When you've decided on the organization and program which you want your child to join, you will want to consider the specific group within that organization. If possible, attend a meeting ahead of time so you can get a feel for the group, examine the facility and talk to the leader/coach. You may want to take your child with you so she can get a feel for the group as well.
Here are some things to consider:
- Is the facility safe?
Be sure to look around the place where your child will meet. Look for things such as access to cleaning supplies, unsafe equipment, broken glass or anything that might put your child in danger. For the most part, organizations are very careful about where they meet with children, so this shouldn't be a problem, but it never hurts to be sure. - Are the activities well-planned and properly supervised?
Some organizations have free play time, and that's fine. Be sure the adults in charge are watching and aware of what the children are doing during this time. When considering the organized activities, whether sports practice or arts and crafts, the leader/coach should have the process planned out and be in control of what is going on so that the children are getting the most out of it. - What is the adult/child ratio?
This fits in with the safety and supervision questions. How many adults are there and how many children? Groups of younger children should have a fairly low ratio, around 6:1. Teenagers can have a larger ratio, but should still have enough adults that the teens are well supervised. - Does the leader/coach have the right attitude?
“Right” is somewhat relative here, and will depend on what you want for your child. A general guideline is if the leader/coach teaches the children skills in a gentle manner, expects the children to do their best but isn't negative when the children don't achieve perfection he's projecting a helpful attitude. We've all seen the teams where the coach yells at a child who drops a ball or strikes out at a crucial moment. That may not be the best attitude for our children to grow up with. - Does the club carry insurance?
Many do. Children who are properly registered with the group are covered under the group insurance. Depending on the activity, this could be an important consideration. - At what time and location does the group meet?
It may seem like an obvious question, f it isn't convenient, you won't get your child there consistently. - What is the overall focus of the group?
Even within and organization, some groups may focus on certain types of activities more than others. It tends to vary with the skills and interests of the children in that particular group. Will your child be challenged by and interested in what the group is doing? - Is your child likely to fit in with the other children?
Sometimes within an organization a group may not be exactly as described. For example, a Brownie troop is generally 1st-3rd graders, but sometimes it just works out that there are mainly 1st graders or mainly 3rd graders. Or perhaps a co-ed group is mainly boys or mainly girls. Will your child be comfortable with the children in the group you've chosen? - What is the overall atmosphere of the group?
Some groups are quiet and calm. Other seem more energetic, even chaotic. Either is fine if the children are engaged and accomplishing the group purpose, but consider your child's personality and how she may react to the atmosphere.
Remember, if you aren't happy with what you see in that particular group, keep looking. There are many teams, leagues, troops, packs, clubs etc. and not all groups within a specific organization are the same. Keep looking until you find a place where your child will have fun and will get the most from the activities and where you'll be confident your child is comfortable and safe.