After School Enrichment Classes You Need To Have

Great programs offer a well-rounded list of classes. Below is a list of the after school enrichment classes you must have. Parents are replacing the outside studio for school campuses and are expecting to find the same variety in programs. This means you have to offer different types of classes throughout the session. Outlined here is a list of must have enrichment classes. Notice there are 5 categories, and keep in mind that if you have a small program you can offer one class a day, and still have a well-rounded program. If you have a big program you can offer multiple classes within each one of these categories. Remember that one of the most important parts of running an after school program is being innovative – so be sure to change up the classes every once in a while.

STEM After School Enrichment Classes

STEM classes include science, technology, engineering and math. This is a category where you can offer your students something really outside the box. If you have a smaller program be sure to offer a science class, as participation grows you can then start to add coding and engineering. 

Sports After School Enrichment Classes

The most classic after school enrichment classes are team sports. There are so many studies showing childhood obesity is on the rise. Is is therefore critical that kids get an extra hour or two during the week to sweat and hustle. Team sports are a great way to get kids out on the court or field. Soccer, Basketball, and Flag-Football are staples in the after school community. Don’t confuse these with creative movement activities. Sports classes should have a team aspect, specific rules for a game and a specific outcome. Kids benefit from sports, mentally and physically. 

Creative Movement After School Enrichment Classes

Martial arts, fitness, and fencing classes – to name a few – fit into the creative movement category, and are super cool after school enrichment classes. As you probably know there is no real team aspect to these classes. These programs are designed to have kids work at their own speed, and set individual goals for themselves. These types of classes, while still getting kids to sweat, provide many other benefits that a classic sports class would not.

Art After School Enrichment Classes

Drawing, sculpting with clay and threading beads on a string, all develop visual-spatial skills, which are more important than ever. Even toddlers know how to operate a smartphone or tablet! Which means that even before they can read, kids take in visual information. Many of the motions involved in making art, such as holding a paintbrush or scribbling with a crayon, are essential to the growth of fine motor skills in young children. It is also really fun!

Remember to be creative when choosing what after school enrichment classes to add to your program, as parents are looking for real alternatives to picking their kids up and taking them off site. Offer cool, innovative, and educational classes… they’ll thank you for it.