After school program benefits: Benefits for Youth, Families, and Communities

Benefits for Youth, Families, and Communities

School-age children and youth spend 80 percent of their waking hours outside of school, while 1 in 5 young people in the U.S. are alone after the school day ends.¹ High-quality afterschool programs promote positive youth development and offer a safe space where youth can explore their potential.

Effective afterschool programs provide learning settings that bring a wide range of benefits to youth, families, and communities. Afterschool programs can support social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development, reduce risky behaviors, promote physical health, and provide a safe and supportive environment for children and youth.

Afterschool programs also provide a significant return-on-investment, with every $1 invested saving at least $3 through increasing youth’s earning potential, improving their performance at school, and reducing crime and juvenile delinquency.² Other benefits include:

• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Attending high-quality afterschool programs and regular participation can lead to improved social and emotional competencies, including prosocial behavior, intrinsic motivation, better concentration efforts, and higher sense of self-worth. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. SEL is an integral part of education and human development that advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities. ³ Poverty reduction, economic mobility, and reduced reliance on public assistance have also been found to be benefits of social and emotional learning.^4, 5 These “soft skills” are essential for work force development and lead to more youth being hired and successful in their jobs.⁶ Development of personal and social skills in afterschool settings that implement SAFE (sequences, active, focused, and explicit) features also lead to higher academic achievement, positive feelings and attitude toward school, etc.⁷
• Academic Support. Attending afterschool programs can improve students’ academic performance. A national evaluation found that more than 40 percent of students attending 21st Century Community Learning Center programs improved their reading and math grades, and that those who attended more regularly were more likely to make gains.⁸
• School Participation. Attending afterschool programs leads to improvement in class participation, better adjustment as young people move to the next phase of schooling, increased school day attendance and participation, and reduced school dropout rates. ⁹
• Safety. Participating in afterschool programs leads to increased adult supervision which makes youth feel safer and reduces instances of being left unsupervised with peers out of school. It also means that younger children are supervised by older siblings less often.¹⁰ Adult supervision that is based on developmental relationships¹¹ promotes positive youth development as it not only promotes personal safety and decreases risky behaviors such as smoking or drug abuse, but also creates an environment where young people learn better and are able to thrive.
• Supporting Working Families. Working families and businesses also benefit from afterschool programs that ensure that youth have a safe place to go while parents or guardians are at work. Parents and guardians who do not have access to childcare miss an average of eight days of work per year, and this decreased worker productivity costs businesses up to $300 billion annually. ^12, 13
• Nutrition and Physical Activity. Afterschool programs can also improve young people’s dietary snack consumption, particularly at sites with on-site foodservice using Out of School Time Nutrition and Physical Activity (OSNAP) intervention¹⁴. Even though the OSNAP Initiative did not allot significantly more time for physical activity, it successfully made existing time more vigorously active for children receiving the intervention.¹⁵
• Work-Based Learning. Afterschool programs can also provide opportunities to develop early exposure to the labor market. Work-based learning programs with a focus on apprenticeships, internships, and mentorship with older youth between 16-19 leads to higher quality employment at age 29.¹⁶

It is important to note that access to high-quality programs is not always equitable. There can be significant disparities based on income and education,¹⁷ transportation, cultural and developmental appropriateness of programming, and neighborhood safety, among other factors. While nationwide 9 in 10 adults reported that afterschool programs are important to their community, more than 19 million children are unable to enroll in an afterschool program.¹⁸

Resources

Benefits of SEL
This webpage from CASEL shares findings from more than two decades of research from multiple fields and sources — including student achievement, neuroscience, health, employment, psychology, classroom management, learning theory, economics, and the prevention of youth problem behaviors — demonstrating that education promoting social and emotional learning (SEL) gets results.

Resources: SEL Background and Research
This library from CASEL offers resources with a strong basis for better understanding SEL. The repository of readings, websites, videos, and more are categorized below to help users gain the knowledge necessary to understanding fundamental areas of SEL.

Opportunity, Responsibility, and Security: A Consensus Plan for Reducing Poverty and Restoring the American Dream (PDF, 88 pages)
This report by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and the Brookings Institution makes twelve recommendations on how to strengthen families in ways that will prepare children for success in education and work, to improve the quantity and quality of work in ways that will better prepare young people — men as well as women — to assume the responsibilities of adult life and parenthood, and to improve education in ways that will better help poor children avail themselves of opportunities for self-advancement.

Supporting Social and Emotional Development Through Quality Afterschool Programs (PDF, 12 pages)
This brief from the American Institutes for Research focuses on how afterschool programs contribute to the development of social and emotional competencies in youth.

References

¹ Afterschool Alliance, 2020
² Afterschool Alliance, 2020
³ American Institutes for Research, 2015
⁴ American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research & the Brookings Institution, 2015
⁵ Jones, Greenberg, & Crowley, 2015
⁶ Lippman, Ryberg, Carney, & Moore, 2015
⁷ Durlak & Weissberg, 2007
⁸ Naftzger et al., 2007
⁹ Afterschool Alliance, 2015
¹⁰ Gottfredson et al., 2010
¹¹ Roehlkepartain et al., 2017
¹² Barnett & Gareis, 2004
¹³ Gareis & Barnett, 2006
¹⁴ Lee et al. , 2018
¹⁵ Cradock et al., 2015
¹⁶ Lippman et al., 2015
¹⁷ Bouffard et. al, 2006
¹⁸ Afterschool Alliance, 2020

Benefits of Afterschool Programs | Child After School Programs

A good afterschool program can turn the aimless hours after school into productive learning time. That’s a big benefit, especially for kids who learn and think differently. Here are six things a high-quality afterschool program can do for kids.

1. Create a sense of belonging.

If the afterschool program isn’t run by your school district or a local facility, it may be a way for your child to make some new friends. Being away from school can offer a break from any usual cliques or social concerns. 

If the program is local or at school, it may be a nice way for your child to connect with peers in a new setting. Kids in afterschool programs are more likely to be included and feel like they’re part of a group. These programs often have more adult supervision than playground time offers.

2. Improve social skills.

A good program promotes cooperation, support, and respect. This can help kids feel more secure about joining a game or starting a conversation. And if they slip up, a sympathetic staffer should be on hand to remind them to take turns or stop interrupting.

3. Provide academic support.

Many afterschool programs provide homework help. This time can be very helpful for kids who struggle with homework at home or who can’t sit down to do it until late. Getting it done after school can make everyone’s evening more pleasant.

Make sure that the aides or other kids aren’t doing the homework for your child. Some centers don’t have teachers or aides who are equipped to handle kids who struggle with homework.

4. Make learning more fun.

Some afterschool programs offer classes in areas like science or computers. In these sessions, there aren’t tests and students may work together in groups. It’s a fun and meaningful way for kids to work with other kids in areas they enjoy. Programs may also offer arts options like drama and music, which can help kids find new interests.

5. Provide safety and supervision.

The hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are when older kids are most likely to commit crimes or become crime victims. It’s also prime time for some kids to drink or use drugs. Research shows that these risks are even more likely for kids who learn and think differently. But keeping kids busy can keep them from engaging in risky behavior. And afterschool programs can be a safer option.

Studies show that kids in afterschool programs may get better grades. They also may see fewer behavioral problems.

6. Build confidence.

For kids who lack confidence or have learning challenges, an afterschool program may feel more forgiving than school. The stakes may not feel as high. Kids may be more willing to try new things and take more positive risks. This, in turn, can lead to higher self-esteem.

Finding the right afterschool program for your child is key. Explore this checklist of what to ask about a potential program.

Key takeaways

• An afterschool program can expose kids to new interests.

• Kids who struggle with school may feel like they fit in better at an afterschool program.

• Staff at an afterschool program can give feedback to help kids improve their social skills.

Free year after school: pros and cons

The so-called gap year is a common practice abroad. In our country, it is only gaining popularity. But is it worth losing a precious year, or is it better to start studying at a university right after school?

In Russia, graduates most often take a year off if they fail the Unified State Exam or do not score the required number of points to enter the desired university. Of course, in the second case, some prefer to do anywhere, just to be able to get a higher education. However, some of the guys still decide to attend courses and tutors in order to show a good result next year.

The tradition of taking a gap year originated in Great Britain in the middle of past centuries. At one time, even Prince Harry himself took advantage of this opportunity! Then the practice was adopted by graduates from other countries. In the West, prospective students often use the gap year to earn money, take courses, and gain additional skills. For example, the same Harvard recommends that young people take the choice of their future profession responsibly and take a year to think.

As for our country, there is a slightly different situation. Traditionally, a Russian graduate enters a college or university after graduation. If abroad an applicant can take a gap year after admission, then in Russia there is no such possibility. Let’s try to understand the pros and cons of an annual holiday in our country.

Advantages and disadvantages of a gap year in Russia

Pros:

• Yesterday’s schoolchild gets the opportunity to relax, go on a trip, find new friends, take part in creative events, engage in social activities. But for this it is necessary to take into account the financial situation of your family: will they be able to pay for all of the above pleasures.
• Graduates who fail the USE or score low have a chance to prepare and qualify for a higher result. In addition, they can take an exam in a completely different subject from among the voluntary ones.
• Gap year trains responsibility, teaches you to adapt to adult life, make decisions on your own.
• Schoolchildren often experience great stress while preparing for the exam and passing tests. A year of rest is a great solution to calm down, restore your strength and calmly think about your future profession. At this time, you can visit a psychologist who will help get rid of the effects of stress.
• Opportunity to earn your own money. Graduates often take simple jobs, such as courier or consultant, and become financially independent from their parents. But in this case, having felt the taste of money, they may later refuse to study. True, there is an alternative option here – admission to the correspondence department.

Minuses:

• Often, after a year’s rest, young people give up their desire to enter a university, postponing the task for later. As a result, they run the risk of being left without an education or entering a university at an older age, when studying no longer gives the same joy as at 18-20 years old.
• In our country, an applicant does not have the opportunity to take a gap year after entering a university or college, as abroad. That is, if he does not enter the next admissions campaign, he will lose another year.
• Skills acquired during the year do not play any role in admission. While abroad, the gap year is noted in the applicant’s questionnaire. Even if you have mastered a new profession, then after 4-5 years of study at a university, your skills will be forgotten, and you will still have to undergo retraining.
• Disapproval from relatives and acquaintances. In Russia, admission to a higher educational institution immediately after graduation is considered a sign of success. Pressure from adults can not only prevent rest after passing the exam, but also aggravate the situation, provoke diseases of the nervous system. Therefore, if you decide to take a gap year, be prepared to be on the defensive and prepare your arguments in advance!
• Financial problems. Unfortunately, parents cannot always provide for their child throughout the year, pay for his courses and travel. Getting a high-paying job without experience and education is almost impossible.
• In a year, it will be psychologically more difficult to set yourself up for passing tests again. Having rested after the exam, some of the guys simply do not want to go through the exciting procedures associated with exams again.
• Young people who have reached the age of majority may be drafted into the armed forces. When studying at a university, a deferral is provided.

Should I take a gap year? It’s up to you to decide! Be sure to consult with the guys who already have a similar practice. Specify: did they regret after they took a year off? Warn your parents of your intention as early as possible so that your decision does not come as a surprise to them.

Our site provides an opportunity for applicants and their parents to choose the perfect university for themselves and their children. With the help of the USE calculator, the selection of a university according to the USE, the analysis of the chances to enter online and all the free tools for university applicants. Also read the step-by-step instructions for admission

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what it is, pros and cons

The crazy preparation for the Unified State Examination has just ended, and the next peak is already ahead – the entrance exams to the university. Starting from high school, modern young people are constantly under stress: getting high test scores, getting into a prestigious university, working for an honors degree, finding a prestigious job after graduation. And in this whole race, there is rarely an opportunity to stop and think – where am I running? Is this really what I want from life?

A gap year allows you to make such a pause. About what it is, why take a year of rest after grade 11, as well as the pros and cons of a year of break after school, we will describe in detail in the article. We will also consider whether such a tradition will be successful in the Russian latitudes.

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Gap year: what does it mean

School graduates often do not know what they really want from life. What university to enter, who to study for, how to build a career? Moreover, fatigue after the last year of study is often prohibitive. I do not want not only to solve complex issues, but also just to move. So that young people can understand themselves and make a reboot, and come up with a gap year, or a year of rest with admission a year after graduation.

How gap year is translated

Since you don’t see such initiatives in Russian universities yet, there is no word that would fully convey the meaning of this concept. The literal translation of “gap year” is “interim year”, but the concept of “academic leave” is more often used, although this is not entirely true. Since this is a year of rest after school, and not while studying at a college or university.

Why do we need a gap year

This is a great opportunity to relax, understand yourself, go on a trip or get real work experience. During the year that graduates spend freely after school, you can understand what exactly you want to do, take additional courses, choose a university, and generally decide whether to enter a higher educational institution.

An additional argument in favor of the gap year was Covid-19 and the difficulties that arise with distance learning. 33% of Carnegie Dartlet study participants said they would not go to university if they studied online.

Possible programs, or how to use your free year to your advantage

The practice of taking a year after school to relax and get to know yourself better originated in the 20th century in Great Britain and spread throughout Europe. Gap year also gained popularity on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Many American colleges and universities advise their applicants to take a year off after high school. In the US, there are various associations that help plan activities by offering a variety of gap year programs.

The most famous gappies are Prince Harry and Benedict Cumberbatch. The last year after school before the university he spent in a Buddhist monastery in Tibet, where he taught English.

Benedict Cumberbatch is an award-winning actor

How can you make the most of your gap year? There are several options:

1. Travel the world.
2. Get hands-on experience in an interesting field.
3. Increase the level of knowledge.
4. Participate in a volunteer project.
5. Study abroad.

Travel

What better time to travel than after school? Such a gap year will not only allow you to fully relax after intensive study, but also to see the world, meet new people, improve your English and learn how to solve all the difficulties on your own. After such a gap year, you will return with a lot of impressions and new experiences.

Unfortunately, with a pandemic and closed borders, it is impossible to travel. Let’s hope this is a temporary problem.

Work experience

Abroad, yesterday’s schoolchildren can be taken to low positions in the company. However, working as a courier or assistant, young people get real experience, see how interactions within the team are built, and can understand whether they want to go to university and develop in this area or better look for something else.

Sometimes the opportunity to earn money is so exciting that young people decide not to go to college or university after a gap year. This is normal, because no one says that a break should be done exclusively for a year.

In Russia it is not easy to find a job right after graduation. But if you try hard, then in our country this year can be spent with benefit.

Additional training

Gap year does not have to be spent on travel or vacation. Very often this is a chance to work with a tutor, get additional training, improve the level of English, prepare and retake the exam to improve scores, and enter the dream university. Especially if it didn’t work right after school.

Participation in volunteer projects

Another way not to lose a year after school, but to spend it with pleasure and benefit is to sign up for a volunteer project. Moreover, young people can choose different directions: from the nearest retirement home in their city, to helping starving children in Africa. This allows you to combine travel with activity and understand that each person is important and can influence the world.

By participating in volunteer projects, we make the world a better place

Study abroad

In the pre-Covid era, one could safely choose the educational program of a foreign university and go to study. The smartest applicants received not only the opportunity to study for free, but also assistance with accommodation and meals. Now there are a large number of distance programs that can be taken online.

Is there a gap year in Russia

There is no gap year in Russia yet, but there is a Soviet past that hinders its implementation. This is due to the following common misconceptions:

• traditions must be observed: school, university, work, family, children;
• did not enter after school – it means you are a loser and a disgrace to the family;
• in a year all knowledge can be lost;
• if you do not act immediately, the motivation to study will disappear;
• in a year or two it will be much more difficult to enter;
• it is impossible to spend a year with benefit outside of study – everything will go to rest;
• to contain a whole year of a child who is just staggering is not okay.

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To all this, you can add the fear of young people before the army, which they will take away if you do not enter. Although it is worth getting a deferment from service in order to study at an uninteresting university is another, no less difficult question.

In Europe and the USA, the examination committee pays attention to the presence of a gap year. This shows that the future student has experience, he is more conscious in choosing a college or university and will be more responsible. Unfortunately, there is no such practice in Russia. A missed year is more likely to be a minus than a plus in the eyes of the commission.

How to defend your right to a gap year in Russia

How can you deal with this if you still decide to take a year off after school, but do not plan to break off relations with your parents yet?

Write a detailed action plan

This will not only be the main argument in favor of your decision, but will also allow you to understand what exactly you will be doing for the whole year and track your progress. The plan should include:

• goals and objectives – what do you want to achieve this year;
• a list of activities, courses and other activities that you plan to engage in;
• cash costs you will need;
• deadlines for the implementation of each item of the plan.

Talk to your parents

To be heard, you have to speak. Understand that your parents grew up and were brought up in a different era, but this does not mean that they will not be able to understand you. Explain why you want to go to university a year after high school, what are the motives and goals of your decision. Show your plan and discuss how you would like help. If the arguments are weighty, luck will be on your side.

Use facts and statistics

There are a lot of studies that prove that a year of rest after school does not kill motivation and does not interfere with success in later studies. On the contrary, young people who have gained such experience are more conscious in choosing a higher educational institution and are more responsible for learning.

In tsarist Russia there was a tradition similar to the gap year. Representatives of the nobility sent their children abroad to gain new experience and knowledge. So, the most popular and famous gappie can be called Peter I, who studied in England and Holland in his younger years. From there, he brought not only potatoes, but also sunflower seeds, the culture of drinking tea, the production of bricks, European gardens, billiards and the idea of ​​the Kunstkamera museum.

Gap year: pros and cons

So, we have considered a new phenomenon for Russia gap year, which is slowly but surely gaining popularity. Let’s summarize what the pros and cons of a year of rest after school can be.

Benefits of a gap year after school

1. Relax and recuperate after school.
2. Understand yourself, your preferences.
3. To improve knowledge for admission to the desired university.
4. Possibility to retake the exam.