Improving communities through sport

Community Center: Benefits of an Afterschool Program

Kids Playing on Gymnastic Balls

Some Benefits of a Community Center Afterschool Program

An afterschool program at your community center is beneficial to kids, families and the community at large. A community center after-school program can turn the aimless hours after school into productive learning and socializing time that promotes fitness and friendship. In today’s blog, the experts at Sports Facilities Management look at some of the positive benefits of an afterschool program.

Increased Social Network

When an afterschool program is run by a community center instead of the school the kids attend, students can get to know different kids than the ones they attend school with each day. This means they don’t have to deal with the same cliques and social issues. Furthermore, if they’re attending with kids from their local school, they can connect with those kids in a different environment. There is also typically more adult supervision than on a school playground. As a result, kids with learning or attention issues are more likely to feel more included and part of the group.

Improved Academics

Structured help with homework can be a great benefit of an afterschool program. Homework often causes friction between kids and their parents, especially with learning and attention difficulties. Getting the homework done during the afterschool program can make everyone’s evening more relaxing and allow for more engaging family time.

Help Kids See That Learning is Fun

Some after-school programs offer classes in areas like science and computers. Learning is often more fun in these sessions, because there are no tests and kids can work together in groups. For kids who aren’t as strong in these subjects, after-school learning provides a stress-free environment for them to strengthen their skills. Some programs even offer arts options like music and drama.

A Safe Environment

Research shows that between the hours of 3 and 6 PM kids are most likely to be victims of crimes. Also, this time of day is when at-risk kids are most likely to commit crimes or engage in dangerous activities like drug or alcohol use. Keeping kids busy in a safe environment can prevent victimization or risky behavior. Studies also show that afterschool programs result in better grades and decreased behavioral issues.

Sports Facilities Management Can Help

If you are interested in industry-leading management of your community center, contact Sports Facilities Management. The SFM team can help take your community center from the planning phase to successful day-to-day operations. Contact us today to find out more.

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