A Playbook for Out-of-School Time

The hours after school can be the best part of a kid's day.

A Playbook for Out-of-School Time

The hours after school can be the best part of a kid’s day. OST Essentials provides resources, training, curriculum, activities, and support for after-school programs, homeschool families, churches, caregivers, and youth organizations. This is for program leaders expanding their impact.

Here are a few practical ideas you can use this week.

Use what you have
Many good activities need only paper, a ball or a library card. Creativity matters more than equipment.

Plan school breaks early
Holiday and summer schedules are easier to staff and supply when planned weeks ahead.

Write down what works
Keep a list of the activities kids loved so next season’s planning starts ahead.

Rotate themes
Weekly or monthly themes keep activities fresh and make planning easier.

Build in choice
Offering two or three activity options lets kids follow their interests and stay engaged.

End the day well
A calm closing routine, such as sharing one highlight, helps kids leave on a good note.

Start with a snack and check-in
Kids arrive tired and hungry. A short snack and greeting helps them settle before the next activity.

Prepare volunteers in advance
Send volunteers the plan ahead of time so they can arrive ready to lead.

Keep families in the loop
A short weekly note to families about what kids did builds trust and support.

Map out the week
A simple weekly plan with set times for homework, activity and free play gives kids structure and adults clarity.

If you want help putting this into practice, here is a simple place to start. The Out-of-School-Time Playbook is free from OST Essentials, and a free call with Brett is available too. It is written to be useful right away, with no cost and no catch.

Imagine your program growing without the planning growing out of control.

Plan your program here: https://earningenterprises.com/lp.php?p=OST