Enjoying After-School Enrichment

by Kathy Folkerth

Examining the choices for your child’s after-school enrichment activities can be a little like looking over the menu at an unfamiliar restaurant. There’s so much to choose from, how do you know what to pick?

For starters, ask your child.

"Listen to your kids," says Rhonda Richardson, associate professor of human development and family studies at Kent State University. "Parents shouldn’t set the agenda."

Richardson adds that parents with elementary school age kids should let them try a variety of things until they find something they like. "That’s the age to be dabbling in different experiences, not specializing in one area," she says. "Middle school or high school is when you can specialize."

Barbara Ballance, artistic director of The Illusion Factory, a professional touring theater for young audiences that offers classes in Akron, says she occasionally sees "stage parents." "That’s hard on a child," she says. "We want the children to come and have fun and be exposed to theater and enjoy it."

But Richardson says the activity should be more than just a way for your child to pass time. "It should provide high-quality opportunities for developing skills," she explains. "It’s not babysitting."

Whether you’re looking at sports, the arts or academic enrichment, there are many things to consider about a program before enrolling your child, according to Richardson. One of the most important things to do is ask questions about how legitimate the organization and its staffers are. "Ask people in charge to give references," she suggests. "Ask about the credentials of people working in the program, if they have professional training or expertise. And talk to other families enrolled."

Your child’s safety while engaged in an activity should also be important, Richardson says. Find out what the ratio of instructor to children is. As an example, she notes that one adult can be responsible for up to 15 10-year-olds in most activities. "There needs to be very clear structure and supervision of kids," she says.

Ballance stresses that parents should feel secure that their child will be taken care of in case of injury. "If it’s a class that has physical activity, find out how safe it is and what measures they take if someone gets hurt," says Ballance.

Physical safety isn’t the only concern. Your child’s psychological well being should be a priority as well, says Richardson. "People working in the program should be supportive, caring and well trained and treat kids well," she says. "They should use encouragement, and a positive approach to working with kids."

Your child’s personality also comes into play when choosing activities. For instance, the child who needs "down time" after school would probably do better with an early evening activity rather than something immediately after the school bell has rung. You should also consider the length of time an activity is – in hours and in weeks or months.

With all the choices out there, it’s easy to fill your child’s plate with too much. Richardson says most children can handle two different activities a week, such as soccer and piano lessons. But she adds that you know your child is overscheduled when you, the parent, start feeling overwhelmed from the shuttling to and from activities that inevitably results. A decline in your child’s school performance is also a sign that he’s doing too much. And not having dinner together as a family most nights also signals that too much is going on.

Your child may also start to dislike an activity. That could mean she’s overwhelmed, which means you should reevaluate what she’s doing. But if you don’t think that’s the case, you may have to use this as an opportunity to teach your child about staying with something. "Sometimes you must honor the commitments you make," Richardson notes. "You can say, ‘Your team is depending on you. We’ll see it through to the end of the season.’"

Enriching after-school activities don’t come cheap. But if money is a concern, there are still options for your child. Robertson suggests Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts as a positive yet inexpensive activity for children. Many local communities also offer classes and activities for kids at their libraries and recreation centers.

"Look for opportunities for your kids to feel like they can make connections with other kids," says Richardson.

Kathy Folkerth is an Akron-based freelance writer. She and her husband Bruce are the parents of two children.