Y Before & After-School Programs

Before and After-School programs are the best way to get the most out of the school day! YMCA after-school programs ensure that your child is continuing to challenge themselves, applying school day learning to hands-on activities and building vital social skills. Plus, with the YMCA, fun and games are never far away!  

Keep Kids Engaged in School!  

YMCA after-school programs offer a fun-focused learning environment that allows kids to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. According to the Afterschool Alliance, of students who participate in after-school programs, 68% improve their homework completion and class participation, and 50% of students improve their math and reading grades.  

The opportunity to experiment in a low-risk environment outside of the classroom gives kids the confidence they need to express themselves and their ideas each day at school. Kids who participate in after-school programs are, in general, more interested in participating in classroom activities and are excited about going to school.

Make New Friends

Kids benefit from the Y’s after-school programs through positive connections with cross-age classmates and staff in the program. The relationships that are nurtured between staff and children help kids develop their own relationships and learn how to treat others. It’s always a great thing when your child can meet new people and have the confidence to interact with them. The Afterschool Alliance says 88% of parents agree that after-school programs help develop children’s social skills.

Growing Leaders  

Developing leadership skills is another important result of children participating in after-school programs and it’s never too young to start! From helping with clean-up to choosing class activities, children get a hand at being a leader among their peers at the Y. Joining in after-school activities sets your child up for success in the future because they’ll learn strong work habits, social skills and gain the confidence needed to prepare them for the rest of their lives.

Being There Matters  

In the U.S., 1 in 5 kids are unsupervised between the hours of 3 to 6 pm. These are the hours, when many parents are still at work, that juvenile crime and victimization peak. As a result, on average, parents lose 8 days of work and businesses lose up to $300 billion a year. When kids have no place to go after school, they miss out on valuable learning opportunities, but also on important supervision.  

After-school programs don’t just improve behavior after school. 60% of students who participate in after-school programs improve their classroom behavior, according to the Afterschool Alliance.  

Programs Right Where You Are

The YMCA of Greater Seattle serves over 60 schools with programming in King and south Snohomish counties. With so many locations to choose from, there is always a Y before or after-school location in a school near you! Find a Program.