Parents in need of after-school programs for their youngsters are in luck. Registration is now open for the NYC Parks Department’s free after-school program for kids ages 6 to 13, and the program is offered at 14 different locations spread throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. It runs Monday through Friday 3pm to 6pm throughout the school year and begins Monday September 21, 2015, ending Friday June 10, 2016.
The Parks afterschool program is a smart option for busy parents looking to keep their kids occupied, engaged and entertained during the afternoon hours. Even though school will be over for the day, your kids’ brains will keep working during afterschool thanks to the program’s offering of academic enrichment and team-building activities. Healthy snacks will be provided and children will get the chance to use the computer under supervision, plus the staff will lead kids in arts and cultural programming, sports and fitness activities and special events. Curious kids rejoice! There will also be opportunities to explore the boroughs through field trip excursions.
To register, head to the NYC Parks website to view the locations that offer the program and access the required forms nyc.govparks.org. Parents will have to download and fill out the after-school application, after-school agreement, photo release and medical form (the medical form must be dated July 2015 or later). Return the completed forms to the physical location you’ve chosen (see the website for details) for your children as soon as possible—openings are first-come, first-served! Keep checking the NYC Parks website for more updates, and head over to our kids' back-to-school guide for other great tips!