So, your daughter or son’s school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You are worried of depriving your daughter or son of all that extra knowledge and fun. What should you do?

After school activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by professional teachers in a structured and timely manner. There is a lot YOU can do to support your daughter or son’s academic, social and physical development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our children are already over-scheduled.

Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school, and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course of his daily work, your daughter or son may develop certain academic preferences and interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a community center that will help and encourage them. In the age of the world wide web, information is really not a rarity. Allow them to use the internet to find more information about things that they curious about. Encouraging a child to do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no formal program does.

If you are concerned about the lack of social life, enroll him or her in a club – a reading club maybe. Visit public libraries or even the museum, if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your daughter or son to make friends with children their own age. A parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program.

When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Many children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences. Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs etc could be a real eye-opener for your daughter or son. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.

If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your child for some dancing or sports classes. If organized sports are impossible to get, try to enroll them in a gym.

Your daughter or son does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to benefit from after-school activities. There are various avenues open in front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household activities like cooking, cleaning etc can also provide them with a refreshing extracurricular experience. And, it will strengthen family ties too.

Of course, face painting is a great activity to share with your daughter or son. And it’s not as difficult as you might think. Discover more:
simple face painting ideas
Face painting ideas
face painting designs