What are your Family's and your Child's Unique Needs?
Reviewing these questions will help you decide what's important.
What is our primary reason for seeking a program? Are we seeking a class where he/she can develop or refine particular athletic or artistic skills? Would we like our child to be more physically active? Are we looking for a group where he/she can make new friends and just have fun?
What kind of a program is of interest to my child? Sports, cooking, drawing...the possibilities are almost endless. Have I taken my child's wishes into consideration as I help him/her choose an activity?
Do we need transportation? Can we provide our own transportation to and from the program or do we need alternate transportation? What are our options regarding carpools or transportation provided by the program itself? Is regular travel involved (such as sports teams that have games/matches outside of Newton)?
What is our family philosophy? What do I most want my child to take away from this experience? Is skill development more important than socialization? Do we prefer a team-building experience or one that fosters a competitive spirit?
Special needs. If my child is differently-abled physically and/or intellectually, or has an illness such as diabetes or cancer, do we want a program designed just for children with similar experiences, or do we prefer a program where he/she is integrated with a mix of children?
What can we afford? Can we commit to a full-year program or should we find seasonal or short-term situations? Have we considered "hidden costs" such as uniforms or recitals? Have we inquired about financial assistance?
Can/should my child participate in more than one activity per season/semester? Have I considered my child's personal style, his/her school work-load, our budget, and our family schedule? For example, will that weekly math tutoring session seem more palatable if we balance it with a "fun choice," such as town-league soccer?
May I participate, too? Am I looking for a Parent-Child class I can attend with my infant, toddler, or preschooler? Would I like to volunteer as a coach, team parent, troop leader, etc., for my older child's program?
What should I look for when I visit a program? I hope to see a welcoming, clean facility; compassionate and competent teachers/staff members; appropriate participant groupings (by age or skill level); reasonable group size; engaged participants.
What should I look for in my child and the other participants over time? I hope to see eager participation; practical skill development; social skill development; maturation; achievement (personal and group); advancement; and enjoyment!
