As a child will grow into a grownup, different factors of his physical, emotional and mental self requires growth. To assist a child attain his entire potential, it is vital to identify the youngsters developing requirements and abilities. To be effective, after school plans will need to help kids with tasks they must achieve throughout each stage of growth.

A child's growth curve can be divided into three major parts:

1. Child (ages 3-5)

2. Middle school (ages 6-8)

3. Older school (ages 9-12)

The four significant domains of development are: The Physical Area, the Social Domain, the Emotional Area along with the Intellectual Domain. All of these domains should be separately tackled through the various stages of a youngster's growth. After school programs ought to deal with developing each area as appropriate for the age of a child. Although the children taking part in these plans could possibly have comparable developmental needs and age, never expect development to be standard. Children will develop when they are ready.

Physical Domain:

When children are little, they wish to perfect skills they've just learned to control. An assortment of movements including jumping, catching and throwing excite them. The middle school boy or girl, on the other hand, wants to learn more difficult abilities and get involved in team sports activities. This really is the optimum time to understand about rules and discipline in sport. The older school child is prepared to get more adult-like activities that need increased structure and discipline, like dancing, gymnastics, popular music courses etc.

Social Domain:

Young children are watching others and will be interested in games where they have fun playing the roles of members of the family. They grow short-term friendships and need an adult's presence to reassure them. The middle school child is fascinated by society and may love tours to industrial facilities, public buildings etc. They want to understand the 'how' and 'why' of things. The older school child is ready to learn about different cultures, food and customs. They want to do some degree of public work also.

Intellectual Area:

Young school children will practice what they're discovering. Middle school young people are interested in learning more abilities and may show interest in reading, theatre and problem handling. The older school children will be ready to study and probe. They like obtaining a challenge and contemplating over it.

Any after school program should address the likes and dislikes of the boy or girl depending within the classification he is part of. Understanding the children within your program and appreciating their needs and likes and dislikes will help staff to plan and structure plans that are most valuable to that group.