As we all know, the school that a child attends in their elementary and middle school years has a big impact on the success they’ll experience later in life, both academically and socially. But learning doesn’t only happen in a classroom, and the process of building a strong foundation for future success doesn’t only happen during school hours.

Here at Just For Kids LLC in Chicago, we’re dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and happy environment for kids from the age of three to 14. Not only do we provide educational programs for kids who are of preschool age, we also offer great after school programs for kids of all ages who need a nurturing place to go when the final bell rings for the day.

Many parents search for after school programs in Chicago simply because they want to know that their kids have a positive and educational environment in which to spend time. However, we think it’s important for all kids and parents to realize that there are some very definite benefits of participating in clubs for kids after school that help kids get far in life.

Keep reading to discover some of these benefits as well as more information about the after school care programs provided by Just For Kids!

Benefits Of Participating In After School Programs In Chicago

1. Avoiding Drugs And Other Pitfalls – Want to ensure that your kids don’t fall in with the wrong crowd, succumb to peer pressure to try drugs, or have the opportunity to get into trouble while you’re not around to monitor things? The best way to keep your kids on the straight and narrow is professional after school care. “Participation in after school programs has been associated with reduced drug use (Investing in Our Young People, University of Chicago, 2006) and criminal behavior (UCLA National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing, 2007),” explains Youth.gov.
2. Discovering New Interests And Talents – Everyone has a talent, and the luckiest among us find  a way to turn those talents and hobbies into lifelong careers. It also starts by discovering new talents and interests, however, which is something we can help with at Just For Kids LLC in Chicago. We offer a plethora of clubs and after school activities, from Dance and Cooking, to Sports and Robotics. We even have a karaoke club where your child might just discover that they have an amazing singing voice!
3. Connection To The Community – Another reason we feel that it’s important for children to participate in after school clubs is that it gives them a permanent community and a sense of belonging to something that’s bigger than themselves. Along the way, they’ll make friends and discover skills that they never even knew they had.
4. Building Self-Esteem – Speaking of new skills, did you know that simply finding clubs for kids after school can help them become a more confident person? “Mastering new skills can help build confidence in children. By participating in after-school activities, they can build their self-esteem in a relaxed setting as their activities provide the opportunity to be successful in something that they are passionate about,” explains Kumon.
5. Healthy Life Habits – Another amazing benefit of participation in after school programs is the way that it can help kids establish healthy life habits that last well into their adult years. “Afterschool programs can play an important role in encouraging physical activity and good dietary habits. Participation in afterschool programs has been associated with positive health outcomes, including reduced obesity (Mahoney, J., Lord, H., & Carryl, 2005),” continues Youth.gov. All participants in our before and after school programs are treated to healthy snacks to keep them fueled up for the day.
6. Academic Excellence – Parents are often surprised to learn that although most of our after school programs are focused on having fun and participating in new hobbies, they can have a positive impact on academic performance as well. “A national evaluation found that over 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 (Naftzger et. al., 2007),” explains Youth.gov. It was also found that after school programs have a positive impact on school attendance, academic aspirations, and reduced likelihood of dropout.

Types Of After School Clubs Offered By Just For Kids

Check out our Clubs & Activities page to see all of the different after school care options we have to keep your child entertained and engaged. Contact Just For Kids LLC in Chicago to schedule your tour today! We’d be more than happy to talk with you about which clubs could be right for your child as well as the benefits that before and after school care programs have provided to other students. Give us a call or send an email today.