SPOTLIGHTSKeeping Kids Active After School
Written by Gina Roberts-Grey,
LCSW
“Can I have a friend over?” is a request put to countless parents every day as their child’s feet hit the front door after school. “I’m bored" and “there’s nothing to do” often lead idle minds and bodies to find potentially mischievous ways to pass the time.
Between homework, household responsibilities, and child care arrangements for working parents, the added task of after-school social director is not always a welcome role. There can be a few hurdles for parents to overcome when their child is active after school.
Chances are you’ll serve as his chauffer, and from time to time, you’ll also be cast in the unpopular role of the ‘bad guy’ who has to veto the child’s participation in an after-school event. The costs associated with after-school activities can sometimes equal the cost of formal child care, and additionally, there may be a specific age or uniform requirement in order to participate.
Volleying between the cost of after-school programs, the time commitment necessary on the part of parents, and trying to keep active kids from becoming couch potatoes, the debate to keep your child active after school can leave you beleaguered. As you wrestle with the chore of beating after-school boredom, take heart in a few of the facts relating to after-school activities.
There are many social, health, and emotional benefits to after-school activities. Academic or social clubs, play dates, and extra-curricular sports groups foster social participation and boost self esteem. Children thrive from the secure sense of being part of a team or group. They boost each other’s self confidence by cheering for each other during intramural soccer or in praising each other’s choir solo or work in an after-school art workshop.
A study conducted by the YMCA found that the cost of children not participating in after-school activities outweighs the financial commitment required to keep kids active. The study concluded that kids who do not participate in after-school activities are three times more likely to skip school. These children demonstrate lower self esteem and participation when they are in the classroom and are less likely to attend college.
Perhaps the most noteworthy benefit to children staying active after school is the 79% reduction in the chances of drug, tobacco and alcohol experimentation in children active in after-school activities between the ages of nine and fifteen. Eight-five percent of Caucasian and 67% of Hispanic and African American children who were active in after-school activities were less likely to get pregnant or become a parent before graduating high school.
Formalized groups also reduce the idle time available and temptation for children to participate in crimes or harmful acts. Your child need not participate in a team sport to be in a physically strengthening sport. For example, Bert Brown of Bert Brown's Tae Kwon Do says of Tae Kwon Do, "It goes far beyond teaching kicking and punching; students are taught life lessons, life skills and personal development. Yoga is another alternative. "It's an ancient science combining concentration, exercise, and controlled breathing," according to Elizabeth Patrenos. She adds that it builds strength, confidence, cordination, and endurance in a non-competitive environment.
These after-school programs help both working- and stay-at-home parents. Formal activities can be an alternative to after-school child care as well as serving to provide a break for an exhausted stay-at-home parent. They can help an introverted child explore the world beyond his backyard and help a child coping with separation anxiety ease into social settings. These activities often introduce children to new people, interests and hobbies.
With all of the options and obstacles, it’s no wonder parents have questions about their child’s options for after school fun. If he’s still bored after you’ve explored all the clubs and sports that his school offers, here are a few other alternatives to exhaust his abundant supply of after school energy:
• Encourage your child to help organize a sports or running club. The physical activity will help fight obesity, promote healthy muscle and bone development, build physical endurance, and promote team commitment.
• Find a music program. From the church or school choir to formal instruction, there is an array of choices. Opportunity for private study in piano, strings, voice, and all brass, wind, and percussion instruments can be had in a university setting in Mercer's various music programs for young people. Instruction can be had in the School of the Arts at First Baptist Perry in Houston County. Even the youngest ones can have classes at Kindermusic with Miss Donna.
• Organize a theatrical workshop series. Put your child’s dramatic flair to good use and expose him to the art of acting. Having the chance to write the lines, help build sets and make costumes gives a group of aspiring stars and starlets an empowering outlet to channel after school boredom. Older children can take the production one step further by designing programs and setting up a juice and popcorn concession area for the proud parents to take in their latest production. Check with Macon Little Theater, Theater Macon, Back Lot Players in Forsyth, and the Warner Robins Little Theater for information on their children's theater programs.
• Use your neighborhood resources. Check with your local park districts, hospitals and libraries for the schedule of classes and seminars they offer children. Check our After-School Activities Guide on page XXXXX of this issue for multiple opportunities. Many local libraries offer youths the chance to volunteer in the reader services departments. Whether it’s household first aid, how to write a fictional short story, or how to draw a cartoon superhero, chances are you’ll find a variety of interesting options your child can explore.
• Start study groups. Rare is the child who wouldn't benefit from extra time spent memorizing his times tables or table of elements. Practicing vocabulary words with a group of study buddies creates not only a great chance to be social but for children to mentor each other as well.
• Be crafty. Get them started with a hot craft like beading. Bead-Me-Up in Macon is a good place to start. You might start a neighborhood craft co-op in which children can make jewelry, dog or cat treats, wind sock/spinner,or other fun items that may be used to mark a holiday or birthday. Tap into your child’s creative resources to stimulate his artistic flair. You may even spark his entrepreneurial ambition as he starts a home made dog biscuit business for the neighborhood pets. (See recipes below.)
Your child’s personality and program availability may lead you to explore a variety of after school alternatives. In the end, you’ll be glad to know you contributed to him learning a new skill, participating in a new sport or staying out of trouble after school.
Windsock
(Adult supervision required.)
Cut into the bottle at an angle and continue cutting until the bottle resembles a cork screw. Tie ribbons or crepe paper to one end and string or twine to the other. Hang from a tree or porch to twirl in the breeze.
Dog biscuits
(Adult supervision required)
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups oats (uncooked oatmeal)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups corn meal
4 T garlic powder
1/2 cup oat bran
1/3 cup olive oil
3 T honey
1 egg
1 1/4 cups chicken, beef, or vegetable stock or broth
Preheat oven to 300° F. Grease (or line with parchment paper 2 large cookie sheets. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add egg, oil, and stock. Mix well to form a soft dough that is firm enough to roll out. On a floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/2 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for two hours, then turn the oven off and let the biscuits sit for several hours until oven is completely cool in order to dry and harden them. Store at room temperature for several months. Makes approximately 3 dozen dog biscuits.
