After Hours: 3 Tips for After-School Balance
While you’re getting in the back to school groove, considering how your student will balance multiple subjects worth of homework, it is also helpful to plan for their after-school schedule.
Here are three suggestions to coordinate your students’ busy afternoons:
Work Together
Spend some time with your student discussing their priorities. What activities or hobbies bring them joy and energy? Then, decide how to best meet those needs - whether it is specific sports leagues or extracurricular activities. Remember, more activities isn’t necessarily
Make a Calendar
Once you’ve determined which activities your student will participate in during this school year, remember to put it all on the calendar. This way, you can avoid double-booking and ensure there is balance in each afternoon. Think about travel times and transitions between activities and remember your specific student’s needs: for example, do they need some rest after school? Remember to include tutors or coaches in your calendar and reach out to them if there is a need to switch up your session times.
Set Goals
Instead of simply going through the motions of a busy Fall season, be intentional about goal-setting with your student. What do they hope to achieve during their extracurricular experiences? What do they want to learn? How will this support their long-term goals? Be sure to write these down and come back to them throughout the season when the challenge of balancing everything may feel too overwhelming.