After-School Activities

It's that time of the summer where many families are signing up for after-school activities. Here are tips to keep in mind as you sign up for, and set up, your after-school schedule!

It’s that time of the summer where parents are looking at the fall and figuring out kids’ after-school schedules. Some of us have kids who already know what they love to do and are continuing on a path with that activity, or we know our kids are staying at their school after school every day, so coordinating those kids’ activities is pretty straight forward. But others of us are still figuring out what our kids will be interested in doing, whether or not certain activities work for our schedule, and how all of this will fit into our budgets. If you are a parent who is in that second scenario then this newsletter is for you!

Activities after school can be really fun for kids and families. They’re a way for kids to explore different interests and often build friendships and community for kids and families! Figuring out what after-school activities to sign up for, and how to make the logistics of getting to and from practice/classes/games work, can be complicated. After working through those issues with 3 kids for 10 years, this is how I plan my kids’/family’s after-school activities:

First, I’ve found that the most important thing to keep in mind when looking at what activities are offered for your kids is to BE REALISTIC. This means realistic about your budget for the activities, how you will get kids to and from those activities and how long that will take, how the timing of the activities will affect nightly routines like homework/dinner/family time/bathing, and if your kid thinks they’ll like the activity but you know that after two sessions they’ll dread going so it will be a battle every time…

Second, I’ve learned that there are hidden costs to almost all after school activities. The top 5 financial costs to be aware of are:

1. Commitment: Find out the cancellation policy (especially important if it is a recurring billing class), how they do billing (all at once or in installments), are there make-up classes if you miss a class, etc.
2. Snacks: Do you bring a snack just for your kid or are you assigned a snack day where you need to bring them for the entire team/class?
3. Equipment/Uniforms: Do you have to purchase special equipment or uniforms just to participate in the activity?
4. Logistical Cost: Is it a drop-off activity or do you have to stay? When your child is at the activity, are you able to be there or do you have to miss work? If you can’t miss work then what is the cost to hire a sitter to help? Or is there a friend going too so there is a carpool option?
5. End of Season Costs: If your child’s team makes the playoffs are you required to pay more to participate in the playoffs? If your child has a performance do you need to purchase tickets to attend or buy special recital outfits?

Third, keeping in mind that I need to be realistic and aware of hidden costs, here is how I plan my kids’ after-school activities:

1. Assess The Prior School Year: I have a chat with each kid about what they liked doing during the previous school year and what they think about doing it again this school year, and I think about what worked (or didn’t) for our family’s schedule
2. Discuss New Interests: I ask my kids about new activities that they’ve started to like during the summer and I ask about activities that they were curious about during the previous school year but did not do
3. Explain Additional Options: I let my kids know what activities school and the local recreation departments etc. are offering that we haven’t yet discussed
4. Create a List: Once I have their feedback on which activities they want to explore I take a piece of paper and list:
   1. The activities they’re interested in with the days/times they’re offered
   2. The early dismissal days from their schools (if any)
   3. What driving/nanny/babysitting help I have on certain days (if any)
5. Create a Rough Schedule: I take another piece of paper and list:
   1. The days of the week
   2. Each kid’s initial below the day of the week
   3. I then fill in what activities the kids are definitely doing – for example, my oldest son N(10) is continuing with martial arts again this school year and I already know what days and times are set for that
   4. Then I look at our list of the activities the kids say they want to do, what days/times they’re offered, which days I do or do not have extra driving/nanny/babysitter help, and I chart out what would work for our schedules

1. Assess as a Parent: Reminder to PLEASE don’t forget to BE REALISTIC about how all of this will feel once you’re in the thick of the school year and all that that entails for you and your kids, and what the hidden costs are for each activity!

Fourth, this is how I sign-up and then add the confirmed activities into our family schedule:

1. Sign-Up for Activities: Once you know your ideal schedule, look at the sign-up day and time for each activity and enter it into your calendar with an alert so you don’t miss it. In the notes section of the calendar reminder add in the site to sign up or the number to call so you can easily find that info when it’s time to sign up.
2. Enter Activities Into the Family Digital Calendar: After you’ve confirmed that you’re signed up take the time to enter in all the practices and games etc. into your calendar now so you don’t have to think about it again. When entering the info, remember to include the start date, end date, equipment needed, parking info, Coach name (if needed) – basically add all the details into the calendar record so that anyone can do the routine for your kid for that activity and not have to ask whoever set up the activity for the info over and over again. This is extremely helpful for sharing the mental load of the work of parenting!

RESOURCES/IDEAS FOR ACTIVITIES

If you’re reading this and thinking that you don’t know where to start for what to offer your kids as an after-school activity, then don’t worry, I have resources and ideas for you! First, if you’re looking for ideas for your kids, look up what your local (as well as neighboring town’s) Recreation Department and YMCA offers. There are many ideas for all different ages and interests, and something listed there could spark an idea for a new activity to try. Second, reach out to your kids’ school administration and other parents at your kids’ school and see what their kids like to do. Third, think about what your kids naturally gravitate toward when home (do they love kicking a ball or are they always coloring or are they always singing or are they always doing all three😊) and then Google activities that match those interest to see if anything is offered in your town.

Here are ideas of activities to get you started in your search:

Ages 2-5

Sports: Ask your preschool’s PE coach if they offer classes at a park/in a yard and coordinate a group of kids to go, check with your Rec Department/Community Services for sports programs for this age, YMCA usually offers young child swim lessons, AYSO has early soccer start programs

Music & Art: Many music and art studios offer parent and me or beginning group lessons to kids

Library: Most libraries offer parent and me story time with a craft and/or other kid classes for this age

Gymnastics Gyms: These classes usually start at parent and me

Dance: These classes usually start at parent and me

Language: Early parent and me classes to learn a new language/culture

Ages 5-10

Sports: AYSO for soccer, YMCA usually offers swimming or climbing teams/classes, Little League/Basketball/Tennis through your Rec Department

Tech: Coding, Robotics, Math Teams

Strength: Gymnastics, Martial Arts

Dance: Dance studios offer all kinds of dance options for these ages

Arts: Acting, Art (Drawing/Painting/Ceramics), Music (group or look into private lessons for a specific instrument), Cooking

Language: New language/culture classes

Non-Profit: Reach out to different non-profits and see if they need volunteering help

I hope that these ideas for how to plan your after-school activities, and the ideas for what to sign-up for, help you and your kids have a great fall filled with after-school activities that they love doing!

❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend