| So, your son's school does not offer any | | | | the theatre,if your child is interested. It |
| extracurricular activities. Youare worried of | | | | is not necessary for your child to |
| depriving your child of all that extra | | | | makefriends with children his own age. A |
| knowledge and fun. | | | | parent-child book club is anotherinteresting |
| | | | option. If you can round up a number of |
| What should you do? | | | | like-minded childrenand their parents, you |
| | | | may well start your own after-school program. |
| After school activities need not be taught in | | | | |
| a school-like environment byprofessional | | | | When there is no organized group activity, |
| teachers in a structured and timely manner. | | | | look to your community. Manychildren love to |
| There is a lot | | | | get involved in social problems. They get |
| | | | their firstreal taste of suffering, charity |
| YOU can do to support your child's academic, | | | | and community help from such experiences. |
| physical and socialdevelopment. Do not be too | | | | |
| concerned about formal programs, as many of | | | | Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult |
| ourchildren are already over-scheduled. | | | | education programs etc could bea real |
| | | | eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus |
| Obviously, school is top priority for | | | | learnt are invaluable. |
| children. They need to go to school,and | | | | |
| finish their homework. They should then do | | | | If physical activity or the lack of it is |
| their daily reading orwriting work etc. This | | | | your major concern, enroll yourchild for some |
| may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course | | | | dancing classes. If organized sports are |
| of hisdaily work, your child may develop | | | | impossible to get,try to enroll her in a gym. |
| certain academic preferences andinterests. In | | | | She may find friends there and may take to |
| that case, you can try and find a program in | | | | thetreadmill. |
| a college or acommunity center that will help | | | | |
| him and encourage him. In the age of the | | | | Your child does not necessarily have to be a |
| | | | part of an organized group tobenefit from |
| Internet, information is really not a rarity. | | | | after-school activities. There are various |
| Allow him to use the net tofind more | | | | avenues open infront of you. Roping in the |
| information about thing that he likes. | | | | enthusiasm of your children in daily |
| Encouraging the child todo independent | | | | householdactivities like cooking, cleaning |
| research to gain in-depth knowledge is | | | | etc can also provide them with arefreshing |
| something that noformal program does. | | | | extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will |
| | | | improve familyties too. |
| If you are concerned about the lack of social | | | | |
| life, enroll him or her in aclub - a reading | | | | If anyone like's Tic-Tac-Toe here it is! |
| club maybe. Visit public libraries or even | | | | |