Benefits of After-School Activity

Health
Your kids can get outside and be active in a safe environment. Children who stay busy and participate in regular activities are less likely to become obese and develop other health problems.

Make Friends / Have Fun
Activities give youth a comfortable place to meet and have fun with other kids.

Learn New Skills
Children can develop new skills. They begin to gain confidence in their abilities and in themselves.

Learn About Teamwork
Many activities require children to work together toward a common goal. Whether they're trying to win a game or complete a community service project, children learn to work as a team.

Leadership / Responsibility
Within the context of their activities, children gain decision-making skills. They learn to lead, follow and are often given responsibilities.

Civic Mindedness /Values
By working with community service organizations as volunteers or interns, children experience the rewards of helping others. A little time volunteering with a community program can help a child learn to make positive choices.

College Admissions
College admissions boards like to see well-rounded students (high school). Participation in an extra-curricular activity demonstrates this on college applications.

Social Support
Meaningful involvement in school or community activities provides opportunities for youth to develop a supportive environment outside of home. Connecting youth with other trusted adults, gives young people even more positive role models, which will help them make healthier decisions.

The majority of Cambridge youth report having support outside of the home. According to the Cambridge Middle Grades Health Survey (2007), youth who indicated that there is at least one supportive adult that they can talk to about a problem were less likely to report the use of substances in the last 30 days.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN DECIDING ON AN ACTIVITY: 

1) Be clear about your priorities. School and family come first. Activities second.

2) Find out more before your child jumps in. How much practice time is involved? Is your child a good match for this activity?

3) Examine activities on a regular basis. Do they fit with your family schedule? Are they meeting your child's needs?

4) Encourage activities that focus on fun or healthy competition, especially during the elementary and middle school years.

5) Help your child find a balance so that he or she isn't scheduled from morning to night.

6) Ask your school and community center for a list of after-school activities. Discuss options with your child.

7) Consider helping your child start a new club if one of interest doesn't exist. Find out how to get or be an adviser.

8) Model having an extracurricular activity yourself. If they have time, parents should also have hobbies or activities that they do outside of work and/or the home.

CAMBRIDGE AFTER-SCHOOL RESOURCES