Many parents depend on computers and television to baby sit the kids until they can get home from work, which means these latchkey kids are developing a number of problems, such as childhood obesity, juvenile crime and antisocial behavior. Getting your children involved with after-school activities is an excellent way to keep them busy and supervised until you get home. Leagues and private instruction can be pricey, but you can cut costs by working with other parents and starting after school programs of your own. In this article, we’ll show you how to save money while giving your child new experiences.
Since many schools are cutting back on sports programs, try to incorporate physical games into your child’s after-school activities. Sports not only get their hearts pumping, but it teaches kids the importance of cooperation and team spirit. Rope jumping contests, relay races, wrestling matches, Frisbee throws, or games of basketball are all popular options. To encourage kids to participate, pick up some activity books and fun toys, or arts and crafts items from a dollar store and give them away as prizes. Parents can take turns supervising the programs.
Arts and kids crafts can introduce children to a wide range of subjects like art, music, science and nature. You’ll be able to find countless ideas on the Internet. To teach your kids how to tell time, have them make clock-face place mats with moving pipe cleaner parts. All you need is some construction paper, a marker, and some pipe cleaners. Want to share your love of gardening? Have the kids grow a bean sprout in a paper cup. Or, combine cooking and science by making homemade ice cream!
Filling kids with nutritious food is as important to child development as making sure they get enough physical activity. However, getting them to eat what’s good for them can be mission impossible! It helps to have your children participate in building a healthy menu for the family. Homemade granola bars are a healthy treat and making them teaches kids how to follow a recipe and introduces them to measurements. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of quick cooking rolled oats, a can of sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup of wheat germ, 3/4 cup natural bran, 1/2 cup of oat bran and 1/2 cup of melted margarine. If you wish, you can also add a handful of raisins, nuts, shredded coconut, or your favorite dried fruit. For a sweeter treat, add chocolate chips. Press the mixture into a metal baking sheet and bake in a 375 degree over for about 15-20 minutes. When it’s cool, cut it into bars and serve with milk or juice.
After-school activities for kids don’t have to be a budget burden for your family. Your child doesn’t have to join an expensive organization to get the benefits of after-school activities. If you aren’t home to supervise the kids yourself, make a list of suggestions for their caregiver. Speak to other parents and take turns looking after the kids. Each parent can come up with an activity that teaches a skill that they are good at, like painting, gardening, auto mechanics or home repairs. These fun projects will be something that your child looks forward to all day.