Daily physical activity has been a core, fundamental component to creating a successful program in any community and recreation departments continue to step up and support the neeeds.  Discover how well-structured before and after-school programs can transform children's energy into a powerhouse of health, happiness, and academic success!

Harnessing the Power of Physical Activity

Incorporating physical activity into before and after-school programs offers children the chance to engage in various exercises that improve coordination, motor skills and planning, and overall physical health. Whether it's playing sports like soccer or basketball, engaging in yoga and stretching, or something completely different and unique, the goal is to provide a range of options to cater to different interests and abilities. 

Physical activity before school sets a positive tone for the day, enhancing children's daily mental and emotional well-being. It helps them start their mornings on a high note, ready to tackle the day ahead. Physical activity after school is equally important, offering unique benefits such as stress reduction, mood improvement, and social interaction. It provides a much-needed break from sedentary activities throughout the day and helps children release pent-up energy.

A variety of physical and social activities not only boost physical health but also enhance cognitive function and academic performance.

Creative Diverse Activities for All Kinds of Kids

Creativity is key when it comes to physical and social activities for kids. By incorporating fun, divserse, and engaging options in a well-planned environment, children are more likely to participate and enjoy staying active and social. Some creative activities include:

- Dance parties: Organize dance sessions where children can show off their moves, improving coordination and cardiovascular health.

- Obstacle courses: Set up courses with hurdles, cones, portable mats, and ropes to enhance agility, balance, and strength. 

- Scavenger hunts: Combine exercise with problem-solving skills by creating scavenger hunts that involve running, jumping, and climbing.

- Yoga or stretching sessions: Promote flexibility, balance, and relaxation with yoga or stretching. Providing visual supports showing the pose and affirmation create a sense of place and engagement that kids love. 

- Sensory pathways: Many recreation departments have invested in sensory path opportunities that are prevalent in school settings, giving neurodiverse and neurotypical children a way to recenter and reset in a fun, engaging way. These can be permanently affixed to walls and floors with colorful decals or rolled-out out on mats where permanent decals cannot be applied.

- Oversized board games: Children love "big" things! Providing oversized chess and checkerboards are a great way to engage kiddos that are more passive, and allow for others to observe and interact for group play and social interaction. 

- Indoor playground games: Kids of all ages love hopping, skipping, and jumping during games like hopscotch when it is created with impact in mind. Impact is created with color, styles, size, interest, and lots of ingenuity. Other games like four-square, bullseyes, skelly, and mazes can be brought inside when you can't play outdoors.

Evaluate Your Needs and Prioritize Your Vision

All these ideas are great but for true success, organizing these types of games requires a few considerations:

- Assess how much space you have and the availability of the spaces to provide activities for your programs. Is it an empty underutilized room, a gymnasium that is used for multiple purposes, or a community room that is used by different groups round the clock?

- Observe the floors, walls, and ceilings to ensure the space can accommodate passive or active activities. Take note of any furniture that would need to be moved daily or weekly to hold programming in the space. Do windows and glass pose any safety issues for the activity?

- What ages does your before and after-school program support? Do  you have children with intellectual, developmental, or/ or physical disabilities? How will you support their needs?

- How quickly does the program activities take to set-up and take down? Does this pose challenges if the space is scheduled for other use? Where do you store any equipment?

- How can you plan out zones for different types of activities? It is best to not conduct a passive activity like chess within the field of indoor kickball. How will you offer yoga poses in noisy, open areas where basketball is also being played?

There are many facets to organizing and planning before and after-school programs, and we've just touched upon a few of these considerations. The Afterschool Alliance is a great resource for funding, starting, running, and sustaining an afterschool program.

The Positive Impact of Physical Activity in Programs

Participating in before and after-school activities can positively impact children's academic performance, as well as improve their physical and social health. Physical activity helps improve focus and concentration by allowing children to release energy and reduce restlessness, making it easier to concentrate during class.

Exercise also enhances cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain, improving memory and the ability to absorb and retain information. Additionally, physical activity is a great stress reliever, helping children handle the demands of school and life better. Daily movement also helps children become more confident in their physical abilities which translates to other forms of confidence.

Summing It Up: Building a Holistic Program for Lifelong Benefits

By incorporating physical fitness, social and cooperative games, and mindfulness and regulation skills into before and after-school programs, children can gain numerous benefits that translate into improved school performance and overall well-being throughout life. A well thought-out program that offers variety, interest, and intentional activities that support healthy goals can transform children's energy into a powerhouse of health, happiness, confidence, and academic success, providing lifelong benefits.