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A Child's Busy Schedule Has Benefits, According to Huntington Learning Center

By: Huntington Learning Centers |  19 Shares     158 Reads

ORADELL, NJ--(Marketwire - Sep 20, 2012) - It doesn't take a stack of research to show that our children's schedules are busier than ever. After a busy day in school, the end-of-day bell announces the beginning of sports scrimmages, play rehearsals, and band practice.

Are these busy schedules good for children? Experts say that -- when reasonable -- the extracurricular activities have benefits. They lead to more positive values, higher self-esteem, and better academic achievement. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that high school seniors who planned on attending college had higher participation rates in various activities than those who did not have college plans.¹ A study by the U.S. Department of Education states that students who participate in extra-curricular activities are three times more likely to have a grade point average of 3.0 or better than students who do not participate in such activities.²

Further persuasion comes from the Parkinson Research Institute at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee. Its director, Thomas Fritsch, Ph.D., reported that youth activities lead to benefits in old age. A study linked adolescent involvement in scheduled activities to mental agility in the senior years.³

What kinds of activities are filling these students' busy schedules? In a 2010 study, the National Center for Education Statistics found that 43.4 percent of high school sophomores played on athletic teams, 23.1 percent were in music and performing arts activities, 4 percent served on newspaper and yearbook staffs, and 27.8 percent participated in other school activities.¹

And these are just the school-sponsored activities. Every year, parents sign up their children for private music lessons, language courses, and the ever-popular enrichment activity -- tutoring.

In an effort to boost academic achievement, hundreds of thousands of students schedule after-school time with tutors. According to Edward Gordon, a tutoring consultant for the federal and state governments, parents spend approximately $8 billion a year on tutors. Further, the federal government will spend about $1 billion to pay for tutors due to the "No Child Left Behind" Act.⁴

Huntington Learning Center, a nationwide industry leader in the franchise tutoring business, has seen a boom in their tutoring services over the years. Typically, their students meet with tutors in Huntington centers conveniently located in neighborhoods. In recent years, Huntington's instructors also go into school for after-school tutoring programs that are paid for by government funding provided through the No Child Left Behind Act.

Why has tutoring become such a valued part in the schedule of America's youth? Seemingly, parents are looking for educational benefits that go beyond the classroom day. For one thing, American schools are testing more than ever. The No Child Left Behind Act requires reading and math tests for students in grades three to eight. Test results lead to public funding. Some test results lead to admission to selective public middle or high schools. As teachers follow a demanding schedule to prepare for the tests, many students rely on tutors to help keep pace or to gain an academic edge.

Additionally, the college quest is boosting the demand for tutoring services. The competition is stiff for college admission, and parents seek tutors to improve classroom grades and SAT/ACT scores.

Huntington Learning Center offers several programs for entrance exam prep with impressive results. In 2010, students who took Huntington Exam Prep Courses had an average score increase of 171 points on the SAT and 3.5 points on the ACT. Many students achieved increases of over 400 points on the SAT and as high as 6 points on the ACT.

The New Jersey Department of Education (Office of Student Achievement and Accountability) outlined several reasons why students can benefit from tutoring: Improving work habits; getting targeted skill instruction and individualized attention; reinforcing lessons taught during class time; reducing non-productive or risky behaviors; building confidence; and improving social behavior.⁴

Huntington provides these benefits with a consistent teaching methodology that takes place in every center. Each student is scheduled for an entry assessment test. The results become the basis for an individualized lesson plan that builds the student's weakest skills. Periodic tests assess the student's improvement, boosting confidence as skills as mastered.

Tutoring joins the ranks of after-school activities that parents weave into their children's busy schedules. And it doesn't look like these schedules are going to ease up any time soon.

For more information, please contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit http://huntingtonhelps.com/.

About Huntington

Founded in 1977, Huntington is a pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry. For over 35 years, Huntington has provided quality instruction to hundreds of thousands of students. Huntington prides itself on being "Your Tutoring Solution" for students in all grades and subjects. They tutor in academic skills, such as reading, phonics, math and study skills; and in advanced math and science subjects ranging from algebra through calculus and general science through physics. They also prepare students for state and standardized entrance exams, such as high school entrance exams and the SAT and ACT and provide free school tutoring to eligible schools.

Additional source: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/parenting-tips/nurture-your-childs-interests

1 http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_ehs.asp

2http://www.kon.org/urc/v5/fujita.html referring to Stephens, L. J., & Schaben, L. A. (2002, March). The effect of interscholastic sports participation on academic achievement of middle level school activities [Electronic version]. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, 86, 34-42.

3 Does Your Child Need a Tutor?
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500172_162-540967.html

4http://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/189610121793329650/lib/189610121793329650/Benefits_of_Tutoring.pdf

Contact:

Laura Gehringer
Director of Marketing and Advertising
Huntington Learning Center
(201) 261-8400 x 431
gehringerl@hlcmail.com

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