Looking for an extracurricular activity that will inspire and ignite a passion in your child and pull them from the computer screen?
There are plenty of out-of-the-ordinary after-school activities for the Philadelphia-area children that cater to a wide array of interests.
Learn the language of Irish Dance
Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance
Classes are offered in Fishtown, Mayfair, Torresdale, Parkwood, Bensalem, Trevose and Doylestown
There is more to Irish dancing than quick steps, bobbing curls and pretty costumes. The dance form focuses on concentration, memory and teamwork and can help a child to build confidence, develop a healthy competitive spirit and follow directions.
Switch off the cartoons. Make one yourself
Cartooning: 101 at Fleisher Art Memorial
719 Catharine Street, Philadelphia
Drawing is more fun when your surrounded by friends. On Wednesday afternoons, children ages 8-to-12 flock to the Fleisher Art Memorial's cartooning lab to learn the tricks to putting those ideas onto paper.
"With guidance by faculty member Pat Aulisio, students work independently on comic projects of their choosing while learning new drawing techniques to enhance their comics in a supportive environment that fosters creative drawing ideas while providing constructive feedback."
Registration for the Cartooning Lab is flexible. Parents can purchase a one-, five-, or 10-day punch card.
Acting: Take One
Master the art of Aikido
722 Market St., Philadelphia
The Old City Aikido children’s program is focused on working with kids between the ages of 6 and 13 to improve listening skills, discipline and self-confidence while having fun.
The program uses colored belts to visually denote the progress of a child, helping to keep them excited and engaged, without competing with and comparing themselves to one another.
Sew Your Own Style
800 S. 8th St. in Philadelphia
Sew Philly offers after-school and weekend classes for kids ages 5 to 14. Learning to sew helps children become creative thinkers. Much like engineering, to make a project you must first plan ahead and problem solve.