What does your child do after school?


Middle Childhood Matters supports out-of-school time programs and activities that offer education, recreation, leadership and other skill development for children 6-12 years old. Funded through the United Way of the Lower Mainland, Middle Childhood Matters is committed to helping children attain the social skills, good health, and self-esteem they need to prepare for the challenges of the teen years.

How is your child supported by out-of-school time activities and opportunities?

Middle childhood (6-12 years of age) is a time of change and challenge. It is a time of unique and critical development when important competencies are developed. UBC Middle Childhood researcher Kimberley Schonert-Reichl tells us why communities are challenged to meet the needs of this age group. She cites

  • Increased family mobility
  • Increased parental employment, with 80% of Canadian mothers with school age children in the work force
  • Increased numbers of children with mental health problems
  • Increased numbers of children identified as “at risk” for health and wellness outcomes
  • Increased amounts of time spent with entertainment technologies

How does your child benefit directly from well-planned out-of-school time activities?

  • Belonging
  • Safety
  • Physical, social, emotional, and intellectual support
  • Activity and engagement in a variety of projects and programs
  • Developing competencies competencies
  • Learning developmentally appropriate skills
  • Connecting to significant, supportive adults, particularly parents and extended family members
  • Developing positive relationships with peers of both genders

How can you support your child?

  • Encourage active participation in structured out-of-school time activities
  • Make positive connections with your child every day
  • Limit time spent with entertainment technologies

Where is the research to provide more information about out-of-school time?

Middle Childhood Matters
On the North Shore

Just for Kids

Cool things to do after school on the North Shore

Great Websites:
(Thanks to parents magazine 2004)

To Get Information

  • Yahooligans!
    The ultimate kid-friendly search engine. Based on the popular adult Yahoo! site, it‘s a safe place for children to look for information and has a great list of age-appropriate reference links.
  • Ask Jeeves Kids
    The best search engine for answering simple kid questions like, “How does an iceberg form?” or “What causes hiccups?”
  • Kids Click!
    This site was created by a group of US librarians so kids could find age-appropriate Web content on everything from science to health to popular entertainment. All links are non-commercial and non-violent.
  • How Stuff Works
    This award-winning site clearly and concisely tells kids (and adults!) how different things work – from the everyday (how automobile engines run) to the unusual (how Jell-O sets).
  • Fact Monster
    This is a one-stop reference source of kid-friendly facts and articles. The award-winning site also has loads of interactive tools that encourage kids to improve their math, spelling and vocabulary.

For Fun and Entertainment

  • CBC Kids
    This terrific extension of CBC’s educational and entertaining programming for kids targets specific ages like preschool, afterschool and teens. Activities include non-violent games like Canuck Rally and interactive horoscopes.
  • PBS Kids
    The activities and games on this award-winning site feature many of the characters from kids’ favourite TV shows, including Caillou, Clifford, Barney and Oscar the Grouch. Easy navigation makes it friendly for young and first-time Internet users. There’s also an extensive resource section for parents and teachers.
  • Kids Reads
    The best place on the Web for kids to find information about their favourite books and authors, including excerpts from the hottest new releases.
  • Funology.com
    A great place for kids to find things to do – not just at the computer, but anywhere. The million and one games, magic tricks, recipes, experiments and craft projects will put a stop to the “Mom, I’m bored” syndrome.

To Learning More

  • Discovery Channel School
    The creators of the popular Discovery channel initially designed this site with parents and teachers in mind – but the fun activities have major kid-appeal too. A favourite feature is the learning adventures that let kids explore everything from Cleopatra’s palace to the space station.
  • Virtual Museum of Canada
    Multimedia presentations, image galleries and interactive games make learning Canadian history and geography a lot more fun.
  • CoolMath4Kids
    Games, brain twisters and colouring-book activities for a variety of age groups help make math fun. A great site for kids who are struggling with multiplication and need to practise their skills.
  • Science Made Simple
    This no-frills site helps kids learn science the easy, hands-on way with clear, detailed answers to their questions and lots of fun projects and experiments.
  • Funbrain.com
    Interactive tools and games like Grammar Gorillas and MathCar Racing entice kids to learn.

To Understand Your World

  • Canadian Wildlife Federation
    This site encourages young naturalists to actively participate in wildlife conservation, including building a backyard habitat for birds and butterflies.
  • United Nations Cyber School Bus
    Translated into six languages, the rich content and resources on this United Nations-sponsored site let children participate in a global community over the Web.
  • National Geographic Kids!
    The best part of this all-round great site is the current affairs section, written in easy-to-understand language, so kids can keep on top of new archaeological digs and historical discoveries.
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    A perfect place for budding astronomers to learn about the galaxy. Kids can receive up-to-the-minute bulletins about space programs or use the multimedia section to view current images in space