Our After-School Care Programs in Glenn Dale, Maryland
Parents in Glenn Dale face a common challenge: finding quality after-school care that goes beyond simple supervision to provide meaningful academic support and creative enrichment. SMARTS offers comprehensive after-school care programs serving families throughout Glenn Dale, Lanham, Bowie, and surrounding Prince George's County communities. Our programs combine homework assistance with STEAM-based activities and the arts, creating an environment where children ages 5-12 build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and discover new interests during the critical after-school hours.
Child Enrichment Programs in Glenn Dale
After-School Care
Our after-school care program operates Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, providing a structured, nurturing space where students complete homework assignments and engage in hands-on learning activities. Each session begins with 45 minutes of dedicated academic time, during which children receive guidance on daily assignments and prepare for upcoming tests. Our instructors hold degrees or extensive experience in education or related fields and maintain a 1:15 staff-to-student ratio to provide individualized attention.
During homework time, instructors work with students on specific challenges, whether a child struggles with multi-step math problems or needs help organizing ideas for a writing assignment. We teach study skills alongside content support, showing students how to break down complex tasks, check their work, and develop independent learning habits.
Following academic time, students rotate through 30-minute enrichment stations that blend science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Activities might include programming simple robots, conducting chemistry experiments with household materials, creating stop-motion animation, or building structures that demonstrate engineering principles. These activities reinforce classroom lessons while introducing new concepts through creative, hands-on exploration.
Fit 2 Be Smart
Fit 2 Be Smart integrates physical activity with cognitive development, based on research showing that movement supports memory retention and focus. Students might learn skip-counting through jump rope routines, explore geometric shapes through choreographed movements, or solve word problems while navigating obstacle courses.
The program addresses that many students sit for six or more hours during the school day. By connecting physical movement with academic content through activities like rhythm-based multiplication practice or spelling relay races, students retain information more effectively while developing coordination, spatial awareness, and teamwork skills.
Smarts in the City
Smarts in the City brings learning to life through community-connected experiences and project-based activities that span multiple weeks. Students explore topics relevant to their daily lives while developing critical thinking skills and creative expression. Recent projects have included designing solutions for neighborhood challenges, documenting local history through interviews and photography, and creating public art installations.
This approach helps children see connections between what they learn in school and their everyday environment. A unit on ecology might involve studying the local watershed, while a geometry lesson could connect to architecture in their neighborhood. Students present their projects to parents and community members, building communication skills and civic engagement.
What Sets SMARTS Apart
Parents throughout Glenn Dale and Lanham choose SMARTS because we prioritize both academic progress and creative development through evidence-based methods. Our approach delivers several key benefits.
We maintain groups of no more than 15 students per instructor, allowing for personalized attention based on each child's learning style and pace. This individual focus helps students build confidence and develop a growth mindset rather than simply completing assignments.
Our curriculum integrates multiple learning modalities to reach visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Whether students gravitate toward building projects, artistic expression, or scientific exploration, they find activities that match their strengths while gently challenging areas for growth.
The program creates a safe, welcoming environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and asking questions. Children learn that mistakes are part of the learning process and that trying new approaches leads to discovery.
Parents receive monthly progress updates detailing both academic achievements and skill development in areas like collaboration, creative problem-solving, and self-direction. This communication helps families support learning at home and understand their child's development beyond test scores.
Contact Us Today for Glenn Dale After-School Care
Give your child the advantage of after-school care that nurtures both academic achievement and creative confidence. Contact us at (301) 723-7200 to learn more about enrollment options, tour our facilities, and discuss how we can support your child's development.