When children’s days are jam packed at school with learning and sport activities, it may seem unnecessary to enroll them in after school activities. In spite of this, after school programs are sprouting up in large numbers and most of them are fully booked. This shows that there is a real need for after school activities.

The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the surge in after school programs. Many children spend about 20 to 25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. Children who are left alone with too much free time frequently fall into the wrong company. Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco and crime come knocking at their doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children in various after school programs to keep them occupied in a productive manner. This way, the kids are free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.

Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours, between 3 and 4 p.m. During this time, your kids need protection. Getting children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate in a group activity will keep them safe and prevent boredom.

Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country. More and more children are becoming couch potatoes and screen zombies. After school, many of them plunk down on the sofa with chips, soft drinks and candy while they watch TV. Thirty percent of the kids under the age of 19 are considered to be overweight, and about 15 percent of these are obese. Getting your children involved in an after school program will help them shake off their lethargy and keep themselves busy. It also will help to reduce your child’s addiction to TV, the internet and video games.

After school activities that promote social awareness help to develop a sense of responsibility. These types of programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but also help to produce conscientious citizens. They are valuable building blocks in a child’s personality.

A word of caution is in order, however. There is growing concern that after school programs are pressuring kids to do too much too soon. They point out that when a child’s afternoon is filled with classes, trips, sports and other forms of organized activities, kids do not really get the time to be just kids. They are even being deprived of cherished family time.

Undoubtedly, there are children who are being burdened with a schedule that places too much demand on their time. This leads to increased levels of stress on the child and the family.

In an ideal world, all children would go home directly after school to loving and caring parents. But social and economic realities dictate that many children have to attend after school activities because there is no one available at home. For such children, these classes are a boon.