October 24th is the 20th Anniversary of Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America’s children, families and communities. Have you registered your event? It’s not too late! After this week, the printer can’t guarantee that your posters will arrive before October 24. Register your celebration […]
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In late 2018, the Connecticut After School Network released its 3rd edition of the Connecticut Quality Self-Assessment Tool (CT-QSAT) to help strengthen after school programs. A quality program is one that is reflective and willing to improve, change, and grow. It believes in successful outcomes for its participants. It understands that improving program quality is […]
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5 Tips to Kick off a New School Year with a Bang! The summer is ending, and we are quickly re-acclimating to another school year. As you plan for the 2019–2020 school year, I have a few tips that can help afterschool educators get their new students ready for up-coming school year. Introductions. One of the […]
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Three Great Movies that Teach Empathy for Middle School Students The right movie can provoke thought, stir our emotions, and spark our curiosity. When a child connects to a film, it can evoke the feeling of empathy better than any lesson ever could. In this blog post, I will provide you with three great movies […]
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Developing resilience in children is not an easy endeavor. Each child temperament and ability to cope with adversity may differ. However, an emotionally competent parent or supportive family member is a significant source of helping children strengthen anatomy and willingness to ask for help when necessary. This blog post will explain five ways adults can […]
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Three Key Strategies for a Full Day as a Youth Counselor It is vital for youth camp counselors to be prepared for full day summer camp. I remember how exhausting a day of work could be as youth development counselor. In this blog post, I will discuss three self-care strategies for youth development summer workers […]
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Getting Ready for your Back to School Night Event Back -to- School Family Night is a great way to enhance family involvement for your afterschool program. The event supports parent involvement as well as shapes children’s understandings of positive community interactions and it also promotes family bonding. A Back-to-School Family Night should be colorful, fun, […]
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Using Poetry as a Tool for Teaching Social Emotional Development Depressed When a tomato gets chopped, it is depressed. When carrots get diced, they are depressed. When they get mixed, they are depressed. Together! In awe, I read each line of my student’s words and appreciated the depth of her talent and creativity. After reading […]
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SEL Summer Program Resources I love a good find! I bet so do you. Recently I have found tons of excellent free SEL resources on Pinterest’s website. These easy to implement activities will need minimal time to prep and complete. Also, they will be a great add on too many of your scheduled programs. In […]
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What is an Ally? An ally is someone who acts to support those who are bullied. Empowering children to be advocates will help the culture of your program and it will build awareness. By equipping young people with the skills and abilities to be honest and open about their lives, you will support all of […]
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