Studies have proven that structured after school activities directly correlate to the mood and self-worth of children. Many children today grow up in families in which the guardian(s) are unable to be in attendance for the majority of the childhood, when presence is most crucial. When there is a parent-adolescent detachment, after-school activities increase the child's chances for success. Along with that, there are also social strains that are put on children that may make life difficult. Utilizing after-school activities, such as sports, dance or membership in a club, may positively impact the child so that they feel attached to something, replacing the detachment from the parents, as well as reduces the chances of the child resorting to harmful social strains.
A parent-adolescent study was done by Mahoney, Schweder and Stattin which found that children who had detached relations to their parents had a much higher level of depressed mood. "Adolescents who participated in after-school activities reported low levels of depressed mood compared to adolescents not participating in such activities- (Mahoney et al 69). Children with depressed moods do not live the same sort of life as do kids who have parents around all the time to give them the love and .
After School Activities 3.
support that is needed. Although most adolescence report that they have a good connection with their parents and see them as a partner rather then an adversary, there are many children that exist in which after school activities are essential for a positive impact on the child. There are three key indicators that a child has a detached relation to their parents. The first is that the parent does not know much about their child's daily activities. The second is having a low level of verbal communication with the child, and the third is having a scarce amount of shared time and activities. Economic stress, parental depression, marital discord and divorce, a history of parent-child mistrust or parenting practices/skills that are inadequate or inappropriate can also contribute to having a detached parent-adolescent relationship (Mahoney 2002).
