Best After School Programs For Kids

Another school year is upon us, which means students, parents, and teachers are transitioning away from summer and facing fresh challenges. For our kids, it can mean new schools, friends, and lessons in the classroom. But for parents, it can be more complicated. How do we help our kids address larger concerns like self-confidence, learning how to make friends, and setting and reaching goals? How do we deal with troubling social issues like peer pressure and bullying?

The Need for Community Resources

With so many two-career families and schools being asked to do more with less, many of us are looking for community resources to bridge the gaps between family, community, and schools. In the Sacramento Valley, we are fortunate to have many resources that not only keep kids safe and busy after school but also help them learn skills that aren’t taught in classrooms.

A Guide to After-School Activities

City of Sacramento Programs
The City of Sacramento offers programs for kids from kindergarten to middle school through its START program. This includes:

• Physical activities
• Academic challenges
• Social enrichment
• Recreational opportunities
  (For more information, visit: START Program)

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento
The Boys and Girls Clubs offer kids from ages 6-18 a range of programs focused on:

• Academics
• Sports
• Character and leadership development
  (For more information, visit: Boys and Girls Clubs Programs)

Sacramento Area YMCA
The YMCA has various programs including:

• Aquatic programs
• Sports programs
• Academic-oriented classes
• Youth government programs

Martial Arts at Kovar’s Satori Academy

Our Mission
At our martial arts academy in Sacramento, CA, we share the goals of these community organizations: equipping kids with the tools to navigate a complicated world. However, we strive for more. We want to help students become their best selves, people ready to make their communities a better place. Our programs help students develop confidence, discipline, and goal-setting skills in an environment that promotes community and a sense of family.

Key Benefits of Kovar’s Martial Arts Program

People Skills
Students at our nine centers become better listeners as they learn martial arts from our skilled staff. This process helps them become more grounded, focus on the task at hand, improve posture, balance, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, verbal communication, and eye contact.

Addressing Bullying
At Kovar’s, we teach students to recognize potential bullying situations before they happen, providing them with the tools to avoid or diffuse those situations effectively.

Cross Training
While students at Kovar’s learn martial arts such as jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, and krav maga, these skills often benefit them in other athletic pursuits. Many of our students have found that their training translates into excelling at sports like baseball, improving concentration, hand-eye coordination, balance, and flexibility.

Building a Sense of Community
Through the training process at our dojo, students develop a strong sense of teamwork and confidence. This helps them form better friendships at school and in the community. The step-by-step nature of martial arts helps kids set and achieve goals, skills they can apply to the classroom, family life, and social settings.

Our Programs

Lil’ Samurai Program
For our youngest students (ages 4-6), we offer the Lil’ Samurai program. Small group sizes allow for one-on-one instruction, ensuring each student masters techniques before moving on. We focus on developing hand-eye coordination and motor skills at an age-appropriate pace. Lean more about our kids martial arts program.

Junior Program
The junior program is designed to help students resolve conflict non-violently, whether in the classroom, on the field, or in social settings. Our staff emphasizes teaching students how to identify and avoid dangers through role-playing exercises, while also preparing them to physically and mentally neutralize threats if necessary.

Teen Program
The teen martial arts program focuses on managing stress, developing sound judgment, and life skills. It also places greater expectations on students as they advance in their training at the dojo.

A Legacy of Excellence

After 40 years in martial arts instruction, Kovar’s has helped over 32,000 students develop qualities like perseverance, integrity, and courage, preparing them for the challenges of life.

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