Last updated on November 3rd, 2021 at 10:14 pm
Are you wondering what are the right after-school activities for your child? We are sharing after-school activities for kids of all ages and there’s something for everyone!Â
As a homeschooling family, after-school activities aren’t always after school. Depending on the activity, we sometimes start our day with an activity or make it happen midday, or like many kids, we may have late afternoon activities, better known as after-school activities. For families with kids attending school in person, the few hours between after school and before dinner can feel chaotic and rushed, especially when you add in activities. Regardless of the stress of fitting activities in, most would agree that after-school activities for kids are to enhance their life and learning, therefore are worth the effort of making it work.
After-school activities look so different for each family. Some families depend on activities to get kids moving their bodies and get energy out. For some, after-school activities are strictly for continuing to develop a skill such as a sport, art, or dance, or trying out a new skill. For others, after-school activities are necessary to fill the time after school until parents can pick up their children after their workday.Â
Whatever your reason is for seeking out after-school activities for your kids, here are a few ideas that may help you and your child find something that they are passionate about.Â
SPORTS
After-school sports are a huge industry. From low-pressure teams to intense, year-round, high-caliber teams, sports are a great way to get your child moving their body, working together on a team, and developing resilience and perseverance.Â
Depending on the region you live in the world, some sports are more prominent than others. While this list certainly doesn’t cover all sports, they are here to remind you of the many possibilities of sports, including team and individual sports. Some people decide on a sport based on prior skills a child may have, or less risk of injury, or what may be popular in their particular region. Whatever the method is, make sure that the child is enjoying their time and that there is open communication for the child to share their honest feelings about it.
- TennisÂ
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Cross Country
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Baseball
- Swim
- Hockey
- Water Polo
- Cricket
- Martial Arts
- Netball
- Golf
- Snowboarding
- SkiingÂ
- Table Tennis
- Wrestling
- Cheerleading
- Gymnastics
While most people tend to think first of organized sports, don’t forget the power of a pick-up game in the neighborhood or at a park. Participating in a sport doesn’t have to cost money or come with a uniform. If committing to practices and games don’t fit into your schedule, personality type, or budget, there are plenty of informal games in many sports that you can join by simply showing up.
ART
Art is such a broad topic, and each of these categories could be broken down into smaller categories. It is all around us, so it feels a little silly to make a separate section, but I truly believe we all have an artistic side to us. For an introduction to a variety of art classes, check out your local community center. I don’t know about you, but I have always loved reading the catalog for the upcoming classes at our community center. Even as a kid, it was like shopping for clothes from a catalog (those were the days) where I would circle all the classes that piqued my interest. Obviously now, the catalogs are online, but the main point is that they are generally filled with all sorts of art classes for interest and they generally are affordable. Here are a few art classes to check out!
- Pottery classes Â
- Drawing
- Art History
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Glass blowing
- Digital art
- Film making
- Culinary arts
- Poetry
- Creative writing
- Singing
- Acting
- Dance (which needed its own section below)
DANCE
Dancing is intrinsic and this is best seen in children. They are generally uninhibited and even as babies, are ready to move to any beat. Dancing tells a story and is healthy for the soul and the body. There are so many forms of dance that can be explored. These are just some to help you get ideas. Depending on where you live, certain classes may be easier accessed.Â
One thing that I have enjoyed about Tahitian dance that the kids have taken, is that it is multi-age. As a family of four children, this helped tremendously to avoid running from class to class as all of the kids were able to practice and perform together.Â
For cultural dances, don’t forget to look within the community, especially for cultures that are not as represented. Oftentimes, teachers may be elders in the community or others who are not necessarily advertising classes.
- Hip-hop
- Latin (Salsa, Merengue, Samba, etc)
- Ballet
- Tap
- Polynesian (Tahitian, Hula, etc)
- Jazz
- Swing
- Ballroom
- Belly Dance
- Other cultural dancesÂ
ANIMALS
I don’t know about your kids, but these kids of ours are animal lovers. They beg for all sorts of animals as pets, and while we have stuck to just pet fish, for now, there is no shortage of love and compassion for little creatures. Thankfully, for those who are not able to permanently house animals, there are many ways to enjoy animals without necessarily having to own one. Working with animals is a beautiful way to develop empathy, lower stress levels, and gain incredible knowledge across disciplines.Â
- 4H
- Working with service animals
- Volunteering at an animal shelterÂ
- National FFA Organization
- Programs and classes at your local zoo
- Volunteer at a local farm
Conclusion
So, the big question is with all of these options, how do you choose? One of the most important things is letting your child lead in what interests them. And for anyone with children, you know that interests can change often, so be prepared to be flexible.Â
While it can help to encourage your child to stick out an activity to really give them time to learn and grow, sometimes, when a child says they want to quit an activity and try something else, that is exactly what should be done. There are lots of benefits to trying a variety of activities, including getting to really understand what you are truly passionate about.
In our home, the goal of activities is to enrich our lives, so everything gets filtered through that lens. If it’s no longer life-giving, it’s time for a break!
As all families are unique, enjoy discovering what activities best fit your family and your child’s interests and abilities!
Are you having trouble finding an in-person class that fits your needs? Be sure to check out Outschool, which is an online learning platform that offers classes in every area imaginable. Do you have a skill or materials that other kids would enjoy learning? They also have very flexible teaching opportunities and you don’t have to be a certified teacher to be accepted.
If you have an afterschool activity that your child loves or one that is not mentioned here, please share it in the comments!
If you’re considering homeschooling and but are still on the fence, be sure to read Top 5 Reasons to Homeschool and Our Journey to Homeschooling.
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