After school clubs can be so much fun for kids. But what are the best activities to do after school? And how will you know if your child is choosing the right ones? Here are some tips and considerations from a private school in Guildford to help your child choose the best after school club for them.
Tips for Choosing the Right Club
Why do they want to join that club?
Is it because a friend is going? Is that friend likely to dump the club after only a few weeks, leaving your child?
When is the Club held?
If it is on an evening that your child or family already have commitments, will it quickly become too much?
Is the club held in a morning before school? I can’t tell you how often our girls decided they wanted to join the Judo club that started at 8.00am. We knew there was absolutely no way they would stay committed to a morning club for more than a couple of weeks.
Are the After School Club Activities different to what your child already does?
We are big fans of encouraging our children to try out as many sports and activities as they can at an early age. We knew that a short burst of sessions was as good an opportunity as any to see if an activity was for them.
How much is the After School Club Activity?
Luckily, most of the activities organised by our girls’ schools were very reasonable and a great way of trying out a new skill or sport without breaking the bank.
What equipment is needed?
When our girls came home wanting to learn a musical instrument, they were never particularly bothered which instrument it was. The fact that we already owned a good quality flute made the decision much easier to choose which instrument, rather than having to buy or rent a different instrument.
Who is taking the After School Club?
A little bit contentious this one but so important when deciding which activity to choose. All kids have their favourite and less favourite teachers. If your child’s less favourite teacher was doing one of the after school sessions, it makes it much easier to choose between one activity and another.
What is the time commitment?
Are extra sessions needed in-between? Do you need to sign up for a 12 week or 5 week session? Is this activity likely to take over your weekends and involve lots of travel?
Will lots of concentration be needed?
We always knew that any activity that requires total concentration may not be a good idea after school towards the end of the week, when tiredness truly kicks in.
Helen is a family and lifestyle blogger, writing about her experiences of bringing up 3 girls. For more information about the Costello Family and the services they can offer visit the Work With Us page
What Types of After School Clubs Are There?
Sports Clubs: For children who enjoy physical activity and teamwork, sports clubs like soccer, basketball, or swimming can be great options.
Arts and Crafts Clubs: Creative children might thrive in clubs focused on drawing, painting, or other crafts. Our eldest girls always spent hours working on art at home but Tara wanted a more social side of art and crafts, hugely benefitting from joining an art class with some of her friends.
STEM Clubs: Clubs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can stimulate intellectual curiosity and offer hands-on learning experiences.
Music and Drama Clubs: These clubs help children explore their talents in music, theatre, and performance, boosting their confidence and public speaking skills.
Academic Clubs: For those who want to deepen their knowledge in subjects like math, reading, or a foreign language, academic clubs provide valuable enrichment. We found these really good for our girls in high school when they wanted a deeper understanding of a subject.
Community Service Clubs: Clubs focused on community service teach children the value of giving back and help them develop a sense of responsibility and empathy. These types of clubs also really help towards gaining the Duke of Edinburgh award.
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What are the Benefits of After School Clubs?
We never really needed to keep our girls occupied after school – I was lucky to either be a stay at home mum or work from home so I was always here. There were so many other benefits the girls could get from attending after school clubs though:
Skills: Clubs can help children develop new skills or enhance existing ones, whether it’s through sports, arts, academics, or other activities.
Social Interaction: Participating in clubs allows children to make new friends and learn how to work as part of a team, improving their social skills.
Boosted Confidence: Joining a club such as the debate club can really boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence and help with developing skills like public speaking. These are skills that they can take forward with them for the rest of their lives.
Academic Support: Some clubs provide academic enrichment, helping children improve in subjects they may find challenging.
Physical Activity: Sports clubs and physical activities promote health and fitness, helping children stay active and healthy.
Of course, it is entirely up to you as a family whether to commit to your child joining an after school club. All we can share is our experiences and that our girls have thoroughly enjoyed the clubs they have been involved with.
You really never know where those clubs will lead – Tara started a small after school football club and is now football crazy, doing some sort of football activity 6 days per week. She has also made so many friends and built so much confidence all as a result of joining that short 6 weeks club.
About 2 Adults 3 Children
2 Adults 3 Children is a family with 3 daughters, aged 13+. They live near Liverpool and share the best events happening in the North West plus their travels further afield.
