32 After School Activities: Science, Problem-Solving and More
The hours right after school are prime time to get kids engaged in activities that interest and stimulate them. Filling that time can be an overwhelming thought though.
When kids come home from school, they’re often exhausted. The last thing they want is to be pushed to do something.
That’s why it’s so important to take a self-led approach to after school activities.
Whether they need a fun, fast paced activity to get them up and moving, or something more low key and relaxing, you’ll find some great options in the list below. We’ve also included activities for kids who need to wind down with some personal time, as well as ones that get them collaborating with others and socializing.
Problem-solving after school activities
Across just about any field, the most innovative people are problem solvers at heart. Kids are naturally curious and like to get the bottom of things, so problem-solving activities not only prep them for the future, but they’re also fun to do.
1. Synthesis cohorts
Synthesis is a weekly enrichment program where students learn how to be innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Every week students meet over video with peers and facilitators from around the world to dive into an ever expanding library of digital simulation games. In these cohorts, students compete in teams to work their way through complex, real-world issues.
Best for: Synthesis is designed for kids ages 6 to 14.
How to get started: Sign up for Synthesis here.
2. Entrepreneurship Clubs
Interest in entrepreneurship is on the rise, and it’s easier than ever for kids to learn how to think like business people and even start their own businesses. An education in entrepreneurship can help students gain creativity, confidence, financial literacy, and collaboration skills. Maybe one of the most important traits entrepreneurship can foster is the ability to take calculated risks and overcome failures.
Best for: Entrepreneurship clubs are great for kids 9 and up so kids are able to map out their plans and take action on them.
How to get started: Check out Boss Club or Lemonade Day.
STEM after school activities
Supplement your child’s school experience with some extra STEM. Here are some great activities to try.
3. Robotics
Robotics is growing in popularity by the day. And that’s a great thing because the demand for robotics skills in today’s job market is growing quickly as well. Robotics forces kids to workout their logical minds and overcome emergent challenges. They’re bound to make mistakes as well, and robot building is a safe place to learn about overcoming failure, which makes a successful build even sweeter.
Best for: ages five and up.
How to: Check out organizations like Vex or Lego for robotics kits and lessons kids can work on at home, or search for local or virtual robotics clubs and lessons.
4. Build a Soap Box Car
This classic DIY activity is still an educational blast. These motorless cars are powered by gravity but can reach speeds of up to 30 mph, so adult supervision is definitely required. This educational hobby is a great way to encourage mechanical thinking and engineering skills.
Best for: Kids ages 7 and up are eligible to compete in sanctioned Soap Box Derby races.
How to get started: Find local organizations and info to get started here.
5. Learn about the stock market
Just like entrepreneurship education, learning about the stock market at a young age can have a huge impact on a child’s future earning potential and their financial literacy. Experienced investors know about the importance of long-term investing and compound interest, and those concepts take on even more importance for kids since they have the longest time horizon of all.
Best for: Kids ages 10 and up
How to: Amazon has plenty of books on investing geared towards kids and teens. There are also plenty of online investing practice games, such as this one.
6. Practice coding
Coding skills are of course one of the hottest skills in today’s job market, and luckily there are more resources than ever for kids to learn how to code. Coding has been shown to increase students’ reasoning ability and self-esteem. Interestingly enough, it has also been shown to help language learning aptitude as learning to code functions much the same way as learning a new language does.
Best for: elementary grades and up
How to get started: There are tons of free coding classes and bootcamps out there, like this one from Google.
Life skills after school activities
Want your child to gain some basic life skills? Try these activities.
7. Cooking
We know that kids are famished after a long day of learning, so using that hunger to keep the learning going is a great idea. Cooking is one of the most practical life skills kids can learn and a great way to bond with your child. We could have put this in the math section because cooking is a sneaky way to get kids to practice practical math concepts like ratios and conversions. And a food reward at the end of all that learning can’t be beat.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
How to: You could teach your kids a family recipe at home or search for a local cooking class. There are also lots of virtual class offerings to choose from such as the ones from The Kids’ Table. Older kids could choose recipes off of Youtube and practice with your supervision.
8. Wilderness survival lessons
It doesn’t get more practical than outdoor survival skills. What better way to prepare your students for the great big world than to help them learn these skills? Not only will kids gain confidence in their ability to overcome adversity, they’ll also gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world.
Best for: Ages ten and up.
How to get started: Search local survival classes in your area. Or you can watch online tutorials and try them out with your kids for a fun and mutually informative lesson. Finally, REI has plenty of classes at their locations nationwide. Search them here.
9. Vegetable gardening
Whether it’s at home or in a community garden, learning how to grow one’s own food is an incredibly important skill. Kids that grow their own food will have a deeper understanding of how food cultivation and production works, and are contributing to a greener planet. They’ll also be more likely to have healthier diets if they have a better understanding of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Plus home grown vegetables just taste better than store bought.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
How to get started: There are plenty of online tutorials for starting an at home garden, or you could research local community gardens, who will most likely have educational programs for families.
10. Hiking
Kids don’t need a structured lesson to learn about nature, they just need to get outside. Getting off the beaten path and enjoying some time in nature can do wonders for kids’ (and parents’) mindsets, and can be an educational experience as well. Safe, curated trails often have many historical and ecological lessons posted throughout. Encourage your kids to stop, read, and ask questions about what they see.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
How to get started: All Trails has a constantly updated repository of hiking trails with reviews, trail info, photos, and more.
Social and emotional learning activities
Do you want your child to learn more about the world around them and interact with different types of people? Try these activities.
11. Be a mentor/tutor
High school age kids are longing for ways to be more adult and show off their burgeoning maturity. Letting them mentor or tutor younger kids is one of the best ways they can do this. Studies have shown plenty of positive benefits from mentorship for both parties. Mentoring can provide mentors and their proteges with improvements in academics, prosocial behaviors, and self-esteem.
Best for: High school kids 14 and up.
How to get started: search for opportunities at mentorship organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, or try looking into local parent groups on Facebook to see if there are any kids in need in your area.
12. Volunteer to help refugee groups
Unfortunately there is a huge need for volunteers to help resettle and assist refugees as they integrate in their new communities. Kids can serve an important role in this endeavor, helping refugees their own age to learn and feel comfortable in a new country. Kids can serve as tutors, mentors, tour guides, language coaches, and friends. Imagine the feeling of pride and fulfillment your child will get from helping a refugee family. Also, think about all they will learn about different cultures through this experience.
Best for: Middle school ages and up.
How to get started: Search local refugee resettlement agencies through Refugee Council USA.
13. Volunteer with the elderly
Kids can learn so much from their elders. They can also bring so much joy to an elderly person’s day. So why not encourage your child to volunteer at a nursing home? The options for things they can do there are endless. From performing a talent show, to assisting the residents with day to day tasks, to learning from the wisdom only older generations can offer, kids can find plenty to do when volunteering with elderly people.
Best for: Kids ages ten and up.
How to get started: Contact local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or community centers in your area to see if they need volunteers. Or ask around in local Facebook groups to see if any elderly need help in their home.
14. Learn about cultural heritage
Just as it’s important for kids to learn about other cultures, getting in touch with their own is as well. Local cultural clubs are a great way for kids to meet new friends while celebrating their heritage and gaining a larger perspective on the world. When students deepen their knowledge of their own culture, they also deepen their understanding of culture itself and will be more accepting and interested in the traditions of others. Kids who learn about their heritage also tend to have a better understanding of history.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Search Google for local cultural clubs and associations in your area.
15. Volunteer at an animal shelter
What kid doesn’t love animals? Volunteering at a local animal shelter is a great way for kids to learn all about animals and gain more compassion and empathy. Kids can help animals socialize and release stress from being confined all day, all while getting stress relieving benefits from the animals as well. Older kids can even help with shelters’ social media, using their creativity to help animals find their forever homes.
Best for: Ages ten and up.
How to get started: call your local animal shelter to see if they have any available opportunities for kids.
Creative after school activities
If your child has creativity running through their veins, these activities will be perfect for them.
16. Pottery
Hands on fun at its best! The art of pottery is exciting and educational. It’s a great way for younger kids to practice their motor skills. It’s also very therapeutic and relaxing for kids as they knead and mold the soft clay, allowing them to release stress and tension. Besides the therapeutic benefits, it’s also a unique and potentially useful way for kids to express themselves. Imagine their pride when their vases and jars are on display in your house, and they’ll get to make their own homemade gifts for friends and family.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Search for pottery classes in your area. Most studios have kids classes. Also, check out home pottery kits for sale on Amazon.
17. Movie making
Now that we all have powerful video cameras in our pockets, why not let your kid use them to make movies? Budding producers, directors, and actors can hone their skills behind and in front of the camera. Educational opportunities abound; from scriptwriting, to set designing, to costuming, and scoring, the skills kids can practice in this field are endless.
Best for: Ages ten and up.
How to get started: An iPhone/Android and free video editing software like iMovie for Mac and Windows Video Editor for PC are all you need to get your child started.
18. Book clubs
If your child loves to read, encourage them to join or start a book club. Local libraries and bookstores are sure to have resources to help. Book clubs are a wonderful way to socialize and amplify the academic and emotional benefits of reading.
Best for: Middle school and up.
How to get started: Enquire with local libraries and bookstores. You could also ask local parent groups on Facebook to see about helping your child start their own reading group.
19. Painting/drawing
Kids need time to practice self expression, and painting and drawing are the easiest way to make that time. Low stress and inexpensive, kids of all ages love this after school activity. Painting and drawing help kids expand their abstract thinking skills, learn about aesthetics, and explore artistic concepts like color theory.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Youtube is a great place to find a huge variety of tutorials. You can also search local or virtual art classes for a more structured experience.
20. Theater/drama
Another great activity to help kids with their self expression is theater. By acting things out, kids can learn a variety of life lessons in a safe space. Theater works the empathy muscle in the brain by having kids walk in a character’s shoes. And studies have shown that participation in drama programs can lead to academic benefits in areas beyond the arts.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Kids can start playing drama games with friends or siblings. Then when they’re ready, they can join local theater classes.
21. Build a fort
This one is just plain fun, but with some surprising emotional benefits. Kids love building forts for a variety of reasons that have to do with self-expression and having their own space. Forts foster creativity in the construction and decoration process, and they can help kids build a sense of individuality and freedom by giving them a place (not far) away from parents.
Best for: younger kids, although older kids may love the nostalgic aspect.
How to get started: encourage your kids to grab some pillows and blankets, and start building!
22. Design and make clothing
Clothes are the ultimate form of individual expression, and it’s easier for kids to customize their wardrobe than ever. Clothing design can range from simply sketching funky new clothing ideas, to learning to sew and alter clothes, to learning about techniques like screenprinting. There’s a wide world of fashion for them to dive into. Who knows, you may even have a budding fashion designer and entrepreneur on your hands.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
How to get started: Encourage your kids to experiment with their wardrobes (or yours) and research Youtube tutorials on physical clothing design skills like sewing and stitching. You also might find a class in your local community.
23. Make cartoons/animate
What kid doesn’t love cartoons? Another great way for kids to express their creative side is to try their hand at drawing and animating cartoons. This skill can help kids get better at drawing and/or using computer programs designed to bring cartoons to life. With more demand for digital and animated content than ever, this fun after school activity could be the bridge to a lucrative career.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: There are plenty of Youtube tutorials for kids to get the basics down. You can also search free animation programs to help kids practice using the digital tools of the cartoon trade.
24. Be a Journalist
Younger kids are naturally inquisitive, and teens are naturally skeptical, so why not put these traits to good use and encourage your kid to try out some journalism? Journalism encourages values like honesty and ethics, and helps refine skills like questioning and research. Kids could interview family or community members about current or historical topics, or they could write first hand stories about their own experiences.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Here’s a great resource for younger and older kids alike to get started with journalism.
25. Make an “I’m Bored” jar
Why try to reinvent the wheel? Keep a jar filled with slips of paper your child can reach for any time they are not sure how to fill those hours after school. The best part is you can continually add new and proven ideas to the jar so it grows with your child. Do something random and fun one day? Add it to the jar so it’s a possibility next time your child reaches in.
Best for: Any age. Just tweak the activities to more age appropriate ones.
How to get started: Add in the suggestions from this article! Also quick Google search for “activity jar for kids” turns up 100s of ideas to stock your jar. But don’t forget to personalize it too!
Physical after school activities
Get their heart pumping with these activities.
26. Martial arts
If your child is looking for something practical, fun, and active, martial arts are a great choice. Self defense is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits martial arts can offer. They encourage children to compete with themselves, which may be great for some kids who don’t thrive in organized team sports. They also help kids learn self-control and self-respect.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Just like dance, there are plenty of online tutorials available to get started, or you can search for local classes.
27. Hip-Hop dance
Hip-Hop dance is a great dance style for kids who love a fast pace and the newest music trends. Hip-Hop dance is great for building both individual confidence and collaborative skills. Kids will burn a ton of energy and are sure to be tired after a class. Hip-Hop dance also encourages freestyling and this freedom of expression may help shy kids come out of their shell.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Students can start by following Youtube tutorials and when they’re ready they can join a local studio.
28. Ballet
If your student wants a challenge, ballet may be for them. Ballet is one of the most physically demanding forms of dance and as such it’s a great way to tone up, as well as build strength and length in their muscles. Ballet is also a very detail oriented form of dance so it will be a cognitive challenge in addition to a physical one. Lastly, ballet is a historic dance form so your child can take pride in continuing a longstanding and prestigious dance tradition.
Best for: All ages
How to get started: For classes for younger kids check out Tutu School, and for older kids search Google for schools in your area.
29. Irish step dance
Irish dance is becoming a multicultural phenomenon. Kids of all cultures are trying and loving Irish dance for its unique, fast-paced, yet controlled style. The clases are a fun, social event, and the exercise benefits are on par with ballet. Irish dancing also takes on a sporting aspect as teams take part in competitions, allowing kids a fun and different way to express their competitive sides.
Best for: All ages.
How to get started: Search for local Irish step dance organizations in your area.
Foreign language after school activities
Is your child ready to learn a second language? Try these methods.
30. Language immersion programs
Studies show the best way to learn a foreign language is to be immersed in it. Why? Because it mimics the way we learn our first language, by having kids interact and use the language they are trying to learn in everyday contexts. Academic benefits extend beyond just learning a new language, research shows, as kids engaged in immersive programs do better in the classroom overall. There is a social benefit to language immersion as well, as students get to meet and interact with kids from different cultures, broadening their horizons and cultural knowledge. There are plenty of after school language immersion programs to choose from these days.
Best for: Kids of all ages can benefit from language immersion, but elementary aged students will reap the biggest benefits.
How to get started: Search language immersion after school programs in your area.
31. In-person or virtual private language tutoring
Language instruction from a private tutor is another great way to learn a different language. Some kids may feel overwhelmed in immersion programs, so a more relaxed setting may benefit them.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
How to get started: You can try a Google search like “Spanish language tutors in Austin,” for example, or post in your local Facebook groups to ask for recommendations for nearby tutors. To sign up for online foreign language tutoring, check out Preply and Verbling.
Video games
Ok, we know, when you think of enriching after school activities for your child, video games might not seem like the best idea. But video games get a bad rap. A huge body of research has shown that videogames can be incredibly effective and engaging learning tools.
32. Play video games (check out our epic list)
Why not extend your child’s learning by giving them a game that matches their interests and aptitudes, and allows them to enhance their knowledge in a fun, virtual way?
From science, to math, to language arts, and beyond, there are plenty of video games that are proven to be both educational and fun.
Best for: Video games can be effective learning tools for kids ages 5 and up.
How to get started: Check out our comprehensive list of educational video games for kids here.
The best after school activities should be completely different from school so kids get to experience what school doesn't provide, namely applied learning and open-ended decisions.
If you're looking for something different, check out Synthesis. We offer collaborative problem-solving cohorts for kids. Learn more about Synthesis.
