A good after-school activity is taught to children close to your child's age, is easy to get to from school, and has a clear routine in each class. Try a class before you commit, start with one activity, and choose the one your child asks to go back to.
Chung TKD in New Hyde Park teaches Tae Kwon Do to children ages 2 to 13 and runs an after-school pickup. Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan, has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970 and opened the school in 1984. This guide is by Master Chris J. Chung, 5th-degree black belt.
What should I look for in an after-school activity?
Look at five things before you sign up: whether the class fits your child's age, how your child gets there from school, how the class is run, how many activities your week can hold, and whether you can try a class first. The sections below take each one in turn.
Is the activity right for my child's age?
Ask which group your child would join and how old the other children are. Look for a class made for your child's age, taught by someone who shows each skill before the children try it. For a younger child, our guide to choosing a sport for a 4-, 5- or 6-year-old covers what a first class asks of a child that age.
How will my child get there from school?
Plan the trip before you sign up. Work out who brings your child from school to the activity, how long that drive takes on a school day, and who picks your child up at the end. An activity near your child's school, or one that picks children up from school, takes that drive off your list.
How is the class run?
Ask what one class looks like from start to finish, and watch one if you can. Look for a teacher who shows each skill, a turn for every child, and a routine your child can learn, so they know what comes next. Ask, too, how a child moves up, such as a new level, a new belt or a new group, so your child has a next step to work toward.
Should my child do one after-school activity or two?
Start with one. Add a second once the first fits your week and your child still has time to play, read and rest after school. If you choose two, pick two different kinds, like a sport and a music or art class, and put them on different days.
Should my child try an after-school activity before we sign up?
Yes. Ask for a trial class before you pay for a full term. One class can land on a hard day, so go to a second one before you decide. On the way home, listen for whether your child talks about the class or asks to go back.
How do I choose an after-school activity, step by step?
Take these five steps in order, from the first talk with your child to the choice after the trial.
- Ask your child what they want to try, and write down two or three choices.
- For each choice, ask which group your child would join and how old the other children are.
- Work out how your child gets there from school and home again, and who does each trip.
- Book a trial class, and go to a second one before you decide.
- Choose the activity your child asks to go back to, and start with that one alone.
Where does Tae Kwon Do fit as an after-school activity?
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art taught in a group class. At Chung TKD, each child trains in a class for their age. A child below brown belt tests for the next belt when the instructors say they are ready, and from brown belt on, belt tests are on set dates. Families have a seat at each test. Self-defense is part of class. To compare schools, read how to choose a martial arts school for your child. For what children learn, read the benefits of Tae Kwon Do for kids.
Which class is my child in at Chung TKD?
Chung TKD has three programs by age. Pee-Wee is for ages 2 to 3, Children is for ages 4 to 6 and Youth is for ages 7 to 13. A child moves up from Children to Youth by age, and a child the staff think is ready can move up sooner, with the staff's permission. See all the classes for each age.
Does Chung TKD pick children up from school?
Yes. Chung TKD runs an after-school pickup. Ask the school which schools it picks up from. The after-school pickup page says how to reach the school.
Can my child try a class at Chung TKD first?
Yes. New families at Chung TKD start with two free trial classes, and a parent or guardian stays for both. Kids wear something comfortable, sweats or shorts.
Where is Chung TKD?
Chung TKD is at 1527 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
How do we get started?
Start with the two free trial classes in your child's program. Book a free class online.
Questions parents ask
What should I look for in an after-school activity for my child?
A class for children close to your child's age, a trip from school that works for your family, a clear routine in each class, and a trial before you commit.
How many after-school activities should a child do?
Start with one. Add a second once the first fits your week and your child still has time to play and rest.
How do I choose between two after-school activities?
Book a trial class at each one, go to a second class before you decide, and choose the one your child asks to go back to.
Does Chung TKD have an after-school pickup?
Yes. Chung TKD runs an after-school pickup. Ask the school which schools it picks up from.
What ages does Chung TKD teach?
Ages 2 to 13, in three programs: Pee-Wee for ages 2 to 3, Children for ages 4 to 6 and Youth for ages 7 to 13.
Does Chung TKD give free trial classes?
Yes. New families at Chung TKD start with two free trial classes, and a parent or guardian stays for both.