School may end for the day, but a child's learning, curiosity, and development continue long after the final bell.
We are pleased to share that SHARD Center for Innovation has been featured by ETV Bharat in an article exploring the importance of parenting and meaningful engagement with children after school hours.
The coverage, titled “Parenting After School Hours: Important for Children,” brings attention to an important aspect of childhood that can sometimes be overlooked: what children experience, learn, and share with their families after the school day ends.
Why After-School Hours Matter
A child's development doesn't stop when school finishes.
The hours after school can provide opportunities for children to:
- Talk about their day and express their thoughts
- Spend meaningful time with parents and family
- Explore hobbies and interests
- Participate in creative and physical activities
- Develop everyday skills and independence
- Ask questions and satisfy their curiosity
- Relax, play, and build meaningful relationships
For parents, these moments don't necessarily require elaborate activities. Sometimes, a conversation, a shared activity, a story, or simply being present can create meaningful opportunities for connection and learning.
Learning Goes Beyond the Classroom
At SHARD Center for Innovation, we believe education is not limited to textbooks, classrooms, or fixed school hours.
Children learn through experiences.
They learn when they explore something new, ask questions, solve small problems, participate in activities, create something with their hands, interact with others, and discover their own interests.
This broader perspective is particularly important during childhood, when everyday experiences can contribute to the development of confidence, curiosity, communication, creativity, and independence.
The Role of Parents After School
Parents don't have to become teachers at home.
Instead, they can create an environment where children feel comfortable talking, exploring, questioning, and participating.
Simple practices can make after-school time more meaningful:
1. Ask About More Than Homework
Instead of only asking, “Did you finish your homework?”, try questions such as:
“What was the most interesting thing you learned today?”
“What made you smile today?”
“Did anything surprise you?”
These questions can encourage children to talk about their experiences.
2. Give Children Time to Explore
Children need opportunities to pursue interests beyond academic work.
Drawing, building, reading, music, sports, gardening, experiments, crafts, or simply playing outdoors can provide different kinds of learning experiences.
3. Encourage Independence
Allowing children to participate in age-appropriate everyday tasks can help them develop responsibility and confidence.
Small things such as organising their school bag, helping prepare a snack, arranging their study space, or putting away toys can become valuable learning experiences.
4. Make Time for Conversation
In a busy schedule, even a few uninterrupted minutes can matter.
Put away distractions, listen to your child, and give them space to share their thoughts.
5. Balance Learning With Play
After a full school day, children also need time to relax.
Not every after-school activity needs to be educational in a traditional sense. Play, imagination, movement, and family time are valuable parts of childhood too.
SHARD Center for Innovation's Perspective
Our approach at SHARD Center for Innovation is rooted in the belief that children benefit when learning becomes connected to real experiences.
Education should encourage children to become curious learners—not simply students who complete assignments.
That means giving children opportunities to:
Explore → Create → Question → Experiment → Reflect → Learn
The experiences children have outside formal classroom hours can complement what they learn at school and help them connect knowledge with everyday life.
Why This ETV Bharat Feature Matters to Us
Read the Full ETV Bharat Coverage
Interested in the complete story?
Read the ETV Bharat feature:
“Parenting After School Hours: Important for Children”
Final Thoughts
School hours are only one part of a child's learning journey.
The conversations at home, the questions they ask, the activities they explore, the responsibilities they take on, and the time they spend with their families can all become meaningful parts of growing up.
The ETV Bharat feature is a valuable reminder of this.
At SHARD Center for Innovation, we look forward to continuing the conversation around how we can create richer, more meaningful learning experiences for children—both inside and beyond the classroom. Because learning doesn't end when school ends.