Help Wanted for Essential Childcare Programmes (Voxy, 10/9/08)
October 9, 2008
Read the report cited in this article!
After School Programs in the 21st Century: Their Potential and What It Takes to Achieve It asks if participation in after school programs make a difference, and, if so, what conditions appear to be necessary to achieve positive results.
New Zealand's independent online news site Voxy reports on a drive by the OSCAR Foundation to broaden the reach of out-of-school time programs in New Zealand. OSCAR—which stands for Out of School Care and Recreation—seeks to create up to 20,000 new jobs by working with individuals and organizations to increase the number of programs targeted at 5- to 14-year-olds in New Zealand.
The article cites Harvard Family Research Project's research on the academic, social, and emotional benefits of participation in after school programs.
Excerpt from the article:
"Earlier this year, the Harvard Family Research Project found that children who participate in after-school programmes perform better academically, have better conduct and work habits, and are emotionally better adjusted than children in other informal care arrangements."