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

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

Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school, and complete 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 child 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 perhaps. Visit public libraries or even the museum, if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your child to make friends with kids their own age. A parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded kids and their parents, you could start your own after-school program.

When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Many children like 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 child. 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 child 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 child. And it’s not as difficult as you might think. Discover more:
face painting designs
Simple face painting designs
animal face painting