After school program builds social skills and creates peace at home

Last spring, Jerald, a new kindergarten resident, walked into the Ames Lake Community Center to attend his first day of Ames After Hours.

Chan Chamrong, Ames After Hours Coordinator, remembers when Jerald began attending program. “He was a very shy and withdrawn kid, but slowly each day he came, we’d begin to see a difference. He began to make friends and involve himself in more and more of the daily activities.” Once the after-school portion of the program ended in June, Jerald’s mom enrolled him in the Ames Lake Summer Camp. He loved it! Coming nearly every day of the 10-week program.

New to the Ames Lake community, Jerald’s mom came across information about Ames After Hours program in the monthly community newsletter and knew it was just what Jerald needed. Jerald and his older brother Jay, a high school junior, were not getting along. Their constant fighting was making home life unbearable for everyone. Jerald’s mom thought perhaps participating in Ames After Hours might provide an outlet for Jerald and a break for Jay after school when they were home together while their mom was at work.

In September, Jerald was back for more! Now a 1st grader, Jerald’s mom says she has observed a major difference not only in Jerald’s social skills, but also in the relationship between him and Jay. The fighting between the two has significantly diminished and the relationship seems to be headed in a more positive direction. This became clear recently on a rainy day when Jay came to pick Jerald up from the program with an umbrella from him to use to walk home.