What do Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates all have in common? They didn’t all go to Ivy Leagues… But they did all participate in afterschools and summer camps! Many parents view afterschools as optional supplements. However, studies have shown that afterschools play an integral role in the most successful students’ well-being and academia. In this article, we have compiled research to illustrate how students, families, and schools can benefit from afterschools. Why do children need afterschools? School-age kids spend 80% of their waking hours outside of school, so how can this time be maximized for future success? Afterschools might be the answer. Research conducted by the Afterschool Alliance shows that the two primary benefits of afterschools for students are academic enrichment and emotional development. The right afterschools create a safe and fun place for students to explore their academic curiosities.
The academic benefits of afterschools are clear. One study showed that the students who attended afterschools were 6x more likely to meet curriculum-based standards. What about math? Students who attended high-quality after-school programs for 2 years scored an average of 20 percentiles higher in standardized math test scores! 1 day of after-school participation translates to a 1.7% increase in probability of meeting benchmark standards. Student participation also improves-- 69% of students improve homework completion and class participation.
Afterschools can also help students’ emotional development! 62% of students improved their behavior in class as a result of attending afterschools. Afterschools give students an additional opportunity to interact with more peers. The extra socialization is important for childrens’ emotional development. Research shows that good after-school programs improve peer relations, emotional adjustment, conflict resolution skills, and student conduct. With Afterschools: - Better homework completion and class participation - Score 20 percentiles higher on benchmarks - Improved classroom behavior and social skills - 6x more likely to meet curriculum standards
Why do families need afterschools? On top of helping students’ academic, emotional, and social growth, afterschools can also be used as daycares when parents are working. Most afterschool programs are more affordable than hiring a babysitter!
From a financial standpoint, data shows that afterschool programs produce a worthwhile return on investment: every $1 invested in early childhood education has returns of over $7 in the child’s earning potential. Enrolling a child in afterschool programs sets them up for financial success!
Most children spend more time at school or extracurricular activities than they have with their own parents and family. So, parents should find afterschools and organizations that align with their parenting style. After all, if a child is spending so much of their time with educators, those educators are playing a huge role in the raising of that child. Educators should improve the academic performance of a student, but they should also be dedicated to your child’s character development and mental health. Our directors are experts in the psychology of growth, and Ivy League School is committed to giving each child the tools to succeed. Every $1 invested in childhood education = $7 in that child’s earning potential later on!
Even schools need afterschools!
Schools are very limited in time and cannot teach everything, so they rely on community resources to provide a well-rounded education. Afterschools provide additional academic instruction and teach children valuable soft skills. The large classrooms of public schools make it difficult for teachers to notice and address emotional issues in their students. Intimate classroom settings allow our teachers to pick up on nuances in our students’ behavior to address issues immediately. This can prevent bigger issues later on in a child’s emotional development.
About the Authors:
Elissa Liu, MBA is the Director at Ivy League School. Having graduated from USC with an MBA and UCSB with a major in Psychology and minors in Educational Studies and Applied Psychology, she is an experienced educator trained in K-12 Education, College Consulting, and Educational Administration.
Allan Han, MA is a writer and educator with over six years of teaching experience in teaching K-12 students fundamental English, fundamental Math, SAT writing, and high school literature. He received his Master's Degree in English Instruction at NYU and formerly taught in LaGuardia High School in the city of New York.
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