Great Afterschool Programs and Spaces That Wow!

Does your afterschool program have the WOW factor?

Create a high quality school-age program that is exciting, inviting, and reflects the interests, abilities, and needs of the children. Whether your program operates before or after school, on non-school days, during the summer, or overnight, you can create a dynamic environment where everyone will enjoy spending time.

This book is filled with hundreds of ideas—from setting up a quiet reading nook to tackling clutter—reflecting the authors’ years of experience and hundreds of visits to a variety of school-age programs. It takes you through all of the considerations that affect your program and then lays out a process to help you improve the three dimensions of a school-age environment.
Temporal: Establish schedules, routines, rules, and learning opportunities to meet children’s needs
Interpersonal: Facilitate the relationships and social interactions of children, staff, families, and the greater community
Physical: Create sensory-rich indoor and outdoor spaces

Linda J. Armstrong and Christine A. Schmidt are experienced educational consultants who serve children and youth programs throughout the United States.

Linda J. Armstrong is a consultant for child and youth programs throughout the country. She provides training and speaks at conferences around the world. Additionally, she serves in a variety of positions for several non-profit organizations. Linda is the author of Family Child Care Homes: Creative Spaces for Children to Learn.

Christine A. Schmidt is the owner of 2 CR Solutions, Ltd., a consulting, training, and technical assistance company for organizations that serve children. She is an approved trainer for the Ohio Quality Rating and Improvement System and has served as an afterschool director, out-of-school-time specialist for the state of Ohio, and accreditation manager for The National AfterSchool Association. Christine presents trainings locally, statewide, and nationally.