have an interest in games where
they play the roles of relatives members. They create short-term friendships
and need an adult's presence to assure them. The middle school infant is
intrigued by society and will love journeys to factories, public buildings
etc. They need to know the 'how' and 'why' of things. The older school
infant is prepared to learn about different cultures, food and customs. They
need to do some amount of social work .

Intellectual Domain:
Young school children will practice what they are learning. Middle school
children need to learn more skills and will show interest in reading,
drama and issue solving. The older school children are prepared to research
and probe. They enjoy getting a puzzle and pondering over it.

Any after school program needs to address the interests of the infant depending
on the section they belongs to. Knowing the children in your program and
appreciating their needs and interests will help staff to plan and
structure programs that are most useful to that group.

Effective After School Activities

When there's so lots of activities on offer, and each looks as nice as
the next, how do you gauge the worth and effectiveness of these
activities? Positive, you require an activity that junior enjoys. But, they
cannot afford to waste time on pleasure for pleasure's sake, do they? There
needs to be a grain of gold somewhere in there. Given below is a list of
characteristics that any nice after school activity must possess.

A nice after school activity will provide lots of opportunities for the
young to increase their level of understanding of complex ideas. This
is true of recreational activities . Learning to pitch a ball, or dance
to a tune - irrespective of the activity involved, the kid ought to be
encouraged to grapple with and conquer new ideas. This not only keeps
boredom at bay by challenging the kid, but also builds up his
self-confidence. Development of academic, personal and social skills is
 of the prime aims of an after school activity. As the skills create,
the kid's self-esteem also increases.

Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing. What does
the coursework offer? How does it propose to accomplish the results? How lots of
kids make up a batch? Ask questions. After all, when you are dishing out
the dough, you need to understand what you are getting in return.

After school activities are all about boosting a kid's sense of
competence. Nice and effective after school activities promotes the
resilience of youth and encourages them to grow stronger, be it mentally,
emotionally or physically.

Safety is of the first requirements of an after school activity. The
staff ought to be qualified, adequate and alert. Never put your kid in a
program where safety is a matter of accident in lieu of a matter of
priority. The staff ought to be friendly and ought to have a positive
relationship with the kid. Therefore, the program ought to have
professional and trained staff that loves to interact with kids. The
program ought to maintain a cooperative and supportive attitude and a
structured surroundings. Participation and collaboration as against
competition and antagonism must be encouraged.

Method evaluations are an important part of after school programs. If the
kid does not benefit from a class, don't waste time being
over-optimistic. Try something new.

Some programs involve the kids in planning activities and making
decisions. Adults often forget to get the opinion of their kids. By
giving the kids a chance to voice their view, programs become
fun activities that kids are motivated to participate in. Young people
prosper when they are listened to, respected and allowed to contribute
their mite.

You are now prepared to look for the ideal after school activity for your
kid. But don't let us forget that having fun is also an important part
of growing up. The kid deserves a few hours of pure delight. Keep in mind,
all work and no play,

Friday, January 7, 2011

Boring After School Activities

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons?
How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these
children were enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.
What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing & often
incongruous signals they get from their children. day the children are
excited about the new theater class & in a few short weeks they
wail & moan when it is time to go.

The first thing a relatives ought to do when a kid begins resisting a
historicallyin the past loved activity is to listen & inquire in to. Do not jump in to
conclusions. A tiny little bit of clever sleuthing is necessary. Ask your
kid what they or they does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause
of the issue. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.
You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an
activity thinking it is all fun. But when they recognize that they cannot
 hang around & that they need to follow rules etc, they start to
resist. Your kid may feel stifled if the program is structured. If
the discipline is rigorous or the activity painful (like a karate
class) some children balk. Use your own instincts. Does the program feel
like fun? Would you require to attend it yourself? Are they offering
motivation to keep the kid interested?

The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children need
attention. If the number of teachers is  to handle a class, it
is feasible that your kid is not receiving attention. State
recommendations usually specify that there has to be one teacher for 15
children.

If your best efforts do not pay off, & your kid still resists that
fantastic guitar classes, then it is time to let go. Shift your kid to
some other program. If they or they still retains interest in guitars, you
can take it up after a few months. Never force the kid, when
it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must
bring in additional happiness & additional enthusiasm .

Children try to keep away from issues they cannot solve. If there's no
perceivable issues with the class & the teachers, perhaps you need to
have a chat together with your kid. If your judgment says that the place is nice
& the activity engaging , then it is time to work together with your kid.
As a rule, social pressures may be at work here. Does your kid
have friends there? If they is lonely or miserable because of the dearth of
friends, help her discover a mate. If they finds a mate, they will get more
involved in the activities

Benefits of A Nice After School Program

Children grow up in a society that demands expertise in everything. You
 cannot sit back and pick that learning from textbooks is
for the general development of your child. It is the age of specialization
and your child cannot afford to miss out on this window of opportunity.
So, scour your locality for the most advantageous programs and enroll them
for the ones you think are the best.

After school programs are fundamentally designed to create a talent or a
skill that is ignored by regular schools. These programs could be
educational or recreational in nature. Whatever type they are, they
fundamentally objective to keep the child active and interested.

The most important advantage of a nice after school program is that it
widens your kid's area of interests. They or they is introduced to new
things, sometimes fascinating, sometimes challenging. Mastering a brand spanking new art
form or a brand spanking new skill increases the kid's self-esteem. It also allows you
to introduce your child to new career options. A child attending a music
class may pick that they likes it a lot that they wishes to make a career
out of it in the long run.

After school programs keep your teenager busy. They or they thus has some
amount of protection from destructive habits like drugs and alcohol.
Surveys indicate that children who are kept busy through diverse absorbing
activities are less liable to abuse, depression and burnout. Significant
increase in achievement and attendance as well as a reduction in drop out rates
are other advantages of a nice after school programs.

Socialization is another great advantage of after school programs.
Children get to meet others who share their interests and make new
friendships. An acting class or a soccer class can be lots of fun. Lots of of
these programs coach children for performances or matches. Acting on
stage or playing a match can be a great experience for a young child.

Most after school programs have children interacting with or more
adult. This enables them to benefit from positive relationships with
adults. Children often struggle to confide in parents and
teachers, but may open up with other adults.

Lots of children are put in to recreational after school programs so that they
reduce weight and stay healthy. A newly emerging trend shows that about
15% children below the age of 16 are overweight. Parents who cannot put their
children on a strict diet resort to sports and games to burn overweight. With
cases of child diabetes on the increase, this has become a prime focus of
lots of after school programs.

A nice after school program has lots of benefits. It keeps the child
entertained as well as busy, and thus prevents children from becoming
hooked on TVs and PCs. By giving them ways to burn up their excess energy
and explore their creativity, after school programs help to shape the
overall character of the child.

Boring After School Activities

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons?
How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these
children were enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.
What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing and often
incongruous signals they get from their children. day the children are
excited about the new theater class and in a few short weeks they
wail and moan when it is time to go.

The first thing a relatives ought to do when a kid begins resisting a
historicallyin the past loved activity is to listen and inquire in to. Do not jump in to
conclusions. A tiny little bit of smart sleuthing is necessary. Ask your
kid what he or he does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause
of the issue. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.
You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an
activity thinking it is all fun. But when they recognize that they cannot
 hang around and that they require to follow rules etc, they start to
resist. Your kid may feel stifled if the program is structured. If
the discipline is rigorous or the activity painful (like a karate
class) some children balk. Use your own instincts. Does the program feel
like fun? Would you require to attend it yourself? Are they offering
motivation to keep the kid interested?

The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children require
attention. If the number of teachers is  to handle a class, it
is feasible that your kid is not receiving attention. State
recommendations usually specify that there has to be one teacher for 15
children.

If your best efforts do not pay off, and your kid still resists that
fantastic guitar classes, then it is time to let go. Shift your kid to
some other program. If he or he still retains interest in guitars, you
can take it up after a few months. Seldom force the kid, when
it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must
bring in additional happiness and additional enthusiasm .

Children try to keep away from issues they cannot solve. If there's no
perceivable issues with the class and the teachers, perhaps you require to
have a chat together with your kid. If your judgment says that the place is lovely
and the activity engaging , then it is time to work together with your kid.
As a rule, social pressures may be at work here. Does your kid
have friends there? If he is lonely or miserable because of the dearth of
friends, help her discover a mate. If he finds a mate, he will get more
involved in the activities

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Art-Based Activities

A recent document by several independent researchers concludes that
participating in the arts nurtures the development of social, personal &
cognitive skills. Programs based on Arts can improve academic achievement
& decrease the tendency towards delinquency. It helps youth form
positive attitudes about themselves & build self-esteem.

Arts programs involve communication, interpretation & understanding of
complex symbols, much like arithmetic & languages. Thus it fosters
higher-order analytical skills & skills of evaluation & synthesis.
Lots of of the programs make the child regularly use multiple skills thus
making him dynamic & versatile.

Development of imagination, judgment & philosophy are fringe benefits of
an arts-based activity. As against the short 45-minute period of the
art classes at school, the additional time allowed in after school activities
allows the child to get more involved. This ends in more satisfactory
opportunities for development of latent capabilities in the child. In
turn, the child learns to set high standards of achievement. They
understands what sustained focus is & learns that regular practice is
the way to excellence.

In the shy or the withdrawn child, theater, speech or drama lessons may be
an outlet for pent up emotions. As drama entails getting in to the 'skin'
of another person, the child learns to verbalize emotions & express
thoughts. These reasons account for the popularity of arts-based
activities.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

After School Program A Home-Based

So, your son's school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You
are worried of depriving your infant of all that additional knowledge & fun.
What ought to you do?

Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school,
& finish their home-work. They ought to then do their every day reading or
writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the coursework of his
every day work, your infant may create positive academic preferences &
interests. In that case, you can try & discover a program in a college or a
community middle that will help him & encourage him. In the age of the
Web, knowledge is not a rarity. Let him make use of the net to
find more knowledge about thing that they likes. Encouraging the infant to
do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no
formal program does.

After school activities need not be taught in a school-like surroundings by
professional teachers in a structured & timely manner. There is a lot
YOU can do to support your kid's academic, physical & social
development. Do not be concerned about formal programs, as lots of of our
children are already over-scheduled.

When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Lots of
children love to get involved in social issues. They get their first
actual taste of suffering, charity & community help from such experiences.
Volunteering for cleanup sessions, adult schooling programs etc could be
a actual eye-opener for your infant. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.

In the event you are concerned about the dearth of social life, enroll him or her in a
club - a reading club possibly. Visit public libraries or even the theater,
if your infant is interested. It is not necessary for your infant to make
friends with children his own age. A parent-child book club is another
fascinating option. In the event you can round up a considerable number of like-minded children
& their parents, you may well start your own after-school program.

If physical activity or the dearth of it is your major concern, enroll your
infant for some dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get,
try to enroll her in a gym. He may find friends there & may take to the
treadmill.

Your infant does not necessarily must be an element of an organized group to
benefit from after-school activities. There's various avenues open in
front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in every day household
activities like cooking, cleaning etc can also provide them with a
refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve relatives
ties .

Sunday, January 2, 2011

After school Programs & Discipline

How important is discipline when it comes to after school programs? Since
most of the activities are recreational, does a program must adhere to
strict rules? Discipline is as important here as it is in
activities that pertain to the school. The child is sent to a program
because you need him to learn more. Discipline in form or the other is
necessary to facilitate learning.

Every program ought to start by laying down the rules. The supervisor or
teacher ought to describe each rule & can thus prevent future mishaps.
Misbehavior ought to be addressed as & when it occurs. Deal with the
issue in such a manner that it causes the least disruption. It is unwise
to turn a blind eye to misbehavior because it catches on like fire, &
soon you will have a bunch of unruly children on your hands. Besides,
however much they resist it, children like to operate within the safety
net of strict guidelines & rules.

When a child misbehaves, it is mostly due to a craving for attention. A
supervisor ought to observe the children & find out what the child desires.
Talk to the child so that you can understand what he or he desires.
Appropriate disciplinary measures ought to be taken if there's no apparent
reasons for bad behavior.

After School Safety - Tips and Reminders

When parents send their children for after school programs, they take it
for granted that the kid is safe. But since the number of children
participating in these activities has increased, it is necessary to look
in to issues of safety.

The kid has to know how to handle emergencies. It is better to speak about
various scenarios together with your kid. Tell her what he ought to do in case the
class is suddenly cancelled. Show her the first-aid kit at home and make
positive he knows whom to call in an emergency. Post any important contact
information in a place that is basically available to the kid. If the
kid will be alone at home, speak about a few unexpected things together with her.
Tell her to make use of the safety chain ALWAYS.

Children are vulnerable when they are outside the classes. While going or
returning, they ought to know the safest route to take. Lots of children hang around
with their friends after these classes. Find out 'danger zones' from
your neighbors and make the children aware of these.

Relay on your neighbors and friends when needed. Let your kid know who
can be contacted sometimes of emergency. Ask your kid to check in by
phone. Above all, always tell the kid to be in a group. Visiting toilets
all alone or going home by isolated streets must be avoided.

After School Activity for The Hyperactive Child

ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most babies who
suffer from this disorder suffer from attention issues as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such babies are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such babies busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe in the coursework of the school day.

For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the additional energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may require to look at activities like dancing, running, swimming or gymnastics. Martial arts not only teach techniques of self-defense but also teach self-control and patience.

The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is they put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does they find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication an issue?

In case the child is not interested in any of the above, you may require him to join a Boy Scouts club or other community oriented clubs that take up social work. Cleaning a park, putting on a show, helping out in an elderly age home are various activities that may pique your kid's interest.

If your child shows aversion to sport and shows inclination towards the fine arts, you may require to look at some other options. Acting classes are a amazing kind of creative exercise. It also provides the child with ample opportunity to create his social skills. Music, art or dance can help the child to keep himself busy and entertained.

There's definite activities that are detrimental to a child suffering from ADHD. Computer and video games are a positive NO. Since these games require no interaction, babies will feel all the more isolated. These babies also struggle to distinguish between the nice and the bad messages. They may therefore show an inclination to stick to messages that are not needed. Games that require the child to sit and wait for his turn patiently tax his patience and won't be a success.

Whatever kind of activity you select, make definite that you monitor your kid's progress periodically. In case you feel that there is no progress, you may require to alter the activity. Anything that increases your kid's self-esteem is nice. You may enlist the help of the coach or teacher to evaluate your kid's development.

Although you would require these babies to be as close to normal as feasible, understanding their needs and limits will help you select the right after school activity - that is fulfilling, tiring as well as challenging.

After School Program - Recreational vs. Educational

So, your kid is beginning to get restless and make you restless. They has got more time than is lovely for him, and you are now thinking about after school programs - anything that will keep him busy for a few lifesaving hours! Most after school activities can be broadly classified in to - recreational, educational and society-oriented. The last bit usually comes in when your kid is already a bit grown up and can voice his own interests.

Recreational activities include sports and games, fine arts, painting etc. The main thrust here is to have fun. Of work, classes become more competitive as the kid climbs up the ladder. Plenty of sport events, competitions, stage performances etc are held to encourage the kid.

Educational activities objective at furthering the knowledge of your kid. His general awareness, his understanding and his memory are targeted and they is given various techniques that will help him improve or all of these. Programs such as intensive memory training and speed arithmetic are educational after school activities. There's academic programs that will go over your kid's home work and class work and help the kid gain more in-depth knowledge in the various subjects. Thus academic programs have a positive edge over the fun and games, if parents feel that their kid has plenty of catching up to do.

When they compare the merits of the kinds of activities, I think that the recreational programs have more meat. First, babies do not enjoy learning unless they themselves feel curious about something. Most academic programs are standardized courses that are not flexible. They have a general purpose and a well laid out methodology. After a lot of hours at school, the kid may feel bored. Further study may overwhelm him and make him feel frustrated. Burnout is much a possibility here.

Recreational programs provide a welcome break from the monotony of learning and studies. The mental challenge and the physical exercise make the kid feel a renewed zest and a pleasant sense of fulfillment. Group activity teaches him social skills, discipline and patience. It is a proven fact that babies involved in additional curricular activities get better grades than others. Sometimes closing the textbooks and playing a game may be the best way to handle your studies.

Whatever program you pick for your kid, regular evaluation is the key to success. You will must measure the kid's progress. If progress is unsatisfactory, shift your kid out of the program. The kid ought to also have the freedom to reject an activity if and when they feels bored with it. Usually, programs that merge the educational with the recreational are best suited for more youthful babies. This way, babies can have fun while they learn.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

After School Activities for The Fat

Research & studies show that our kids are growing fater by the
day. Lots of families all over America are struggling to keep the weight of
their kids within reasonable limits. As a parent, I do know that it is
 impossible for me to look in to the tear-filled eyes of my son &
refuse food.

Recreational after school activities are a must in case you feel that your
kid is beginning to put on undesirable fat. It is better to start these
activities as early as feasible. The more weight the kid gains, the
harder they has to work to shed it. Footy, swimming, skating & Karate
are some activities they can participate in. Structured & disciplined
exercise is feasible only when is put in to a formal surroundings. That
is why an fat kid basically HAS to be put in to an after school
program of this kind.

So, what is the choice? Studies show that the number reason for
obesity in kids is not junk food & colas. It is actually TV.
Kids tend to plop themselves on the couch & munch away happily when
they are in front of the TV sets. But, one time the set is off, their natural
buoyancy will lead the kids to do stuff & to move their body. THey will then be diverted from eating.

After School Activities and Relationship Building

After school activities are the anger of the day. With about $500 million
invested in these programs and over ten million children attending
them in America alone, the popularity of these activities cannot be
overlooked. Everyone understands the necessity to create new skills, gain more
knowledge and keep the children safe when parents are working.

The most important factor in the success of any program is the
relationship between the children participating in the program and the
adult members who work with these children. Often, children may confide in
an adult member who is not a teacher. This type of emotional interaction
is a must when children are struggling to make sense of the whirlpool of
emotions that assail them.

Direct contact with professionals can be an inspiring experience. Children
are much impressed by the knowledge and experience of these adults.
Young people gain lots of knowledge and experience when they deal with
experienced adults and older youth who serve as teachers or mentors in
these programs. These mentors are different from the teachers in the
school and children are more likely to draw inspiration from them.

After school activities that are managed professionally by individuals who are
successful in their own fields of expertise will produce children who are
more enthusiastic and successful. Significant interaction with adults is a
learning experience in itself.