This month, our spotlight is on after school programs and all the amazing out-of-school time (OST) professionals who invest in children and youth every day, day in and day out. We salute the 75,826 of them who have spent time on their professional development in Better Kid Care’s On Demand system, learning new things and refining their skills to provide the most engaging, safe experiences possible for the children who depend on them.
Join the October 26th celebration. Lights On Afterschool! Rally for after school programs. #LightsOnAfterschool
Practical, meaningful experiences are hallmarks of great OST programs. “Eighty-eight percent of parents report that opportunities to build life skills were important when selecting their child’s afterschool program” (America After 3PM, 2022, p. 6). Furthermore, "...89 percent agree that afterschool programs allow children to build positive relationships with caring adults and mentors” (America After 3PM, 2022, p. 22). Families also appreciate the physical activities, meals, and homework support that these programs often provide.
Not only do children depend on those OST professionals, but families, businesses, schools, and communities also depend on OST professionals and their programs. People couldn’t go to work without them. Kids wouldn’t have safe, informal learning opportunities without them. In fact, according to the America After 3PM (2022, p. 36) 2020 data, “there were 24.6 million children who were not in an afterschool program but would be enrolled in one if available to them.” While 7.8 million youth in the United States are in OST programs, that number has dropped. Two big barriers are cost and accessibility (America After 3PM, 2022).
That’s why for the last 24 years, the Afterschool Alliance has been championing these professionals and after school programs through Lights on Afterschool. Some special events will be happening in OST programs across the country on October 26th. Others will take place in the days and weeks around that Thursday.
If you benefit from an OST program, thank those educators. If you administer an OST program, wave your banner proudly and shout from the roof tops all the special things your staff does and celebrate the amazing kids who are thriving in your cafeterias, gyms, makerspaces, playgrounds, and libraries.
What are the funny things kids shared today? The poignant things? Capture them! Put up a white board with a heading “Heard this after school today…” It’s time to get some LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!
Visit the Afterschool Alliance's Lights on Afterschool webpage to register your program, find a local event, access graphics, event ideas, and more. Follow the #LightbulbChallenge or #LightsOnAfterschool hashtags on social media.
Reference
America After 3PM. (2022). Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children’s Well-being. Afterschool Alliance. https://afterschoolalliance.org/documents/AA3PM/AA3PM-Healthy-Futures-Report-2022.pdf?utm_source=landing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=AA3PM_Rural&utm_content=hero_btn
