After-school programs can be expensive. Your hard earned money should yield the most for you, which includes your child’s after-school program. Ideally, your child should be able to head into his or her program ready to participate in all activities, without issues. Here are 3 ways on how to get the most out of your child’s after-school program

1. Bring required equipment or materials each day

Equipment is likely the most important factor on this list. Simply put, your child may not be able participate in various programs without proper equipment. For example, here at Urban Martial Arts, our karate after-school program requires the children to wear karate uniforms. If a child does not have their uniform readily available, they cannot take class. It would be like a baseball player coming to a game without his bat or mitt. Having your child’s program equipment with them each day will ensure full participation, getting the best out of the program. You want your child out playing and participating, not sitting on the bench waiting to be picked up. Pack the equipment and have your child ready.

2. Let the program staff know of any special needs or sensitivities

Every child is an individual and has their own personality, including yours. Maybe your child dislikes a certain color or maybe he is very afraid of spiders. Whatever the case may be, these are issues you must let the program staff know about. A great example to use would be learning differences. If your child requires more specific attention, the staff must be aware. Perhaps he requires certain techniques that will help him get his homework done, let the staff know so they can be effective.

3. Allow your child ample time to grow

Your child needs time. Allow your child that time and don’t expect results to come overnight. Often times, parents are displeased with their children because of high expectations. Remember that your child is unique. Just because other children maybe be excelling faster doesn’t mean your child won’t. Here at Urban Martial Arts, our students are ranked according to skill set, knowledge of our art and time spent participating in our program. Not all of our students graduate to the next rank in the same time frame. If your child may be a little behind in learning a new skill, don’t be hard on them. Some children require a little more time and allowing them that time will result in greater outcomes. New skills take practice to perfect. Parents who speak on their displeasure are not aware that they may actually be deterring their children from continuing to like the program itself, pushing them away from wanting to continue. Allow your child to be themselves, have fun and grow.

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Looking for an after-school program for your child but concerned about costs?

Here are 3 ways to save on after-school programs:

1. Be aware of early registration deadlines

Many after-school programs increase their rates at certain times of the year. At Urban Martial Arts, for example, we always offer a discount to families who register for our karate after-school program before the end of September, and again in June for those who pre-register for the following year. Ask about these deadlines and be sure to register early to capitalize on the savings.

2. Look for programs that also offer enrichment activities

Just about every after-school program offers supervision for your child, along with time for snacks and homework. But some after-school programs also specialize in a certain enrichment activity. At Urban Martial Arts, for instance, our after-school program includes daily karate classes and an opportunity for students to work towards earning a black belt. If you find an after-school program that also offers specialized instruction in a sport or activity, you’ll cut down the costs of having to enroll your child in multiple programs.

3. Ask about late fees and penalties

One way parents end up spending too much money on after-school programs is by not being aware of the program’s policies. Most after-school programs will charge you a penalty if you pick your child up late. Many also charge a no-call fee if you forget to inform the program when your child is absent from school and doesn’t need to be picked up. And of course, you may incur late fees if you pay the program’s tuition late. So make sure you ask for a copy of the program’s policies and procedures, and be aware of all possible fees. At Urban Martial Arts we want to make sure parents avoid fees like this. That’s why during our enrollment process, we go over our policies line by line with parents, making sure there are no unpleasant surprises down the road.

There you have it. If you use these three tips to save on after-school programs, you’ll avoid having to pay more than you have to for after-school this year.

Get After-School Prices & Details

Just enter your email address below to view pricing and details for our karate after-school program.

After school programs are great, fun places for kids to make new friends and learn new skills. It is also great for parents because it creates much-needed time for you to finish up with work or even get some things done around the house.

After school programs are run by professionals who have everything it takes to ensure that your child has the best of times, but there are some things they wish you as a parent would take into consideration.

1. Make sure your child brings needed equipment

Without the right set of tools, even the most talented person cannot do anything. If your child does not have the right set of tools then he/she will find it difficult to participate in any of the activities. So if it is a karate after-school program, make sure your child come with their uniform and sparring gear. If it is a chess after-school program, ensure they bring their chess sets.

2. Keep the program informed about special needs or situations

The after-school program does its best to ensure that your child has a rich and rewarding experience that is designed specially for the individual. The program cannot do this if they do not know what your child needs. Do not blindside the program. Please inform them of EVERTHING your child needs – whether it is dietary restrictions, learning delays or even that your child needs an extra minute in the bathroom. If there is something else going on in the home, also tell the staff. It helps them provide the best possible experience for your child.

3. Pack enough food and drink

There are some after-school programs that don’t demand much in the way of physical activity. And then there are others, like the Urban Martial Arts transported karate after-school program, that are extremely physical. Because your child will be way more active than usual, they will need more food. If you’re opting for a more physical after-school program, be sure to pack a substantial snack each day. Also pack a water bottle so your child can stay hydrated all day long. Many public schools serve lunch as early as 11 am nowadays, so to go without food from 11 to 6 pm would be extremely challenging.

4. Inform the program when your child will be absent

Part of the after-school program’s duty is to pick up your child from school. So unless they hear otherwise from you, they will assume your child has to be picked up every day. If they need to spend an extra 20 minutes looking all around the school for your child because they didn’t know about the absence, that will put the entire student population behind schedule. That’s unfair because other students will miss out on time for homework or activities. So make sure you always inform the program if your child will be out that day.

5. You get what you pay for

Most people would think twice about a $100 Ferrari, and for good reason. It’s the same thing for after-school programs. If the program is free or really cheap, then it likely does not have enough resources or a great facility. If you want a quality program for your child, you have to be willing to pay a tuition rate that is appropriate.

If you keep these five things in mind, your family will be on track to have a fantastic after-school program experience this school year.

Try our karate after-school program!

The Urban Martial Arts Transported Karate After-School Program includes free school pick-up, a free karate uniform, a free T-shirt, karate classes, and plenty of time for homework and snacks.

Just enter your email address below to view prices and details, and to request a free school tour.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

So you’ve decided to get your child into an after-school program and apparently, there are a lot more programs out there than you knew.

Now comes the question: Should you look into one of the free after-school programs in Brooklyn? Or should you apply for one where you pay for the service?

Of course the free after-school programs sound tempting because they’re easy on your budget. But there may be some downsides you haven’t considered.

Here are some things you probably did not know about free after-school programs:

1. There may be a long waiting list for a free after-school program
Free after-school programs are in high demand. Because of this, they usually have a long waiting list for those who qualify to join the program. In the meantime, your child has no after-school care so you’ll have to make alternative arrangements.

2. Activities are often limited within free after-school programs
Most free after-school programs offer little more than glorified babysitting and basic homework help. There may be some rudimentary activities like arts & crafts, but the programming will be very basic and the staff won’t have in-depth expertise.

3. Free programs are often shut down due to budget cuts
Free after-school programs are usually funded with a combination of government funds, non-profit grants, private donations, and subsidies through HRA vouchers or ACS vouchers. Far too often, these programs are on financially shaky foundations. Once one major source of funds gets cut, the entire after-school program shuts down and all the families it was serving are left without after-care coverage.

Paid after-school programs cost a little more, but they offer great value in return.

Here is a list of some of the ways your family will benefit from in a paid after-school program:

1. You don’t have to put your entire financial life on display
To qualify for a free after-school program, you usually have to meet stringent household income requirements. The qualification process can be intrusive, requiring you to submit things like paystubs, tax returns, and child support paperwork. Basically, you have to put your whole financial life on display. After doing all that, you still may not qualify for the free after-school program! Paid after-school programs do not require such an intrusive application. You get to keep your private information private.

2. Your child can learn a new skill in an in-depth way
Unlike many free programs which are very generalist and basic, paid programs offer specialized training in specific areas. In Urban Martial Arts’ karate after-school program, for example, the karate classes are taught by a 5th-degree black belt professional instructor.

3. Paid after-school programs are built to last
Unlike free after-school programs, which are heavily dependent on outside funding, paid programs are structured to be financially self-sufficient. The teams running these programs know how to balance a budget and maintain financial solvency. You won’t have to worry about a program being shut down because of a sudden policy change from City Hall.

In summary, there are some downsides to free after-school programs that you may not have considered. Paid after-school programs allow you to provide your child with a quality program that helps them develop skills they’ll use for the rest of their life.

Try our karate after-school program!

The Urban Martial Arts Transported Karate After-School Program includes free school pick-up, a free karate uniform, a free T-shirt, karate classes, and plenty of time for homework and snacks.

Just enter your email address below to view prices and details, and to request a free school tour.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

Do you need help finding the best after-school programs in Brooklyn?

Then check out this video, full of useful tips on finding the right after-school program for your child:

Try our karate after-school program!

The Urban Martial Arts Transported Karate After-School Program includes free school pick-up, a free karate uniform, a free T-shirt, karate classes 5 days a week, and plenty of time for homework and snacks.

Just enter your email address below to view prices and details, and to request a free school tour.

Be sure to confirm your request by clicking the link on the confirmation email you’ll receive from us.

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