Afterschooling is supplementing a child's traditional school education with additional learning at home, filling gaps in curriculum or enriching areas of interest.
What is Afterschooling?
Afterschooling means taking an active role in your child's education beyond what their school provides—but without withdrawing them from school entirely. Think of it as homeschooling's lighter sibling. When the school day ends, afterschooling parents continue education at home: filling curriculum gaps the school doesn't address, strengthening weak areas, pursuing interests the school can't accommodate, or simply ensuring their child receives the depth of education they believe matters. It lets families get homeschool benefits—customization, family connection, interest-led learning—without the full-time commitment.
Key Takeaways
- Supplements traditional schooling without replacing it
- No legal requirements or documentation needed
- Common focus areas include reading, math reinforcement, and subjects schools minimize
- Works best when homework load is manageable
- Strengthens parent-child educational connection
Why Parents Choose Afterschooling
Motivations vary widely. Some parents see gaps in what schools teach—perhaps cursive handwriting disappeared from curriculum, or history coverage seems superficial. Others have children struggling in specific subjects who need more practice than school provides. Parents of gifted children often afterschool to provide appropriate challenge. Some simply want their children exposed to subjects like Latin, philosophy, music theory, or practical skills that schools don't cover. And many parents recognize that schools can't possibly address every child's individual interests—afterschooling lets families follow what genuinely excites their particular child.
Making Afterschooling Work
Success requires realistic expectations. Your child spent six hours at school; they're tired. Afterschooling works best when it doesn't feel like more school. Read aloud together. Discuss current events over dinner. Turn car rides into podcast listening. Visit museums on weekends. The most effective afterschooling often looks nothing like classroom instruction. That said, some structured practice—particularly for math skills—may be necessary. Keep sessions short, make them engaging, and remember that consistency over time matters more than marathon sessions.
What to Afterschool
What to Afterschool
- Reading and literature
Read-alouds, family book clubs, classic books schools skip
- Math fluency
Facts practice, word problems, concepts needing reinforcement
- Writing practice
Journaling, creative writing, copywork, correspondence
- Forgotten subjects
Geography, civics, cursive, foreign languages
- Child's passions
Astronomy, coding, art history, whatever sparks genuine interest
When Afterschooling Doesn't Work
Honest assessment helps. If your child's school assigns heavy homework loads, afterschooling may simply not be feasible—there are only so many hours in a day, and children need downtime too. If afterschooling sessions consistently become battles, something needs to change: perhaps the approach, perhaps the timing, perhaps reconsidering whether full homeschooling might actually be easier. Afterschooling works best as a positive addition to education, not another source of stress for already-stretched families.
The Bottom Line
Afterschooling offers a middle path for families who can't homeschool full-time but want more involvement in their children's education. You pick up where school leaves off—filling gaps, pursuing passions, building skills that matter to your family. The key is keeping it enjoyable rather than turning home into an extension of the classroom. Read together. Explore together. Make learning part of family life rather than a separate obligation. No permission needed, no documentation required—just parents choosing to be active partners in their children's education.
