In today's society, work schedules and school schedules sadly do not match up. Most parents would love to pick their children up right when the educational day ends, but nine to five jobs are what keep these families paying their bills. To help families with this dilemma, after-school programs were born.
Every kid deserves the best, no matter what. How your child is taught away from school has a big impact on their future. There are many after-school programs Omaha offers, but how do you decide which one is the best? Ultimately it is up to you as a parent, but DREAM wants to make this decision easier for you. If you are currently looking for the best after-school program Omaha has to offer, look for these three things when making your choice.
Is it educational?
Your child will likely be spending between one and three hours in the after-school program five days a week, nine months of the year. With this being a significant amount of time, it is important that the program you choose benefits its students. Look for tutoring opportunities and homework help. An educational after-school program will help your child develop healthy homework habits, especially if the program has a dedicated space for homework.
Is it fun?
When the school day ends, your child will have already spent seven or eight hours of the day focused on learning. Though it is important that after-school programs have tutoring and homework help, it is also important that they have some fun built into them. Does the program you are looking at plan activities like games or crafts? Do they take children on occasional field trips? When you tour the program, are the students involved smiling, laughing, and having fun? Research shows now more than ever that children in school need fun, stress-free breaks. Not only do these breaks help relieve stress, but they increase productivity, boost brain function, and help the students develop good social skills needed in life.
Does it provide for your needs?
After-school programs should be more than a place for children to wait for their parents. They should also be more than a place to learn and play. Most of these programs should provide a snack or even a meal for the children who do not have access to adequate food at home. They should have positive role models to provide examples of healthy and smart life choices for their students, who are in such a formative period of life.
By finding an after-school program with these three things, you will find a healthy place where your child can both grow and have fun all while you finish your workday. If you're looking for an after-school program Omaha, consider DREAM. We provide a fun and educational space that meets the needs of our students all while providing positive role models for our students. Contact DREAM today for more information on all of the services we offer. Whether it is summer programs, camps, clinics, sports training, whatever it may be, DREAM is here to help.
