5 Benefits of After-School Programs

One of the most popular types of non-profit organizations is after-school programs, but what exactly makes these programs so sought after?

The thing is, after-school programs can play a crucial role to a student's education and can provide numerous benefits beyond the classroom. In this article, we'll explore the importance of after-school programs and what they have to offer to students.

1. Improved Academic Performance

The first obvious benefit is what after-school programs can do for students’ grades. Programs like Breakthrough Miami offer free tutoring that can have an enormous impact on participants. A study conducted by the Afterschool Alliance found that students who participated in after-school programs improved their math and reading grades by 10-15%, and that’s not even considering all the many programs around the country.

Plus, after-school programs provide students with individualized attention and support that they may not receive in a traditional classroom setting, which can help struggling students catch up and excel in their studies.

2. Enhanced social and emotional development

After-school programs offer so much more than just academic support - they can be a lifeline for students in need of social and emotional development. Especially in today’s digital age, the joy and fulfillment your child could experience from participating in group activities like sports or drama, where they can learn to communicate, work in teams, and develop their leadership skills. With tons of great summer programs like Camp Kesem here in South Florida, after-school programs offer parents plenty of options to facilitate healthy social growth for their child.

3. Improved health and wellness

After-school programs not only benefit academics and social skills, but they can also promote the health and wellness of students. Non-profits like the Lil’ Abner Foundation in Sweetwater, FL usually offer martial arts, sports, or dance in addition to tutoring to provide an active, entertaining way to keep students engaged.

To top it off, after-school programs also offer opportunities for students to enjoy healthy, regular meals, building healthy habits and also fighting food insecurity.

4. Increased opportunities for skill-building

After-school programs provide students with opportunities to develop a range of skills that they may not have the chance to learn in a traditional classroom setting. For example, programs that focus on STEM subjects help students develop better problem-solving and introduce them into high-value skills like coding and engineering. In the same way, there are plenty of programs that allow kids to pursue creative skills like art, music, and writing, providing them outlets of creative expression that traditional classes nowadays aren’t providing.

5. Improved behavior and reduced risky behavior

One of the greatest benefits after-school programs have to offer is the safe and structured environment they can provide for disadvantaged youth, which is what programs like After School All-Stars set out to do. A study by the RAND Corporation found that students who participated in after-school programs were less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, violence, and delinquency. Additionally, after-school programs can help promote positive character development through the mentorship opportunities they offer to students lacking positive role models. By keeping students engaged in positive, productive activities during the after-school hours, these programs help students develop a sense of purpose and direction. This is no doubt a definite need in many communities around the country who have experienced tragic levels of violence among their youth.

Conclusion

For all the benefits we discussed, it's clear that after-school programs can have a profound impact on students' lives. As parents, educators, and community members, why not support and advocate for these programs and ensure that all students have access to these vital resources? By investing in after-school programs, we are investing in the future of our children and our communities, so let's work together to provide these opportunities to as many students as possible.