After-school activities are important for many reasons. Depending on the activity, your child might have more opportunities to learn outside the classroom, create social connections or friendships, and stay active after class has wound down for the day. But what activity is best for your child and why?
We rounded up the perfect types of afterschool activities based on your child’s personality, interests, or special needs. L’Taundra Everhart, founder of wellness company BYG Mixed Greens for The Soul, and “Science Bob” Pflugfelder, a science teacher and author at educational STEM company CrunchLabs, share some of their out-of-the-box ideas for afterschool activities.
Mindful Movement + Yoga for the Busy Bee
You might think that these activities are only for parents and adults. But according to Everhart, yoga and mindfulness exercises help students of all ages focus on breathing techniques, stretching, and meditation.
“Research shows that yoga improves focus and reduces stress, especially for children with ADHD and emotional regulation issues,” she says. Of course, many kids will want to start off with a beginner’s class, which will include easy poses like the aptly named “child’s pose,” “standing forward fold,” or “cat-cow pose.”
Horseback Riding for the Animal Lover
Horseback riding is great for kids who love animals, especially those who like taking care of them. According to Everhart, by caring for the horse, a child can learn responsibility for another living thing — without the expense of owning a pet full-time. But horseback riding can act as a sort of physical therapy for children hoping to build stamina and those looking for adaptive after-school activities for kids with special needs. “Equine therapy involves supervised horseback riding sessions that can help children build relationships with horses, improve balance, coordination, and muscle strength.”
Egg Drop Challenge for the Builder
The world of science is open to all personalities, but those who like to build and engineer new devices will especially love this afterschool activity. The classic “Egg Drop Challenge” is a fun but educational STEM activity where kids design a device to safeguard a raw egg dropped from a certain height. Kids like how they must find everyday things to make their device. “We love the ‘Egg Drop Challenge’ because it has a definite metric for success,” says Pflugfelder. “While the real learning opportunity comes as they ideate and prototype stages, a clear goal with a bit of competition can go a long way.”
Swimming Lessons for the Sports Fan
While there are plenty of fun athletics for kids to try over summer, swimming will keep them cool and provide a full-body workout at the same time. In fact, in terms of physical exercise, swimming can improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility, as different muscle groups are used in swimming that don’t normally get a workout during everyday activities. Also, it’s just a generally good idea for kids to know how to swim in case they’re ever around large bodies of water and general pool safety.
Art for the Creative Introvert
Creating artwork increases kids’ creative thinking, motor skills, and communication skills. Working with art is another way to engage the introverted child in a fun after-school activity that might help them step outside their bubble.
“Children can use various textures, colors, and materials to stimulate multiple senses,” Everhart says. “Besides having a soothing, calming effect, sensory integration can help children with sensory processing disorders by improving sensory regulation and emotional well-being.” At the same time, those interested in the science of art might want to check out photography, architecture, graphic design or other types of art clubs, Pflugfelder says.
Adaptive Afterschool Activities for Kids with Special Needs
Finding the right afterschool activity for a kid with special needs can be a game-changer. Afterschool enrichment classes provide a safe space to have fun, show off strengths, build confidence, socialize, and learn new things. Here are some programs to consider.
Scouting + 4-H
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H programs are historically inclusive of all children, with all abilities and backgrounds. These programs are great for neurodivergent kids because they’re highly structured, consistent, and usually have clear goals. Many of the activities are also hands-on and allow children to work at their own rate.
Visual Arts
Activities like photography, painting, drawing and sculpture let kids express themselves in a creative way. These activities are typically quiet and more mellow than, say, music or sports, so are great for kids who enjoy peaceful play.
Music
For kids who love to make noise, joining a choir or playing an instrument might be the perfect fit! A music-focused class could be taken in addition to any music therapy your child might be doing.
Swimming
According to the National Library of Medicine, swimming can help improve motor skills, social behavior and communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Not just that, it’s fun, too! Plus, knowing how to swim is a great skill for a kid to have that benefits them throughout their life.
STEM Programs
Some neurodivergent kids gravitate to STEM activities like video games, coding, computers and electronics. Harness this interest by enrolling them in a STEM-focused class, where they can meet others who share their same passion.
Keep in mind: Many programs can be adapted for children with disabilities and special needs. Even if a program doesn’t specifically say it’s for children with special needs, reach out to the program that you’re considering to see if their program offers modifications.
