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After being on lockdown for a little over 140 days, many schools are reopening for the new school year. Some school districts have opted for a completely virtual online school model. Other schools are following a staggered hybrid schedule option. As students get ready to filter back into the classroom and with many programs, facilities, and playgrounds closed, families are beginning to seek out safe activities to combat after-school boredom.
Some students will be able to take advantage of their schools' before and after-school care, but many families are scrambling to find an after-school program option. "They are offering aftercare, but for a limited amount of students," mom of three Tiffany Brown told Mom.com of her children's school. "They will also have a waitlist."
If you're trying to find a safe after-school activity or program to keep kids engaged and busy, these ideas may help.
Note: Before you sign your child up for any after-school activity taking place in person, check to make sure that the facility is following current safety guidelines.
Keep your kids safe and engaged with these after-school activities
Consider choosing an outdoor after-school program like a 4-H Club. 4-H members are often out tending to community gardens and sprucing up parks, activities that allow for proper social distancing. Being outdoors allows children to get much-needed exercise and interact with friends at the same time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that outdoor activities are a safer option when gathering in groups. To further make the case for outdoor activities, naturalist and author Richard Luov in his book Last Child in the Woods wrote, "Environment-based education produces student gains in social studies, science, language arts, and math; improves standardized test scores and grade point averages and develops skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making."
Virtual exploration is great for kids who aren't able to get outside but still want to engage with the world around them. Exploring virtual museums and learning about art is a great way to pass the time after school. Google Arts and Culture compiled a comprehensive list of virtual tours.
NASA has a variety of activities for both teachers and students, and the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has dowloadable activities as well as Facebook videos where kids can get lessons from astronauts.
Many parents are forming micro-schools for students who are taking part in hybrid learning or attending in-person classes. These micro-schools, or pandemic pods, allow small groups of kids — often within the same families and neighborhood — to socialize while getting schoolwork completed. These offer the added benefit of having after-school activities — with a small, "safe" circle of classmates — built into them.
Enrich your child's learning with after-school tutoring options
Parents whose kids need additional after-school enrichment may want to consider after-school tutoring. Tutoring facilities exist nationwide and many can provide virtual as well in-person instruction. After-school care facilities, with guidance from the CDC, are asked to follow best-practices guidelines as they prepare and plan for reopening.
Mathnasium is a math-centered after-school program that offers personalized learning plans to students. In addition to math assistance, students receive homework help. The after-school program is designed to help fill in gaps in learning and build strong foundational math skills.
Sylvan Learning is an after-school tutoring program that offers instruction across a variety of subjects. Sylvan offers personalized instruction in writing, mathematics, and reading. Instructors also provide homework support and test preparation assistance.
Club Z offers both in-person and virtual tutoring options for students who need additional help across all subjects, including foreign language and music.
Safe after-school activities for older kids home alone during COVID-19
Gone are the days of coming home from school and hanging outside with friends until our parents got home. Even back then we were wary of leaving kids to their own devices. Now more than ever, parents with older kids at home alone after the schoolday ends are looking for ways to keep kids engaged and socially distant. If your child is old enough and able to stay home alone, consider supplying them with an after-school tool kit full of sites, activities, and resources to keep them occupied until you get home.
Dr. Robert D. Keder, a developmental pediatrician at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, recently wrote about the importance of staying connected virtually during these difficult times. "Use technology to deepen your child's connection to important adults in their life. Your child may not be able to visit their grandparents right now, but thanks to video chats, they can still connect face-to-face," he said. "With some adjustments, most offline activities can be done via video chat."
Social distancing games and activities for kids
JusTalk Kids is a video chat app with drawing capabilities that allow your child to play socially distant games and have chats with friends and family members on their contact list. Parents control who has access to the account, so there's no risk of your child receiving unapproved friend requests. This is a great way to stay in touch while maintaining social distancing.
Provide your kids with a list of art and music resources they can seek out as a fun after-school activity at home. Online music and art lessons are ideal socially distant activities for kids who have extra time to fill after-school.
