Children After School

Let us hope that the new Government in the UK will solve knife crime. The problem
has been caused by lack of community, opportunities and government policies. We now all have to work together and go back to the beginning. So that children growing up can develop interests in what life has to offer and the society around them. Youth clubs have had to close because of lack of financial support.
There is now also so much paper work and red tape involved with working with
children that people are put off by the amount of paper work and are leaving. This
is happening such a lot that there are now staff shortages just when there should be more after school clubs with a wide range of activities for children because everyone has different gifts and interests. It is the job of schools to find out what these are and to nurture that talent. Talents, such artistic or scientific can be passed down through the family. There are so many different interests art, music, dance, sport, engineering, astronomy, archaeology, gardening, work with animals, cooking, caring and much, much more. The trouble is children don’t know half of what is on offer. When it
comes to looking for a career they can fall short of the right qualifications or they just don’t know what there is to choose from.
Everyone has a talent that needs to be discovered and nurtured. Children can be bored and need to share an interest with friends. A hobby or interest brings people
together. A teacher, mentor, parent or someone can inspire you in one of these.
So the government needs to support and encourage people who are trying to get children involved in something that interests them.
If you don't have any hobbies or interests you can be at a loss for something to do and then get in with the wrong crowd and develop the wrong kind of interests. The actor Liam Neeson grew up in Northern Ireland. He enjoyed boxing and had wanted to become a teacher before discovering acting. It was his school work and his other interests that kept him busy and out of trouble. But he knew boys both Protestant and Catholic who did develop the wrong kind of interests and got in with the wrong crowd. By joining the loyalist paramilitary groups or The Irish Republican Army (IRA). This was partly due to the lack of opportunity that was on offer and the deprived area they lived in.
Grandparents could become involved. They could help and learn from each other.
Towns should have a meeting place where people of all ages can go and chat. The old could be helped with any decorating, gardening or odd jobs they need done. Bring and buys could be held. Towns should bring together the community once again.
Communities used to be close knit and supportive of each other and we need to bring this back.
Previous Governments have got rid of the school playing fields which was a ridiculous thing to do since children need a place to play sport and games. How are they
supposed to keep fit and healthy, have fun and learn to play different sports?
Most young people today are bored and need something to do but not just anything it has to be something that interests them and really grabs them I am sure they would seize the opportunity if it was given to them.
Both The Scouts and The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme encourage adventure, responsibility and develop independence which in turn builds self confidence.
Both the Chef Jamie Oliver and the gardener Monty Don have helped to improve young people's lives. Jamie Oliver started the fifteen restaurants to give people who hadn't done well at school the chance of a career in cooking. Most of the people he took on have gone onto do well in their new chosen career. Monty Don helped people with drug problems develop an interest in gardening. Having suffered from depression and the collapse of his business he turned gardening into a new career. Both of them have
used their talent to help others.
Private schools offer plenty of activities for their pupils after school hours they don't just offer sport, art, drama, music and design. But conservation work, global awareness, work with the elderly, charity work and even take up any ideas the children have for activities.
This shouldn't just be open to private schools. It should be available in ALL schools,
youth clubs and communities. So that children have the opportunity to try out
different things and express themselves.
Nowadays with the majority of parents having to work full time and grandparents also working. A family member is not able to be there always when children come home
from school. Sadly some children have ended up as latch key children. As the footballer Rio Ferdinand said "If no one is at home you are not going to stay there
on your own." So children need to be able to go somewhere like youth clubs so they don't have to substitute their family for a gang and that is where schools and communities can help.
To find information on your chosen interest visit your local library and if there is nothing available ask your local MP why there isn't. Don't let them fob you off you have as much right to information, help and support as anyone else. After all they
have invested millions in your welfare and future.
© Children's Web Magazine 2009 - 2010