After-school care; having fun together
Some children like nothing better than enjoying a kick about or playing hide and seek outside. Whilst others will prefer to chill with friends or read a book on the sofa. Irrespective of whether they want to do something creative, or perhaps some acting, cooking or participate with sports; it’s all possible at Hero Children’s Centres’ after-school care facilities. We have around 34 spacious locations in Haarlem and Spaarndam, each with their own atmosphere and possibilities. We even have a real fort at our disposal in Spaarndam, beautifully located at the Mooie Nel! Our ASC facilities are the perfect place to do fun things after school and during holidays together with your friends.
All children aged 4 to 13 are welcome at Hero Children’s Centres’ after-school care facilities. We look after children at a location in or near their school after school hours or during the school holidays. We organise all manner of fun activities and workshops, although there’s definitely time for relaxation after a long day at school too. The children at our ASC locations can choose whichever activity they prefer. Children are welcome to participate with organised activities, but they certainly don’t have to. Fancy making a game up yourself? Enjoy a good climb on the playground? Catch up with some homework? All perfectly fine too. We enjoy challenging the kids with activities which are appropriate to their age. Many of the younger children love getting dressed up and playing ‘it’, whereas the older children will prefer cooking together or playing ‘Live Stratego’.
Food and drink
We always take some time out for the children to enjoy a cracker or some fruit when they first arrive at the ASC facility. Children can talk about their day before they go off and play. We think responsible and delicious food is of the utmost importance. Our varied supply consists of products with sufficient nutrients and vitamins and, if fresh isn’t an option, without refined sugars and with as few chemical additives as possible, such as colours, fragrances and flavourings. We compile the varied supply based on the Nutrition Centre’s guidelines. The children are free to make their own choices. However, we do encourage variation to promote their taste development.
Activities
Hero Children’s Centres thinks it’s important for the activities and toys we offer the children to stimulate their creativity and imagination and challenge them to embark on an adventure! We organise as many outdoor activities as possible every day. The children can get rid of all their pent up energy and feel great. Children will often gain lots of new experiences whilst playing outside. For example, children are given the opportunity to explore their own possibilities, to push their own limits and to learn to assess risks themselves. This is important for their motor skills and their self-confidence. Children are allowed to get dirty outside and the occasional scrape or bump is obviously perfectly normal too. It goes without saying we’ll always supervise and provide a safe place to play.
The provision of various different activities and play material will give the children the opportunity to discover where their talents lie and what they enjoy doing most. This can include sports, art and culture, creativity, technology and nature. We don’t differentiate between boys and girls, but naturally do consider their needs: from busy to quiet times, from carpentry to stringing beads and from making music to gardening. This ensures they are given all possible room to develop into the very best versions of themselves!
Design
The design of our after-school care centers makes a major contribution to the pedagogical situation, it is even said that the design is the third pedagogue (the first is the child himself and the other children, the second the adults around the child). Children tend to start running in an empty space, while they play in a well-designed space. Playing means development, and offering opportunities for development is an important part of our pedagogical policy. Read more about how we design our daycare centers pedagogically at Hero kindercentra.
Holiday programme
Hero Children’s Centres offers a fantastic holiday programme during the school holidays. At our own locations and at various central locations in the city for the older children (from group 5). This means the absolute best activities and trips for an unforgettable time throughout the whole holiday.
Sports and Games ASC
Would your child prefer to spend the entire day on a sports field? Then why not opt for one of our Sports and Games ASC facilities! The four locations have large sports fields at their disposal and they employ enthusiastic and sporty pedagogical staff who love participating. We introduce the children to football, hockey, baseball, tennis, yoga, mindfulness and, for example, kung fu. We link into the children’s world and embark on an adventure. Not just any old game of football, but ‘Who is the Mole football’. No ordinary game track, but a real ‘Fortnite game’.
Looking for an after-school care facility near you? Take a look at our location page.
