Kids need more than just homework and recess. They need after-school programs, teams, and activities that help them develop social, mental, and physical skills. Parents who work until 6:00 pm each day are challenged to keep their kids well taken of after school, and entertained. After school care and activities are essential.
Patricia Dischler, the former preside of the National Associate for Family Child Care, says, “Providing your children with a place where they are nurtured and provided time to do homework, unwind and play will make life less stressful, Dischler says. Plus, parents won’t feel guilty for not being around immediately when school ends.”
The Winner School in Utah has developed after school and additional activities for children designed to teach them skills and give them a place to flourish. Their additional programs and after-school activities are award-winning, safe, and developed for your child’s personality. The Winner School in Utah offers dance, karate, and basketball.
The most important advantage of after-school programs like dance, karate, and sports is their ability to widen your child’s area of interests. Sports like basketball introduce exercise and karate and dance programs give children exciting and challenging projects. Mastering a new skill increases a child’s self-esteem. It gives you a way to introduce your child to new career options. A child attending a dance or karate class may decide that he or she would like to make a career out of their new-found interest.
Programs need to be designed for a child’s personality, needs, and interests. A good after school program has so many benefits. It gives them ways to burn up excess energy and explore creativity. It keeps them out of trouble. Good after school and additional programs help shape the overall personality of a child.
Dance
At the Winner School in Utah, dance classes are offered that feature professional teachers who train children in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, turns, performing and so much more! What can dance do for your child? To begin with, dance classes are positive.
Physical Activity. Dance can be a strong positive influence on your child. Dancing is a great physical activity, and the child that regularly attends dance classes will see a considerable improvement in physical health. Benefits include flexibility, physical strength, range of motion, stamina and a better posture. For those children who are overweight, dance glass can help them become healthier.
Improved Self-Esteem. The more comfortable your dancers get with their bodies, the more their self-esteem grows. They learn movements and postures that give them a better sense of their bodies. They develop a more positive attitude and explore self-expression.
Heather, a little girl developmentally disadvantaged was enrolled in a dance class. She was awkward at first, but from the very beginning, she loved the feeling of dancing. As time went on, Heather gained poise, confidence, and balance. She ran better, talked better, and interacted with people. It took a couple of years, and Heather will never be a professional dancer, but she is well-rounded, happy, and has a great outlook on life.
Educational Benefits. As your little dancer learns more and more, they also learn discipline, focus, and skills that will be useful in other areas of their life. Dance lessons get those creative juices flowing and bring on an appreciation for the arts. Family Talk magazine says, “studies show that students with a dance background tend to do academically better than students who don’t have a dance background.”
Socialization Benefits. Dance is a social activity. Dance classes allow kids to hone their communication and social skills, develop a sense of trust, and learn teamwork. Parents have said that their shy little one became more outgoing and comfortable after on a few dance classes. Dance class can be fun. Children get to meet other show share their interests and programs and presentations give children a special sense of well-being.
Recently a group of family members attended a dance competition. The final dance group had been together since pre-school; they were outstanding. They moved together, never missed a beat, and the look of accomplishment on their faces was incredible. One dancer was heard to say, “These are my best friends.”
Karate
The Winner School in Utah is famous for its karate class program. Kids as little as three can join the Little Dragons class to learn how to take care of themselves, develop self-esteem, and interact with other children.
Karate class teaches motor skills, social, skills, and self-control within a playful class environment. Kids learn listening skills, teamwork and focus. Manners are also taught in many karate programs. How awesome to have a little 3-5-year-old ask permission for something because they learned in that karate class.
Kids have tons of fun in karate class, and the “serious” stuff is also taught. In karate class, kids learn about handling strangers, bullies and more. Character and confidence are given to kids and the tools needed to talk out problems. Kids learn that the best defense is confidences. Your child may never use their karate skills, but they have the confidence in knowing they are capable.
Martial arts are one of the best activities where kids can learn the skills, they need for success later in life. Many karate classes teach life skills through inspiring stories talks and interaction.
Basketball
Some parents are reluctant to let their kids participate in after-school sports. They are concerned about injuries and self-esteem issues. Parents worry that their kids will land in with over competitive teammates and coaches. These are valid concerns, but experts and other parents agree that the benefits of sports exceed the potential risks.
At the Winner School in Utah, the Killer Bees Basketball Club is a competitive basketball program that allows children to learn basketball skills, be a part of a winning team, and learn to play together.
Today’s kids spend more time indoors than any previous generation, and now there is a childhood obesity epidemic. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has recommended at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. Further research confirms that participation in sports reduces obesity and other pressing issues like juvenile delinquency.
Playing basketball relieves stress. The American Psychological Association states that the benefits of exercise transcend even physical fitness. Exercise releases dopamine and serotonin. These catecholamine molecules improve your child’s sense of well-being. It’s well known that playing sports with friends is a great way to get rid of the stresses associated with school.
Sports like basketball encourages sportsmanship and teamwork. Children need to learn how to share the responsibility and credit of the team’s performance. It helps children learn how to be courteous when winning or losing. Positive emotions and feel-good endorphins are released when teammates celebrate victories and milestone.
Many lifelong friendships start during youth sports. The social skills children learn in sports provide a solid foundation for building lasting relationships.
Basketball promotes healthy competition. Playing team sports teaches children how to deal with competition. They will encounter competition throughout their personal, professional and academic lives. When playing after school sports, children learn how to compete and succeed by giving her best effort during friendly (emphasis on the friendly) competition.
One cute little 10-year old redhead plays competitive soccer. Before he started on his soccer team, he was shy, continually bit his fingernails and picked on his siblings. Sports gave him a reason to release energy and find confidence. In addition, it is fantastic to see his 14-year old brother blossoming under the tutelage of a good basketball coach.
Sports teach children how to manage pressure. Managing pressure is a great skill. Becoming an athlete requires children to perform touch tasks under challenging circumstances. Playing team sports helps them learn how to stay focused while dealing with pressure.
There is little that compares to the thrill of being on a winning team, hitting a home run or scoring the winning goal. Children experience the rewards of sports when they play basketball at the Winner School in Utah. Competition and hard work are emphasized, but sportsmanship and being gracious when losing are also great skills the Killer Bees Basketball Club, the dance class and karate teaches its team members.
