Guest columnist Ken Wood is the director of communications for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. He is a former journalist and youth baseball coach who now serves on the board of directors of the Footpath Foundation.
One of the biggest issues in our country today is the need for affordable childcare.
And rightfully so. Families are struggling to find daycare services that are high quality, located nearby and budget friendly. Ask anyone with kids if it is easy to meet those standards.
At the same time, it seems we are not paying enough attention to an important segment of the childcare issue — afterschool programs that keep kids engaged and parents working.
In many instances, a child’s future is shaped by what they do — or do not do — after school is out for the day.
Support for positive afterschool activities should be a higher priority.
I know that is easier said than done. Some schools and nonprofits have had to cut back on afterschool offerings due to budget constraints. And some options are just not affordable for families.
Our son spent a lot of his afterschool hours in school sports — specifically baseball, basketball and soccer — and outdoor-related programs such as Envirothon and Scouts. He also spent time in jazz band and volunteered in a therapeutic horsemanship program.
I know it is cliché to say, “It kept him busy.” But it did. I think it also helped him see the world differently.
The need for afterschool programming is undeniable.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, for every child in Ohio that is enrolled in an afterschool program, five more are waiting to get in.
In Ohio, the average child spends 5.7 hours per week alone and unsupervised after school; in 2020, 265,187 kids in the state were alone and unsupervised between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.
The Afterschool Alliance’s Ohio After 3 p.m. survey found that 92 percent of Ohio parents whose children are involved in an afterschool program are satisfied with their child’s experience. And 76 percent agree that these programs help working parents keep their jobs.
The same survey found that 74 percent of Ohio parents agree that afterschool programs reduce the likelihood that youth will engage in risky behaviors.
Law enforcement statistics consistently support this: The 3-6 p.m. weekday hours after school are when youth are most likely to become victims of crime or to get into trouble.
My guess is you are not at all surprised by this.
Support afterschool programs wherever they exist. They help kids develop teamwork, new skills, compassion and critical thinking skills. Those aren’t nice-to-haves. They matter.
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