YMCA Offers After School Program

When school is officially dismissed at the end of the day, the three North Reading elementary schools do not go quiet. After school the sounds of some students engaged in drama, art, physical activity, and homework are orchestrated by the staff of the Burbank YMCA until 6:30 p.m. daily.

Overseen by Executive Director Kathleen Walsh the after school program aims to foster youth development, social learning, and a healthy lifestyle.

"Our program offers 40 minutes of physical activity and onsite tutoring in addition to our other activities," Walsh said. "As a parent I know how important it is to have exceptional staff keeping children learning, physically active, physically and emotionally safe and engaged in enriching activities."

"Our carefully designed curriculum not only serves parents and children but also partners with school administration," added Walsh. "We offer a community collaborative model that transports children to a limited number of other town programs."

According to the Y of Greater Boston the curriculum includes iPlay, the product of a three-year grant from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program, which seeks to alleviate and prevent childhood obesity and related illnesses.

After the Y ran the first year of their program organizers recognized the need to change the environment of its services and to change the culture of inactivity and unhealthy food that envelopes many youth.

The shift in approach required a name to denote its design and focus. iPlay was born. Play reflects the idea of being healthy as fun, and i defines being healthy for each in their own way.

As such the program offers children a fruit or vegetable snack and fresh water. There are no sugar sweetened drinks or trans fat foods.

Either in a one-on-one conversation or in a group of two or three, staff members engage in conversation of interest to the child or group. The connection is repeated between the staff and the parent each week.

The program excludes commercial TV, movies and recreational computer use. Children are not exposed to advertising at any time.    

According to marketing director Juliette Slack the program's success lies in helping the whole child.

"Taken together the programs components build self-awareness, confidence and leadership," said Slack. "These are life skills they can carry with them at every age." 

The Y invites parents to learn more on open house night, August 10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Y. Visit the Burbank YMCA website for more details.