After-School Club Ideas: 20 Innovative Activities For Children
Posted by EYR Team on 25th Mar 2024
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After-school clubs are a fantastic way to help children develop new skills, make friends, and explore their interests in a fun and safe environment. Whether your club focuses on sports, arts, academics, or hobbies, there is an activity for every child. Here are 20 engaging after-school club ideas to inspire you.
Why should you start an after-school club?
After-school clubs provide children with a fantastic way to grow and learn in different ways. These clubs go beyond just teaching basic skills like reading and maths. They encourage teamwork, creativity, and confidence while keeping children engaged in meaningful activities outside of school hours. Clubs can also offer a structured space for learning, socialising, and discovering new passions that might not be discovered in the classroom.
Sports and Physical Activities
Sports and physical activities help children stay active while building teamwork, coordination, and confidence. Whether competitive or recreational, these clubs promote healthy habits and allow children to develop both physical and social skills
1. Team Sports
These can include football, basketball, volleyball, rounders, or cricket. They encourage teamwork, friendly competition and healthy physical activity.
2. Individual Sports
Individual sports can include tennis, swimming, or long and short distance running. These are great for boosting self-esteem.
3. Mini Olympics
Organise fun, competitive games like relay races, sack races or obstacle courses
4. Dance or Gymnastics Club
From ballet and hip-hop, to zumba and gymnastics, children explore different styles of movement and express themselves creatively.
5. Yoga or Martial Arts
Teach focus, discipline, and flexibility while helping children manage stress and energy.
Shop sports equipment or outdoor resources to get started
Art and Theatre Clubs
Crafts and the arts inspire both creativity and self-expression. Children can explore painting, DIY projects, drama and music, developing a sense of self, imagination and confidence.
6. Music Club
Bands and orchestra, learning instruments like guitar, piano, violin, drums, flute or recorder
7. Art Club
Art clubs including painting, sculpting, and drawing
8. Drama Club
Performing arts such as theatre, improv, puppetry and role play
9. Film Club
Explore storytelling, filming, and basic editing to nurture creativity and technical skills.
10. Craft Club
Craft clubs including crochet, knitting, jewellery making, or embroidery
Explore our art supplies and instruments to make running arts clubs easier
Academic and Learning Clubs
Academic clubs allow children to continue learning outside of school in a fun and interactive way. They allow children to explore subjects they love, reinforcing what they learn in the classroom. In this informal environment, students not only enhance their understanding of subjects but also develop a genuine interest in learning.
11. STEM Club
These clubs include hands-on experiments, coding challenges and robotics projects that develop logical thinking and creativity.
12. Book Club
Encourage reading, comprehension, and discussion skills while fostering a love of literature
13. Homework Club
This is a great way to provide quiet support and guidance for completing schoolwork successfully.
14. Humanities Club
Humanities are a great theme for an afterschool club, this could be a history club, philosophy discussions, and model United Nations.
15. Languages Club
Boost communication skills, cultural awareness and creative writing via debate club, foreign language practice and interactive games.
Check out educational games and STEAM kits to make learning fun!
Hobbies and Special Interest Clubs
Special interest and hobby clubs are perfect for children who want to explore activities beyond traditional academics or sports. Whether it's crochet, volunteering, art, or drama, these clubs cater to a variety of interests, allowing children to pursue their passions.
16. Gardening Club
Learn about plants, sustainability, and teach responsibility whilst enjoying nature.
17. Chess Club
Chess club is a great way for children to interact in small groups. It also encourages strategic thinking, concentration and problem solving skills.
18. Cooking Club
Teach basic recipes and baking, helping children develop life-long practical skills.
19. Volunteering Club
Community service such as charity drives, community clean up or charity fundraisers.
20. Photography Club
Teach basic photography skills and storytelling through images, boosting observation and creative expression.
Tips for Running a Successful After-School Club
- Keep activities age-appropriate and flexible.
- Include a mix of structured and free-choice activities.
- Rotate themes regularly to maintain interest.
- Encourage children to suggest ideas - they'll be more engaged.
- Provide clear instructions and safety guidance for all activities.
Browse our activity kits and resources below, selected to make running a club easier!
