Keeping children motivated is one of the primary tasks of a visionary parent, that has a long term meaningful vision for healthy children to grow up into healthy responsible social values respecting mature young adults, with understanding of the basic absolutes of a meaningful moral human life.
Initial enthusiasm in after-school activities tends to wane after the first excitement is over. This is but natural. The trick is to keep up the hard work even after this. How do you keep your child motivated? This is of particular importance when the child goes in for educational after school programs.
Make the career-academics connection early on:
Let your child understand how important studies are. Let him know that an excellent career is wholly dependent on wholesome learning. To develop his interest in studies, plan family activities that are connected with his studies. Emphasize the real-world connection to academics whenever possible.
Set goals:
Let your child know, through example, that hard work will be rewarded. If your child believes that achievement is a natural by-product of effort, he or she is more likely to put in hard work. Such children are also less likely to drop out of programs and college at a later stage.
Reward success:
When a child achieves something, it is necessary to praise his hard work. Positive reinforcements enhance confidence and increase self-esteem. Conversely, beware of criticism. It can ruin the frail ego of children and play havoc with their minds.
Need for after-school activities
When children are literally up to their gills with the learning and sports activities in school, it may seem superfluous to enroll them for after school activities. In spite of this, after-school programs are sprouting up in large numbers, and most of these are booked full. This shows that there is a real need for after-school activities.
The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the surge in after-school programs. It is seen that many children spend about 20-25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying goes, “An idle mind is a devil’s workshop.” Children who are left alone to contend with too much free time invariably fall into the wrong company.
Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco, and crime come knocking at their doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children to various after school programs to keep them occupied productively. This way, the kids are free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.
Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours, between 3- 4 p.m. During such a time, children need protection. Getting the children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate in a group activity is protection enough. It diverts the children from ennui too.
Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country. It is noticed that more and more children are becoming couch potatoes. After school, many of them relax on the sofa with packets of chips, cold drinks or chocolates while they watch T.V. 30 % of the kids below the age of 19 are considered overweight, and about 15% of these are obese. An after-school the program ensures that the child shakes off his lethargy and keeps himself busy. This also helps to reduce the child’s fascination
After school activities that promote social awareness develop the individual’s sense of social responsibility. It is seen that these sorts of programs not only keep kids out of trouble but also help to produce responsible citizens. To that extent, they are valuable building blocks in a child’s personality.
Times are changing, and parents want their children to excel in academics as well as in other activities. This may be a reflection of the parent’s unfulfilled desire to shine – a remnant from his own childhood. Whatever the reason, parents today encourage their children to enroll themselves in various programs and develop the multiple facets of their individuality. Children too seem to be comfortable learning many things at the same time and gain satisfaction from this.
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