Out of Home Activities-Asset 18

Out of the Home Activities

To invest in this asset for a child, parents make sure the child is exposed to stimulating activities with the child’s needs in mind. Activities that are fun for the child are essential. Examples of these types of activity are sports, clubs, scouts, tours and other types of outings where the emphasis is on enjoying the activity and not on pushing the child for expected outcomes. Programs that push children to excel are often not fun and can, in some cases, actually be harmful.

For starters (excuse the pun) many communities have Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The mission of each of these organizations is to support the healthy development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers by providing services for education, socio-emotional development, physical and mental health, and nutrition for children of low-income families. The cornerstone of these programs is parent and community involvement, which is a huge part of the 40 Developmental Assets philosophy. To local the nearest Head Start of Early Head Start program, visit the website of the Early Head Start National Resources Center: www.ehsnrc.org/. You will also find a link there for Head Start’s national home page.

Next, you look into the availability of a Boys and Girls Club of America. These organizations offer fun and educational activities of kids of all ages. Their mission is to help children realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring people. Call their national office at 404-815-5700 or check their website for a club in your area: www.boysandgirlsclub.org/

One sure activity for almost all children is to introduce them to animals. Take them to farms, zoos, on nature walks and to visit neighbors or family members who have pets. Teach children to approach pets cautiously and to ask the owner for permission to touch or play with the pet. Of course, having your own pets in always an option.

If children’s sports leagues are focusing too heavily on competition, start some “fun” teams for kids. With fun as the intention, you make sure that kids on all teams have fun by learning sportsmanship and cooperation. Thanks coaches who praise and support every child on their team and every the players on other teams. There is also the option of creating cooperative sports. For instance, volleyball can be made noncompetitive if the intention of the game is see how long the two teams can cooperatively keep the ball in the air. This way the activity is still physically stimulating and skills are built but there is no winner or loser in the end. In essence, the teams compete only with their last best efforts.

Another idea is to enroll children in activities that teach them skills while giving them interesting, well-rounded experiences. Scouting, for instance, is an excellent example of this type of activity.

Finally, pay attention to your child’s schedules. There should be more to their life than organized activities. Children also need free play times, family time, quiet time and homework time.

Need more ideas, call or email me. Remember to enjoy your child and let them enjoy themselves.