After-School Programs
   Choose a Program
   Fact Sheet

Why After-School Programs? 

If you are a parent, you surely are very concerned with your child's education and interests. The child's teacher(s) and the school that s/he attends undoubtedly are the main contributors in providing the proper education and developing his/her interests. However, as a parent, you also play a critical role in these areas.

Since a child spends only a limited amount of time in school, activities outside school are very important in his/her upbringing. Consider these startling statistics (for more, see our fact sheet): the juvenile crime rate triples between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. Therefore, it is essential for you, as a parent, to engage your child in (organized) activities that will prevent him/her from getting into trouble (either as a perpetrator or as a victim). Moreover, after-school programs can develop your child's interests and sharpen his/her mind and skills.

There are several additional benefits gained by sending your child to an after-school program. One is that your child will be with other children of similar age and interests and that will help develop social skills. You may talk to your child more and get to know him/her better as you both go through the program. An often overlooked (or at least unspoken) benefit is social interaction with other parents. In general, parents who send their children to after-school programs tend to care a lot about their children's overall development and have good insight into which parenting methods work and which do not. Sharing ideas and trading tips can greatly enhance your skills as a parent.

So, are you convinced that an after-school program is a good idea. We have listed an article (click here,) on how to choose a program in terms of content and your child's interests. In terms of location, perhaps an obvious source for after-school program is the school that your child goes to. Many schools offer programs that will cater to your child's specific needs. Convenience and familiarity should be an easy "sell" to your child (and you). However, schools cannot offer everything that your child and/or you are looking for. Therefore, often you must seek programs outside school.

There are some well-recognized sources for after-school programs. Large organizations, such as YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and others typically offer youth programs. Another popular activity is to join the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts. If you belong to a church, you may inquire there. The Parks and Recreation Department of your town also may offer after-school programs. of course, if your child is interested in a specific activity, such as karate or soccer, you may inquire at local establishments or leagues. As you can see, the choices are many and overwhelming. The goal of CampDepot.com is to help you to find these options and provide as much information on them as possible. We will be building a large database in the coming months, and you will have many programs to select from. The final decision is up to you and your child.

A parting word of advice to parents...In spite of the many benefits of enrolling your child in an after-school program, you must be alert to signs that it might not be the right one for him/her. If your child does not respond positively to the program, then you may want to seek out another program with different activities. Insisting that a child participate against his/her will can have negative consequences. A child can develop a dislike for activities or subjects s/he is "pushed" into. Initially, you may have to encourage your child to attend an after-school program. Then wait and see how s/he reacts. however, as with many aspects of parenthood, there is no rule of thumb. You just have to try it, see what happens, and use good judgment.