School-age Child Care Activities

Elementary-age children attending child care after school need activities to keep their minds and bodies stimulated. Caregivers should prepare arts and craft projects, coordinate physical activities in the gym and on the playground, and help the children with their homework.

  1. Creative Arts

    • The Boys and Girls Club suggests teaching children drama so that they may perform in popular plays for the parents. These activities teach them beloved classics, such as Pinocchio, Peter Rabbit, Hansel and Gretel, and A Christmas Carol, as well as helping them with memorization and socialization skills.

      Prepare daily arts and craft projects based on a theme or the season. The children may assemble their own Christmas ornaments by decorating a reindeer head and adding pipe cleaner pieces for antlers. You can coordinate contests where you display their artwork, and have each child draw a picture of their favorite animal; award winners for each grade level.

    Recreation

    • After being cooped up all day, children need to release their pent-up energy. Organize some team sports outside or in the gym, such as kick ball, or Red Rover, which are activities that will allow them to run around and still interact with each other. Allow the children to play the team sport for about a half hour before switching to free choice time.

      During free choice time, bring out basketballs, Frisbees, jump ropes, scooters, and exercise mats, if staying inside. These will allow children to either start a game of basketball, ride back and forth on scooters, or do dance routines on the exercise mats along with music. If the weather permits, take the children outside where they can climb on the jungle gym, swing, and chase each other in a game of tag.

    Learning Center

    • According to 123child.com, you should provide stimulating mind activities to help students who may need extra help with their homework. Quiz students with math flashcards to drill basic facts. Supplement this with fun games like Yahtzee or 1-2-3 OY, which are fun yet help develop math skills.

      Arrange for individual tutoring for students who are struggling in reading. Provide The Phonics Game, which reviews basic phonics sounds. Keep the library up to date with old and new favorites for each grade level, and offer to read with a student that needs help. Provide computers and buy several educational programs, including I Spy School Days, Clue Finders Math Adventures, and Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics.

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