How to find the best
after school program by Maxine Wagner
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f your child needs a good after school activities program in order to receive tutoring services to strengthen their skills in a particular class, you may find that there are many after school programs to choose from. Each after school program caters to the needs of students. Some cater to the sports aspects, some focuses on math and science, some focus on reading and spelling, while others focus on alternative learning skills. Whether you home school or you send your child to school, he or she can benefit from a good balanced after school activities program.
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irst, you need to make a list of all the after the school activities available in your area that is easy to drive to and you can afford. While creating this list allow yourself enough choices in order to find the right one. You may need to take into consideration the miles away from your home, the hours of the after school program, and are there any type of extra curricular activities offered too.
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ext, you need to call around to after care programs that are on your list. When you contact them, ask to speak directly to the owner or the supervisor that is in charge of new admissions. Others may try to persuade you to talk to them but you need to speak directly to the person who started this after school program in order to understand their goals and what they have done to reach them. Your child’s education will depend on this answer so take your time in discussing this matter. Write down a list of questions that you may want to ask someone about their after school program. For example, if your child has a learning disability, autism, or ADD, you want to know whether their after school program can cater to their special needs. Some may while others may not.
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students who attend. Others may start n after care program should be flexible on their closing times because cultural programs that will give them time to express some of their cultural traits innot every parent is able to pick up their child by a certain time. You want to make cluding learning dances and dressing up. sure that you have the opportunity to come later if needed lways make sure Each after school program caters and make sure that that the after to the needs of students. Some someone will stay with cater to the sports aspects, some care program is your child until you accredited in order focuses on math and science, arrive. You don’t want some focus on reading and spell- to benefit from their your child to stand ing, while others focus on alterna- services. If they are outside waiting for you. not accredited and tive learning skills. your child is trying to obtain a credit, the board of education oes the after care program have any may not allow it if the after school group activities to strengthen character, socialization, and mental aware- program is not accredited. When in doubt, ask other parents of school aged children ness? Some programs can cater more toward sports starting up basketball teams, what they prefer to do for an after care program. football teams, and other sports with the
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, Woman’s Essence Magazine 9