A new school year has just begun, and that means another year of beyond 3:30 – our free afterschool program where kids feel safe, welcomed and supported after the bell rings.
Children and youth learn a ton of different things at beyond 3:30, dividing their time between academic support, physical activity and nutrition. But there’s one aspect that’s woven throughout the entire program: emotional wellness.
Emotional wellness is what helps kids make good decisions, connect and communicate well with others, and bounce back from disappointments – skills that are critical for success in all areas of their lives. On the heels of a new study showing how emotional wellness programming fits successfully within afterschool programs, we’re so excited to start another year of this kind of support for beyond 3:30 kids!
Stocking kids’ emotional wellness toolkits
Through a variety of fun activities, kids at beyond 3:30 will build their emotional wellness toolkits as they learn how to:
- Identify emotions, manage big feelings, and cope with stressful situations.
- Nurture a positive self-image, set personal goals, and self-motivate.
- Make good decisions to support their personal goals and wellness.
- Practice empathy, communicate effectively, and resolve social conflicts.
Some activities that will help support emotional wellness
Making Strength Trees to remind themselves that they have a lot of be proud of, and that they can use their strengths to keep growing!
Creating an “Affirmation Station” and Gratitude Tree to build positive self-images and outlooks.
A Wellness Walk, with activities promoting mindfulness, resilience and teamwork.
By the end of the program, kids will have a strengthened skillset to help them persevere through challenges, achieve goals, and forge positive paths for themselves in the world. And along the way, they’ll form new connections, make new friends and have lots of fun. That’s what we call success!
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