Ask A Los Angeles Expert: After-School Activity Ideas
When it comes to after-school activity ideas, there's no one better to talk to than Belma Johnson from LA's Best, a free after-school enrichment program that serves 29,000 students at 195 schools in Los Angeles every day. As the Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs, Belma Johnson is a huge advocate for after-school activities that provide children with a safe and engaging place to explore their personal interests through expanded learning. He volunteered for LA's Best more than 20 years ago and has been praising the program ever since before taking on his newest leadership role within the organization.
With a strong passion for enriching the lives of underprivileged youth through this life-changing program, Johnson shares the importance of after-school activities that are not only fun, but educational and downright inspiring. The biggest factor to consider when choosing an after-school activity best suited for your children is ultimately the lasting impact it will have on them. Make a positive impact on your kids with some of these fun and engaging after-school activity ideas that help the children in your life build self-esteem and develop academically, socially, physically and emotionally.
Keep Children Safe From The Streets - Start A Vegetable Garden
There's no better way to enrich a child's life than to teach him or her a valuable life skill that you know will come in handy later in life. Starting a vegetable garden is an excellent way to keep children safe from the influences of street gangs and violence. It also teaches them to be more conscientious of the food they put into their bodies and encourages them to live a healthy lifestyle. Start off by growing your favorite salad ingredients so your kids can enjoy the fruits of their labor with a nice healthy meal.
Give Your Kids Someone To Look Up To - Enroll In A Sports Programs
If you have kids that can't sit still for the life of them, enrolling them in a community sports program can be a godsend. Being part of a sports team teaches kids valuable physical and social skills through sports engagement while highlighting the importance of teamwork and leading an active lifestyle. It also inadvertently gives them someone to look up to in the form of a good coach or perhaps a team captain. The youth sports program offered by LA's Best includes year-round sports, which includes softball, basketball, soccer, flag football and weekend tournaments.
Help Kids With Their Homework - Play Educational Board Games
For kids who absolute hate doing homework, consider easing your way into homework time with educational board games designed to get them thinking critically and strategically. Games like Cranium Cadoo and Scrabble gives kids a competitive incentive to use their brains creatively, while games like Life and Monopoly provide a fun way to engage in a little math. Aside from the educational benefits of playing board games with the kids, it's also a great way to spend some quality time with your kids really getting to know them and how they operate. Take note of what excites them and what irks them and use that to your advantage when it comes time to get some homework done.
Provide Children Something New To Learn - Sign Up For Instrument Lessons
As part of LA's Best's after-school programs, kids get the opportunity to learn how to play musical instruments, which stimulates different parts of the brain. In fact, learning how to play an instrument has scientifically been proven to expand a child's learning and development by helping them better understand emotions through vocal tonality. It also helps improve their critical thinking and ability to multi-task, which are essential skills for later in life when the child grows up to drive a car or take on a job. It also helps kids develop hand-eye coordination and perform better at math.
Make It Something Fun To Do - Plan An Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt
Combining nature and technology, an outdoor photo scavenger hunt engages kids through the art of self-expression. Choose your activity destination —it can be your backyard, the beach, a local park or even a hiking trail — and create a scavenger hunt list consisting of items in nature most likely to be found in your chosen location. Give each child playing a digital camera or smartphone, a scavenger hunt list and a quick tutorial on how to take good pictures. Give them a time limit and get a glimpse at how they see the world when you review the photos later.
