Fall Activities Now Available

With Back-to-School comes Fall activities. What will those look like this year? Who is offering programs?

Extracurricular activities are proven to provide a lot of benefits to children. They get:

• An opportunity to explore new interests. Whether a new sport, art, or academia there are resources for after-school learning.  Kids gain confidence as they learn new skills and interact with others. The arts have been shown to provide children with valuable skills like focus, critical thinking, and cooperation.
• Exercise. When our kids develop a routine that includes exercise, it benefits them into adulthood. After school programs offer a fun and entertaining environment for all kinds of activities. 
• Improved social skills. This is something our children have been craving, especially given the current situation. Even from a distance, interaction with caring adults, volunteer teens, and other children helps to improve their social skills in the process. It teaches healthy relational skills as kids watch adults model them.
• Better achievement with challenging subjects. After school tutoring can be a great way to provide assistance when a child struggles in Math, a foreign language, or other difficult subjects.
• Time management techniques. Learning to prioritize activities and manage their time accordingly is a great skill for every child to obtain.  When kids participate in after-school programs, they’re forced to learn how to manage their activities and allow adequate time for homework.  Balancing extracurricular demands with everyday school requirements teaches discipline and self-restraint and carries long-term benefits.
• The camaraderie and leadership skills. After-school programs help kids feel they belong, which improves self-confidence and self-esteem. Kids gain leadership skills through after school groups and being part of a team. 

We know extracurricular activities are a great way to bring balance to your child’s academic life and teach them many important skills during their formative years. So how do we ensure our children get these experiences, given the current circumstances, in a safe manner? 

According to B.C.’s Back to School plan, extracurricular activities including sports, arts, and special interest clubs can only occur if: 

• Physical distance can be maintained between members of different learning groups
• Reduced physical contact is practiced by those within the same learning group

Here are a few organizations that are mindfully continuing their in-person courses taking into account physical distancing requirements. Precautions have been put in place to ensure the safety of children participating in classes. The classes are now smaller so children can physically distance, enrollment is more flexible, and cleanliness is a top priority!

Arts Umbrella
Vancouver, Surrey
Artsumbrella.com
Arts Umbrella is where young artists ages 2–22 cultivate their creativity in Dance, Theatre, and Art & Design. They are offering a 12-week Fall Session with classes in dance, theatre, and visual arts starting on September 19 until mid-December, offering Vancouver families a welcome opportunity for continued learning and creative expression. Registrations for the Fall programming are now open. Learn more about the classes and how to register here: https://www.artsumbrella.com/programs 

Bricks 4 Kidz
Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster
778/872-STEM (7836)
bricks4kidz.com/vancouver
Ages 5–12
Bricks 4 Kidz® provides STEM programs that inspire kids to learn about architecture, engineering, and design concepts while having fun building with LEGO® bricks. Now offering Virtual Classes (New!), Birthday Parties, Workshops, After School/Weekend Enrichment Classes and Camps.

TumbleTown Movement Education Centre
Vancouver, 604/357-7355
tumbletown.ca
Ages 4 months–8 years
TumbleTown Movement Education Centre offers specialized movement programs for children from 4 months to 8 years old. Our programs introduce children to fun and challenging activities through movement circuits, games, and music. Our programs provide children with the fundamental skills necessary to keep them active for life! We are committed to keeping your family safe: programs have been redesigned to align with current health and safety guidelines, class sizes have been reduced to support physical distancing, and private and group bookings allow families to book the gym for their own social circle. Sign up today!

Uphoria Yoga
Vancouver
uphoriayoga.com
All ages!
Uphoria Yoga is Vancouver’s first a family yoga studio located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, offering classes for all age groups including kids yoga, adult yoga and mat workouts, family yoga, pre & postnatal yoga + fitness, and childminding options too!

Visit our online directory for even more activities!