As the parent, it is your job to provide your children with the best possible start in this life and many parents take this responsibility very seriously indeed. The issue however is that many parents are caught up in the academic side of life too much and so they push their children too hard and the kids miss out on so much when it comes to other activities like games and sports. Yes, your kid needs to study hard but you must also set aside time for play as well.
Setting up some kind of afterschool activity that includes sport is the right decision to make and it benefits both you and your child. By searching for a fun after school fitness program for your son or daughter, you are allowing them to be more social and to hopefully have the opportunity to meet new friends. There have been many studies about the many benefits that after school activities provide and so the following should help you to make a better parenting decision.
1. A safe environment – As the parent, you will be aware of exactly where your kid is after school finishes and you will know the various sporting activities that they are taking part in. Your children are taken care of by individuals who possess essential knowledge and have gone through the necessary training. For kids who don’t like to go to school, you as a parent could use the after school program as an incentive for them to go.
2. Healthier & active kids – Many children when they return home directly from school are immediately on their devices and playing games for many hours which is very unproductive. An after school fitness program gets them moving and provides essential sports drinks and this in-turn increases their fitness levels which leads to a stronger immune system. If the past 2 to 3 years has taught us anything, it is that our kids need to get off the sofa and out into the fresh air.
3. Better friendships & more confidence – Due to the fact that kids are playing computer games by themselves, they are not making any attempt to make new friends and to be more sociable. After school sporting activities are perfect for bringing kids together and they should lead to more friends and better communication and confidence.
4. The importance of teamwork – Every child needs to understand that they don’t need to go it alone in this life and that working as part of a team is sometimes the best solution. Future employers need people that can work well in a team environment.
You also need to remember that you as a parent need a little break now and again and if someone else is looking after the kids for an hour or two then that can only have a positive effect on your mental health. This is something that is primarily for the kids but it is for you as well. Look into after school, sporting activities and do what’s best for your children and for yourself.