Highlighting the Power of Afterschool Programs

**Mixing up 'magic matter!' Students explore what happens when cornstarch, water, and coloring are combined. This was one of several School-Age Program activities at Children's Village to mark** **Lights on After School, a national awareness event about the benefits of quality out-of-school time programs.**

Children's Village Highlights the Power of Afterschool Programs
in Promoting Student Success and Well-Being

Students reveled in the magic of mixing cornstarch with water, creating colorful bubble-painting masterpieces, building robotic arms, and more--all part of our School-Age Program’s recent Lights on Afterschool celebration.

Showcasing STEM Education

With a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math STEM), the October 26 event highlighted afterschool programs’ powerful role in helping children, families, and communities thrive. Sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance, Lights on After School is a nation-wide event. The aim is to illuminate the ways in which afterschool programs keep children safe and healthy, inspire them to learn, and give working parents peace of mind.

“We chose to shine a light on STEM learning because such exploration and discovery are integral to preparing children for academic and professional success. The hands-on investigations ignite students’ imagination. Exploring what happens when you mix a solid and a liquid, for example, call upon children’s creativity to construct ideas and explanations. Plus, it’s great fun!” says Eileen Flannery, School Age and Staffing Director.

**Is it a liquid or a solid? Students roll up their sleeves to mix materials during a 'magic matter' experiment.**

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Students brainstorm ways to build a bridge from cotton swabs.

Students work together on a cup stacking challenge to create various patterns using rubber bands and pipe cleaners.

**After mixing paint with water and a squirt of washing-up liquid, students stir and then blow into it with a straw to create bubble masterpieces.**

Project-Based Learning: Inviting Children to Explore Topics of Interest

Our School-Age Program embraces project-based learning (PBL), which often features STEM approaches. Through PBL, teachers invite children to explore topics that interest them, engaging children to take the lead in learning.

"Over a multi-week period, children will research solutions to real-world issues relating to a theme, such as protecting endangered species. They will work independently and with peers. Doing so, provides opportunities for collaborating, concentrating, compromising, and practicing self-control. The students then present what they have discovered through a culminating activity,” says Ms. Flannery.

Safeguarding Well-Being: Social-Emotional Learning
Our School-Age Program offers even more than academic enrichment; it helps children understand their emotions. Given the upheaval from the pandemic, supporting students' social-emotional development takes on even greater significance. Through a research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, Children's Village is helping children to cope with stress, form healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions.

**A student assembles the hand of the robotic arm she is building!**

Healthy Bodies-Healthy Minds
Another aspect of the School-Age Program's whole-child approach is supporting healthy bodies and healthy minds. Embedded in the program are health education, physical activity, and nutritious meals, which include local produce. (View our menus here.)

“High-quality out-of-school time programs can help children reach their full potential. We are thrilled to again participate in Lights on After School to raise awareness of the pressing need for funding to ensure more children, families, and communities benefit,” says Mary Graham, Children’s Village, Executive Director.

FOR TIPS ON ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING, CLICK HERE.

Committed to excellence, Children’s Village is pursuing accreditation for our School-Age Program from the Council on Accreditation, the national entity evaluating afterschool programs. Since 1996, Children’s Village has achieved consecutive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children for our programs serving children up to fourth grade.

Our School-Age Program continues to welcome K-6th graders to enroll for the current academic year. To learn more, including available subsidies, please visit How to Enroll or email Beth Baker, Family Services Director.