How Helpful Are The Elementary After School Programs Santa Barbara Offers Kids

By Larry Wilson


One of the biggest problems working parents of young children have is what to do with them once school is out for the day. Some opt to send them to childcare centers. Others have family members who care for them until the parents get home. Still others have discovered the economic, academic, and social benefits of the elementary after school programs Santa Barbara provides for its youngest citizens.

These are places where kids, who may not fit in within the classroom, get a chance to make a connection with peers. In a private program, kids can meet new people from other schools who don't belong to the classroom cliques. Enrolling your child in a program within the school system can work because all the kids are meeting outside the classroom in a more neutral environment. Classroom cliques may not apply.

Playing on the playground is monitored closer during afternoon hours than earlier in the day. Program instructors are better able to make sure all the kids have chances to participate with the group because they are so closely involved in the playground activities. Being included helps children who don't quite fit in. They gain confidence as they get to know other children who are willing to invite them to play. When a child makes a misstep there is a teacher on site to assist in resolving the conflict.

Kids get help with their homework when they attend a program. Finding the time to tackle homework at home in the evenings can be hard for both parents and children. Parents have all the household responsibilities to get through, including meal preparation and bedtime routines. Kids who struggle academically often suffer as a result.

An afternoon program allows that kid to get academic help from instructors who have the expertise to really facilitate learning. It is important to make sure the program you choose has qualified aides who know how to help all the children, including those with attention and learning challenges. You don't want other kids being the ones helping with homework unless it is under special circumstances and with the direct supervision of an aide.

Children who have attention deficit and learning challenges often feel more comfortable in this kind of environment than a classroom environment. An afternoon program is less formal and not as structured as a classroom. Kids don't have to worry about tests, because testing is not the function of these programs. That lack of pressure sometimes gives them a chance to relax and think through social and academic issues in a way that is impossible for them in a classroom.

Young kids feel safe and secure enrolled in a structured program. Unsupervised afternoons are one of the riskiest times for kids. When they are left on their own, or with inadequate supervision, trouble often finds them, or they become the victim of someone else's troubles.

These programs assure parents that their children are supervised and safe during the afternoon. Parents know exactly where their children are and what they are doing. This makes it a lot easier for them to concentrate on their jobs.




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