Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/building-lifelong-relationships-school-age-programs-at-work/5009548/
Building relationships is the most important thing we do in afterschool care. It's the focal point of our program. Even though school age children often lack important skills required in making close relationships, there is a very strong desire to have a friend, to be a vital member of a group, and to have relationships that are ongoing and highly developed.For many children, afterschool programs, replacing the old neighborhoods that we grew up in, provide three essential conditions for establishing relationships. Children need other people, children and adults, who are around on a consistent basis.
Teachers need resources to enable them to provide guidance as quality relationships begin to develop between children and between caregivers and children. Large numbers of child-directed activities, serving as the experiences necessary to apply the principles of being a good friend, are essential. A trained staff can offer more guidance to children in developing relationships than did our neighborhood settings.
We know that academics can be enhanced as the result of attending a school age program. Children can be exposed to exciting activities and experiences. Parents can rest knowing their children are in a safe, caring environment, and we ...