After “After-School” Programs End: How Children Spend Their Time When the School Bell Rings Really Makes a Difference

By: Nadeen Silverstein, Director of the After School Zone, WeeZee World of Yes I Can!

The start of Spring signals for parents of elementary school children the end of the winter PTA-sponsored after-school programs. How to next fill in the time gap between when school ends and dinnertime, becomes a new source of concern for parents, teachers and the community. Recent studies show that the “After School” hours can be the most important ones in a child’s day.  How a child spends his time between 3:00pm and 6:00pm, known as “after school,” is especially significant in the development of academic and social skills.  

At WeeZee World Of Yes I Can!, we’ve created the After School Zone program, which runs Monday thru Friday until 6:00pm, to enhance academic and social learning thru exam time in June. With transportation provided directly from the school to our doors -- our program integrates fitness, sports and academic enrichment -- and we place as much emphasis on unstructured play as we do on organized, structured activity.  It’s essential for kids to have a balance of organized and unstructured activities so that they can think freely, unwind and have time to socialize and make new and important friendships.

A study by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) states that after-school programs succeed in improving youths’ feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem. The study concluded that youth who participate in after-school programs showed significant improvements in their feelings and attitudes, indicators of behavioral adjustment, and school performance. Children in after-school programs reportedly do better in school and with school bonding (positive feelings and attitudes toward school); they develop positive social behaviors, more positive relationships with their peers and had reduced problem behaviors (e.g., aggression, noncompliance and conduct problems). After-school programs also give children the opportunity to develop creative thinking, problem-solving, communication and self-direction skills. The tremendous benefits of a quality after-school program include new opportunities for growth and learning that children might not find elsewhere.  This is especially true in the areas of physical education, art and music – key programs that have all seen cuts from school budgets nationwide in recent years.

I’ve observed these social and academic benefits first-hand in our programs at WeeZee.  The vast majority of the parents of children in our After School program report that their children are “calmer, happier and are better behaved” at home since attending our program.

Our “structured” and fully-supervised After School Zone activities include sports training, art, music, cooking and homework help, along with a host of special programs and classes.  We’ve also just introduced two new fitness-sports programs that everyone’s really excited about: the popular, fast-paced, playground favorite Gaga that combines, dodging, running, and jumping in Westchester’s first indoor Gaga pit at WeeZee; and the “Blast” curriculum featuring  WeeZee’s myriad specialty equipment. This program is similar to fitness circuit training in an adult gym or fitness club with kids circuiting through stations that include a mechanical bull, indoor surf machine, Cyber Sports Wall, Expresso Bikes, Batak and Makoto. 

In addition to After School Zone program, we offer separate classes at convenient times during the week for Gaga and Blast, along with Edible Creations, Amazing Art, Kung-Fu Kids, Rising Stars (music and instruments) and a Boot Camp adult/child fitness program. To register for the after school program or separate classes, as well as the upcoming summer camp, please visit www.weezeeworld.com or call 914-752-2100 for more info.

WeeZee World of “Yes I Can!” is Westchester’s gym for kids with programs and activities that exercise and strengthen intellectual, physical and social skills in a one-of-a-kind 16,000 square foot play center located at 480 Bedford Road in Chappaqua, NY. A family's fantasy come to life, WeeZee is the creation of Louise Weadock, a registered Child Psychiatric Nurse, graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and owner of the 27 year old, ACCESS Nursing & Healthcare Services, based in Chappaqua, NY. The programs at WeeZee are designed for kids of all abilities, ages 1-12, and includes cutting-edge sensory equipment, social group activities and classes. Parents are invited to “play for free,” enjoy the Swing Bean Café or have a massage in the Zen Den while children are supervised by WeeZee’s staff of professionals, who are all specially-trained to help each child improve their cognitive and physical performance by focusing on developing the central nervous system through the five “Senses.” The world within WeeZee challenges the child’s intellectual curiosity and strengthens his physical, intellectual and social abilities. In addition, WeeZee offers After-School programs and personalized Fitness Plans for children with learning disabilities that span the spectrum from dyslexia to autism.  

**WeeZee is open from 8:00am to 9:00pm seven days a week and offers pricing packages that start as low as $50 per month.