Benefits of Before & After School Programs

According to Youth.gov, “school-age children and youth spend 80 percent of their waking hours outside of school, while 1 in 5 young people in the U.S. are alone after the school day ends”. While many people associate before and after-school care programs with younger children, we’ll show you how they can benefit older kids as well.

When you think of before and after school programs (sometimes called Out-of-School Time or OST) you might think of traditional daycare. However, OST provides many benefits that go above and beyond what kids get out of typical daycare, such as:

Better Academic Performance

A study conducted by researches at the University of California, Irvine, the University of Wisconsin Madison and Policy Studies Associates, Inc. learned that “regular participation in high-quality afterschool programs is linked to significant gains in standardized test scores and work habits as well as reductions in behavior problems among disadvantaged students.”

However, it’s not just disadvantaged students that perform better academically from afterschool programs. A national evaluation found that nearly 40 percent of kids that participated in afterschool programs improved their reading and math skills, and those kids were more likely to make academic gains with regular attendance.

If you want to give your child the best advantage as they progress throughout their academic life, enrolling them in an afterschool program is an excellent way to do that.

Improved Social Skills

Humans are mainly social creatures and function better in groups or teams. If your child has difficulty socializing, it can be difficult for them as they progress through school and eventually get out into the working world. Before and after school programs help children develop better social skills by providing them opportunities to work and play in group activities where everyone must rely on one another to succeed.

Childhood is a crucial time to build social skills because it’s much more difficult for kids without this foundation once they get into high school and the “real world.”

Interacting as a group teaches kids how to take turns, how to get along with others and be successful, and builds friendships, which can boost their self-esteem.

It Keeps Kids Safer

With everything going on in the world today, parents want to know that their kids are safe more than anything else. OST programs provide parents peace of mind knowing their kids aren’t home alone, out in the streets, or getting involved in doing things that could get them in trouble.

OST programs give kids a safe place with adult supervision where they can play and learn without worrying about strangers getting to them. Moreover, parents can rest easy without fearing the “emergency kid problems” that often arise when kids are home alone. This benefits working parents by allowing them to focus on their job instead of wondering whether their kids are safe or not.

Kids Get Their Homework Done

When kids get home from school, the last thing they want to do is homework. Getting them enrolled in an OST program gives them the opportunity to work on their after-school work with adults that can help them if they get stuck. Furthermore, finishing homework early makes it less stressful for parents, who may be stressed out after a hard day of work and not in the right mindset to help kids with their schoolwork. Without the pressure of homework, kids, and their parents can spend more quality time together at the end of the day.

Kids Have New Experiences

If the kids finish their homework or don’t have any, many OST programs give them opportunities to learn new things they wouldn’t otherwise, such as baking, crafts, and other activities based on their interests. Moreover, some programs encourage outdoor activities and play, which is better than letting the kids sit on the couch in front of the TV, video games, or scrolling endlessly on their phones. Physical activity is key to keeping kids physically and mentally sharp and healthy, too.

Enrolling your child in a before or after school program can help them improve academically, give them greater self-confidence, and keeps them in a safe environment with responsible adults, giving the parents peace of mind while they’re working.

About Us

If you’re looking for an excellent way to jump start your child’s education, consider Kids R’ Kids Learning Academy at Avalon Park. Kids R’ Kids Learning Academies are nationally renowned, and we’re proud to be part of this community. Our facility is family owned and operated by residents you know and trust.

We want the best for your children, which is why we provide:

• A state-of-the-art learning environment
• Creative, fun, and technologically driven educational programs
• Highly trained and courteous staff and teachers
• Convenient drop-off and pick-up with flexible hours

We’ve also consulted experts to create a safety and security program, which includes staff trained in infant, child, and adult CPR; dedicated ‘boo-boo’ room to treat minor injuries; full background check on all staff members; secure entrances with restricted access; and an emergency and inclement weather preparedness plan.

If you’d like more information about Kids R’ Us, schedule a tour today or call us at 407-306-9035. We’re conveniently located at 12881 Tanja King Blvd., Orlando, FL.