23 Afterschool Activities To Keep Your Kids Busy … Until Dinner

by | Jul 26, 2019 | Uncategorized

Afterschool activities do not have to be dull. Have you ever heard those familiar words, “I’m bored,” coming from the mouth of your child?

If so, afterschool activities may be your answer.

When your child comes home from school, you can find an easy way to keep your kids occupied. You can keep the lessons going without your kids even knowing it. Or you can give physical activity such as a scavenger hunt to slip in some exercise.

Fun Afterschool Activities

Is your child bored after school and wants to join afterschool activities? Do you want your kids to join activities? It is a proven fact that kids who participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports and hobbies, do better academically than those who don’t.

Afterschool activities can provide your kids with good reasons to stay active, make friends and even develop life-long interests. These ideas for after-school activities not only keep your kids occupied; they also give them the opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends.

Trust me … if you provide the kids with a few of these afterschool activities … boredom will be a thing of the past.

afterschool activities

1.   Play Sports

After school sports are a great way for children to stay fit, improve their social life and have a good time in a safe environment. After-school sports can be a wonderful way to give kids a little exercise and a chance to do something they enjoy after a long day of schooling.

2.   Create With Arts And Crafts

Play dough is also a fun time for the little ones. The older children can paint, draw, or even try some origami. There is no limit to the things they can create, and your child will love being able to be creative.

3.   Play With Educational Games

If you are looking for educational afterschool kid activities, you should allow your child to play some games on the computer. Whether you have some already on your computer, or you allow them to go online, there are many educational and fun games they can play. Make sure that if they are playing on the internet that you find the website for them and that the site they are going to is secure.

4.   Perform Stem Activities

A great way to help them learn more about science and then do better in school is to find science content for their grade level. This will help boost their confidence in school because they will be learning while enjoying themselves.

5.   Act With The Drama Club

If your teen or tweenie is thinking about acting, this is a fun and safe way to get started. In most drama clubs, a teacher or coach is present, whose job is to tell the students what to do and make sure that the whole act is going smoothly. As long as an adult is present, you can know that your child is safe and supervised.

6.   Take Art Classes

Extracurricular activities do not have to be sports. Art classes are another great way for your kids to discover their creativity and learn the fundamentals of shape, color, and line. Art classes may help kids in other areas, too, such as reading and handwriting.

Your local art museum, college, university, or art supply store might be able to point you in the right direction for art classes.

7.   Music Lessons

Like art, music has also been shown to enhance learning in other areas, particularly math. Music lessons can also offer a creative outlet. You probably have a music store in your community, and sometimes lessons are offered right there in the store. As with art, you can check with your local college or university for advice on instructors, too. Just make sure you do so at least a month before the winter break.

8.   Learn Coding

Coding is also very exciting to pursue. If your kids are technologically minded, here’s another take on the video game idea: have your kids design and develop games themselves! This adds a new layer of learning to the video game process, as designing games is said to enhance critical thinking, math, and engineering skills.

9.   Go Scouting

Kids can join girl or boy scouts after school and get badges by doing activities such as cooking, making crafts, programming, and more. Kids can join girl or boy scouts after school and get badges by doing activities such as cooking, making crafts, programming, and more.

10.   Practice Karate

It doesn’t matter how old your kids are if they are over school age, they can still learn karate after school. Karate can be a very exciting and empowering form of exercise. The physical benefits of karate come with the practice of martial arts techniques.

11.   Learn Calligraphy

Children can start learning calligraphy in art class as a way to help improve their handwriting skills. Do your kids want to do calligraphy step by step? Learning to write in the script can be tricky if it’s taught the wrong way. There are over 20 different calligraphy worksheets in this post!

12.   Learn To Dance

Just imagine how exciting it would be to take your little ones on a fun dance party. Whether they are just curious about new moves or have already mastered the hip-hop and ballet steps, after-school specials provide an opportunity for them to practice and learn with their peers instead of just being watched.

13.   Craft And Make Something New

Consider offering your children arts and crafts as part of their regular routine. Some parents believe that arts and crafts promote better concentration, as well as better hand-eye coordination. Others think it will encourage creativity and problem-solving.

14.   Paint And Be Creative

It’s certainly a happy moment when a kid discovers their new hobby and decides they want to paint like their friends. And while painting may not be the first thing that comes to mind for many kids (maybe their first time playing is), painting is actually an excellent way to increase their confidence, creativity and imagination.

15.  Get Good With Photography

A camera is just one of many tools kids can use to help express their creativity. Photography is actually one of the easier skills to teach, especially with newer, smaller cameras that can fit inside pocket tops easily. Kids can learn photojournalism, too–when their interest is piqued

16.   Visit Educational Websites

Research has shown that when children go online to learn about a subject, their grades improve. It’s not just because they are more engaged, but because they have an incentive — in this case, a free educational resource. So, take advantage of opportunities to bring your kids online and help them learn about subjects they are interested in without breaking the bank.

17.   Play Educational Video Games

Video games can be a great way for children to learn new skills and engage with topics that might be difficult for them to understand. While video games can be fun, most of us also want them to be safe and healthy. That’s why you should make sure your children have access to games that are right for their age and topic area.

18.   Reading An Interesting Book

Reading is important for kids. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, reading is a positive thing for kids. Kids can develop their reading skills and build their vocabulary with books. Fiction is also more engaging to children than non-fiction when they feel bored or discouraged.

19.   Volunteer And Help Others

After-school programs are always looking for volunteers. Helping out with projects like arts and crafts or athletics can have a wide variety of benefits for students. Some ideas are fun and relaxing; others could lead to a new appreciation for reading or an appreciation for math.

20.  Cook A Special Meal

Teaching your kids how to cook is also very educational. Cooking allows them to learn life skills as well as subjects they learn in school. They won’t even recognize that they are learning things like math and science while learning to cook and bake tasty treats.

21.   Household Science Experiments

Children love experiments. There are many science experiments that require basic household items and a little bit of free time. A quick web search can turn any kitchen into a chemistry lab.

22.   Teach Map Reading Skills

Thanks to technology, before we know it, we aren’t going to remember how to read a map. While some think this is great, it really does a disservice to our young people. What happens when that technology fails while they’re in the middle of driving in an unfamiliar area?

23.   Answer Trivia Questions

When preparing for a test or an out-of-state vacation, look up some trivia questions regarding the state you and your family will be visiting. This is a fun way to teach your kids various things about different states. You can also use this time to teach your kids the various states and their corresponding capitals.

Tips For Afterschool Activities

Bonding with kids during afterschool activities is a wonderful way for parents to connect and spend quality time together. Here are three tips to help strengthen that bond:

  1. Engage in shared hobbies.  Find activities that both you and your child enjoy, whether it’s cooking, painting, or playing a musical instrument. By participating in these hobbies together, you not only create lasting memories but also encourage open communication and a sense of camaraderie.
  2. Explore the outdoors.   Take advantage of the beautiful outdoors and go on nature walks, bike rides, or picnics. Outdoor activities provide opportunities for adventure, exploration, and bonding in a relaxed and natural environment.
  3. Volunteer together.   Engaging in community service projects as a family teaches kids the value of helping others while strengthening family bonds. Find volunteer opportunities at local charities, or community centers, and work together to make a positive impact on the world.

By incorporating these tips into your afterschool routine, you can create meaningful connections with your children that will last a lifetime.

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