What to look for in an afterschool program

Wide variety of activities and choices, but offered under a set routine. Examples of opportunities to look for:

• Frequent individual interaction with adults
• Games with simple rules
• Quiet areas as well as noisy areas
• Outside experiences
• Imaginative play opportunities
• Some clear responsibilities like clean-up
• Projects that apply school day lessons about the family and community
• Opportunities to read aloud, silently, and to talk about books and ideas
• Matching, ordering and sorting activities
• Opportunities to apply arithmetic problems in real-world ways
• Opportunities to ask questions about science and technology and think about how they can find the answer
• Exposure to professionals and experts from various fields, such as scientists and engineers
• Small experiments with everyday products
• Nature walks and talks
• Opportunities to work with a variety of materials for projects
• Physical activities that do not emphasize competition 
• Music, dance and drama opportunities
• Opportunities to try experiences from diverse cultures
  
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Wide variety of options. Examples of opportunities to look for:

• Connections to real-world experience
• Opportunities to interact in large and small groups as well as individual recognition
• Experiences that explore ethics and values with respected adults
• Opportunities to serve others
• Physical activity
• Opportunities for decision-making and leadership
• Opportunities to apply school day lessons through performances and projects
• Experiences emphasizing reasoning and problem-solving in subjects such as art, science and mathematics
• Opportunities to explore subjects in-depth
• Opportunities to meet a diverse group of professionals and exposure to college and career paths
• Project based learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, applying concepts learned during the school day
• Quiet times for homework with adult help and peer help when needed
• Games that provide opportunities to practice basic skills, such as chess, checkers, puzzles and word games
• Wide range of reading activities with discussion of the ideas found in the books
• Experiences built on a wide diversity of cultures and ethnic groups
  
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 Substantial choice. Examples of opportunities for look for:

• Opportunities to explore a variety of career paths and college firsthand, and to meet a diverse group of professionals 
• Real world work experience, ideally with academic credit or tie
• Opportunities to serve others, contribute to community or mentor or tutor younger students
• Opportunities to earn or recover credit, or catch up or move ahead with academic interests
• Opportunities to interact in large and small groups as well as individual recognition
• Physical activity
• Opportunities for decision-making and leadership
• Experiences emphasizing reasoning and problem-solving in subjects such as art, science, mathematics
• Opportunities to explore subjects in-depth  
• Opportunities to participate in research experiences and internships with mentors in industry or universities
• Presentations and projects that involve appearance
• Opportunities to discuss and address physical risk, including smoking, drugs, drinking and sexual activity
• Opportunities to show competence in a public setting
• Opportunities to express feelings through projects and activities
• One-on-one opportunities to talk with adults
• Discussions of diverse ideas and opinions with adults and peers, and exploration of ethics and values
• Specific help with skill areas that are causing problems
• Opportunities to work on school day projects and papers with library and Internet support
  
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