Afterschool enrichment activities are vital for children's development, offering significant academic, social, and physical benefits. They enhance academic performance, with studies showing improved grades and test scores among participants. These programs also foster social and emotional growth by providing structured environments for building friendships and teamwork skills. Also, these activities help children discover new interests and develop essential skills not typically covered in school. By integrating these diverse benefits, afterschool programs play a crucial role in the holistic development of children.
So today I'll share awesome options to enrich your child’s education including fun podcasts, new challenges, free classes, and more. I've selected activities that provide meaningful learning experiences and help reinforce or expand upon what kids are learning in school; those that capture children's interests and keep them actively participating; and programs that have clear safety protocols, and an appropriate adult-to-child ratio.
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What are examples of enrichment activities?
Enrichment activities break the barriers of curricular structures and government mandates. These activities allow students to design, create, and learn without limits. Examples of enrichment activities are art clubs, coding groups, music lessons, and sports.
Afterschool Enrichment Activities
1. Start a garden club
Starting a gardening club can teach kids about plant biology, responsibility, and the environment. Kids can grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Check out Kids Gardening for help getting started.
2. Photography Workshops
Teach kids the basics of photography, including composition, lighting, and editing. They can explore their creativity and learn a new skill.
3. Chess Club
Chess improves strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Organize a chess club where kids can learn and compete. Check out Central NY Chess for help getting started.
4. Sports Club
Organizing a sports club provides children with a fun and active way to stay healthy and develop important social skills. Sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, or track and field offer structured environments where kids can learn teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Regular participation in sports activities also helps improve physical fitness and mental well-being. Local community centers or schools often have sports clubs that parents can join or start. Resources like TeamSnap can help organize and manage youth sports teams.
5. Creative Writing Group
Encourage kids to write stories, poems, or even scripts. This helps improve their writing skills and fosters creativity.
6. Robotics Club
Introduce kids to robotics with kits like VEX Robotics for hands-on learning experiences that foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They can build and program their own robots. Encourage them to complete in First Robotics Competitions and VEX Robotics Competitions. Get started with live online Junior Robotics class, where students learn how to code a robot to move, draw, turn, and more, all in the virtual world.
7. Cooking Class
Teach kids basic cooking skills and healthy eating habits. They can learn to make simple, nutritious meals and snacks.
8. Walking Club
Walking club is an excellent way to encourage kids to stay active while enjoying the outdoors. It promotes physical health, provides a social environment for children to interact with peers, and allows them to explore their local environment. Walking clubs can include nature walks, historical walks, city tours, or simple neighborhood strolls.
9. Music and Rhythm Club
Introduce kids to different musical instruments and rhythm exercises. They can learn to play, compose, and appreciate music. Check out Chrome Music Lab for ideas.
10. Environmental Club
Teach kids about environmental conservation and sustainability. Activities can include recycling projects, clean-up drives, and nature walks.
11. Game Club
A game club is a fun and engaging way for kids to develop strategic thinking, problem-solving, and social skills. The club can include a variety of games such as board games, card games, and logic puzzles. It encourages friendly competition and helps children learn the importance of rules, strategy, and critical thinking. Websites like BoardGameGeek offer a wealth of resources and game ideas.
12. Beginner Coding
Scratch is a platform designed by MIT that teaches children the necessary creativity and critical thinking skills to learn to code. Using inquiry-based learning, students immerse themselves in creation and design in this beginner-friendly class. Children learn how to make awesome games while mastering logic, in this fun course designed by Google and Stanford experts.
Younger students might enjoy Scratch Junior, while older students will be a good fit for Accelerated Scratch.
13. Creativity Camp
Wacom Creativity Camp is a series of inspiring, educational, and instructive free online and in-person workshops from professional digital artists. Each workshop is aimed at inspiring the next stage in your creative journey, leveling up your digital art skills, and making sure you never stop learning. Create a suspenseful Manga page, create interesting illustrations with everyday object, and draw a narrative self-portrait project.
14. Game Building Club
In this creative after-school activity, students can use their Scratch coding skills to design amazing projects. In a 55-minute session, students apply their skills to new creations such as making a maze, designing a Pacman game, and much more. There's also an expert who can answer any questions live over video, so your student won't get stuck.
15. NASA STEM Club
Explore the mysteries of outer space science with fun projects every week. From Mars and aliens, to galaxies and rockets, space fascinates many kids and adults alike, and is the source of powerful imaginations. In this series of classes, your kids will learn a wide range of topics related to space science, NASA, and practice other STEM skills. In each session, we will learn cool new things about space and science, then build small projects and play games sometimes to make it fun and strengthen the learning.
16. Canva for Kids
Arts programs encourage creativity and self-expression. Does your child want to create beautiful digital cards, posters, slides or videos for their school projects? Now they can make all of these fascinating projects with Canva - a powerful and trendy graphic design platform with a simple interface (and creating an account is free)! This fun online live course explores examples of great graphic design and video storytelling. Your child will learn to use the intuitive drag-and-drop tool in Canva to create their own designs.
17. Girl Scouts at Home
Girls are able to access Girl Scout activities from anywhere. The organization set up a series of 28 badges for girls to earn as they explore math, entrepreneurship, and digital leadership. Troops can register or girls can register on their own.
18. Boy Scouts at Home
Boys are provided with at-home challenges through the Boy Scouts. The organization presents 30-day challenges to boys based on their grade level. And parents and families are encouraged to do the projects with the boys so learning can occur together at home.
19. Book Club for Kids
This is a 20-minute podcast geared towards children that love to read. There are a variety of activities and interesting people within the podcast. There are over 100 free episodes currently for children and families to enjoy! Each episode includes interviews with authors and celebrities who read excerpts, making literature come alive. These activities foster a love for reading, improve literacy skills, and encourage thoughtful conversation among peers.
Free Afterschool Enrichment Activities
On a budget? No problem. Here are a few free after-school enrichment activities your child might enjoy this year.
20. Intro to Coding
This introductory, free course provides children with the basics of coding through a fun project. Children get to see example projects from other students, and can enjoy the help of an expert in real-time in case they have any questions. Teachers use inquiry-based instruction to ensure concepts are full grasped and applied.
21. Tech Expert Events
These free events are glimpses into the lives of technology experts from all over the world! The topics have no limit and some sessions have covered Intel, Pixar, NASA, and AI. See what free events are upcoming, and register anytime. If your child can't make them live, you'll still get the event recording via email.
22. AI Explorers
This free live online event teaches children fun cutting-edge AI applications. Students learn about self-driving cars and the purpose of AI in the real world. Throughout the lesson, students are involved in hands-on activities and immersive discussions.
23. OK GO Sandbox
Children design music creations through the integration of math, art, and science. Students learn to create music videos that touch on STEAM concepts. The activities are posed as challenges to bring out students’ creativity.
24. EdPuzzle
This free resource provides children with the ability to watch lecture videos and answer questions about any topic that they are interested in. The age range is quite large and provides families with many options for kids regardless of grade level. EdPuzzle provides quiz opportunities for children to test their learning.
25. PenPal Schools
This platform facilitates global collaboration for children, regardless of location. The site connects over 150 countries together as children learn to be global citizens. Students read, write, and create across countries.
Afterschool Enrichment Activities for Elementary School
Have a child in kindergarten through fifth grade? Discover specific activities geared towards elementary school students.
26. Minecraft Modding Quest
This is one of my favorites for kids that love playing Minecraft. They can actually code their own Minecraft games! In this fun online class, students learn the basics of coding through solving puzzles. Then, children start designing their own games once they have mastered the coding concepts. Creativity and problem solving are at the heart of this class!
27. ABCmouse
This company offers 850 lessons across 10 levels for elementary students ages 2-8 to engage with. The platform includes interactive lessons in reading, math, science, and art, all structured in an engaging, game-like format. ABCmouse provides over 10,000 activities that adapt to each child’s learning level, ensuring personalized educational experiences. The system has tickets and rewards as children progress through the program. This makes learning fun across subject areas!
28. ABC Language
ABC Language offers 30 languages to choose from. Children work with instructors to develop a tailored program specific for their needs. They offer customized curriculum, flexible scheduling, and professional staff.
29. NASA Space Satellites
Has your child ever wondered what it would be like to look down upon the earth from space? Do they know how small the space satellites can be today? In this exciting online event, students will meet the space expert Dr. Eaton to explore the fascinating world of CubeSat - a small satellite used for space research that is made up of multiple cubic modules of 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm size. Students can also learn about the opportunities to design and build a real space satellite and get it launched by NASA. Save a spot for your child for free today.
Afterschool Enrichment Activities for Middle School
This section will detail the best options for enrichment programs at the middle school level.
30. Python for AI
Python is a high-level coding language with many applications. Netflix and Google use this coding language extensively in their work. Throughout the course, students learn the basics of Python and how it can be applied to AI. You can even get started with a free live online Python course.
31. Roblox coding
Roblox is a very popular activity with kids nowadays! Join this first-in-kind class that empowers kids to build games in Roblox using a fun block-based system, rather than complex Lua syntax. Learn important coding concepts such as if/then, loop, and variable in the context of Roblox coding, as well as how to have game elements respond to interactions from players such as clicks, movements, and more! Plus make a dodgeball game, multiplayer games, and so much more. There's a free Roblox class session to get started:
32. Breakout EDU
This site offers standards aligned games for children all the way up to 18 years of age! They offer games in every subject, too. The games promote critical thinking and connection.
33. Exploratorium
This company, located in San Francisco, offers digital videos and DIY projects where kids can immerse themselves in science. “The Tinkering Studio” encourages experimentation outside of museum walls. There are many activities to choose from depending on your child’s interests.
Enjoy Fun and Educational Afterschool Enrichment Activities
There are various avenues to choose from depending on your child’s interests and goals. We hope you enjoy finding an enrichment program that specifically meets your child’s needs.
Up next, learn all about creating custom Scratch sprites or see some of the best coding classes for kids.
Written by Lauren Mauel, a Create & Learn instructor with 8 years of teaching experience. She also has a BS in Mathematics, an MS in Analytics, and is a PhD candidate. She loves seeing kids' creativity come alive.
