Students who choose to participate in after-school activities like sports can benefit physically from the activity. After being cooped up in a classroom, kids need to get outside and stretch their legs. Whether they're playing on the school's soccer team, taking a dance class or playing pickup basketball with friends, students can improve their health after school. Participating in physical after-school activities allows students to burn calories, get their heart rates up and improve hand-eye coordination, all while having fun with friends.
Many kids stay in after-school care or come home to empty houses if both parents work. After-school activities can help keep kids safe between the time school ends and their parents get home from work. Without adult supervision, kids are more likely to get into trouble, from basic mischief to more dangerous activities like drinking or doing drugs. Students who participate in after-school activities avoid this unsupervised time, instead participating in school- or community-sponsored events with adult supervision.
Students focus on basic reading, writing and arithmetic in school, but they can discover other skills during after-school activities. A student who loves to draw might not get enough time for art in a once-weekly art class at school. But, she can take an art class at the local community center to learn different techniques and develop her skills after school. Skill development is important for maturing students, as the skills they develop today dictate their academic and career decisions later in life.
Students can enhance their social skills through after-school activities as well. During the school day, interaction with classmates is likely limited to recess, lunchtime and classroom group work. During after-school activities, students can meet new friends at different age levels, allowing them to improve their socialization skills. These skills will benefit them as they mature, go to new schools and eventually enter the real world.