The Ultimate Guide to After School Activities in And Around New Orleans
After school programs can provide a number of benefits for kids. Whether it’s a physical activity or an artistic class, after-school programs give kids an opportunity to learn new skills, develop their talents, and find abilities they never knew they had. Looking for after school activities for your kids in the New Orleans area? Whether it’s dancing or drawing, sailing or STEM, there’s a perfect enrichment activity out there. We’ve scoured the local options and categorized them here.
Why choose an after school program for your child?
After school programs aren’t just for fun, they can also be an important factor in student success. Research shows that kids who regularly attend after-school activities have better school attendance, fewer behavioral problems and better educational outcomes. After-school programs have been shown to have a positive impact on both social and emotional learning, building life skills that will last into adulthood.
Find the right program with our comprehensive listings
Scroll through these listings for greater New Orleans area after school activities (including Metairie, Kenner, the West Bank, and the Northshore) to find the right fit for your child. If you have questions about specific activities, we also encourage you to ask the moms in our neighborhood groups about their thoughts and experiences.
Dance
After school dance programs don’t just offer a full physical workout, they are also a great artistic outlet for your kids.
Articulate Motions Dance Academy
Schramel Conservatory of Dance
New Orleans Ballet Association
Dance Quarter (Kids’ Swing Dance)
Muggivan School of Irish Dance
Metropolitan Dance Theater of New Orleans
New Orleans East Satin Dolls Dance Team
Allison’s Innovative Dance Academy
Lydia Spreen’s Dance Dimensions
Body Expressions Center of Performing Arts
Be Hooper Be Happy (Hula Hoop Dance)
Maureen Bersuder Academy of Dance Arts
Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts
Martial Arts
Martial arts after school programs are great for helping students build strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and their overall fitness. But a good martial arts program will also instill respect, confidence, discipline, and a positive attitude.
World Martial Arts Training Center
White Tiger Christian Martial Arts
Music
Does your kid love music? There are fun options for all levels of play in these after school programs, which not only develop musical talent, they also impact learning and development, while also building camaraderie among budding young musicians.
Kindermusik with Madeline/Play & Grow Studios
Eliis Marsalis Center for Music
Louisiana Performing Arts Academy
The Music Academy for the Performing Arts
Little Sound Academy Kindermusik
Brushworks Art & Music Academy Lakeview Academy of Music City Park Movement and Art
Swim
There are many local area pools in and around New Orleans where kids can develop strong swimming skills, helping them develop confidence in the water, which is great for families that enjoy our area’s vibrant outdoor lifestyle.
Gymnastics & Tumbling
Gymnastics is a great way to help develop early muscle and bone strengthening in young children, while also developing balance, motor skills, flexibility, and concentration.
Devoted Performing Arts Center
Studio G Dance & Gymnastics Top Performance Athletics NOLA All Stars Cheer City Park Movement and Art
Sports
From the diamond to the court to the field, there are all kinds of after school sports programs in and around New Orleans, where your kids can learn sportsmanship and teamwork while making big plays in the Big Easy!
Slidell Bantam Baseball Association
Slidell Youth Basketball Association
Scorpion Wrestling JPSA Soccer Tulane Reily Center
Little League of NO East Bank Little League
Jefferson Parish Dept. Of Recreation
Academics & STEM
After school programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM, give kids the chance to see technology come to life, which can be very fun and exciting for kids. Plus, it helps build a foundation of interest that can help guide them through their future educational plans.
Art
New Orleans is known for its vibrant art and there are many opportunities here for kids to begin their own artistic journey. Beyond the creative expression, after school art programs also encourage concentration, focus, collaboration, and other positive social and emotional benefits.
Brushworks Art & Music Academy
Cheer
Cheer programs aren’t only just great for physical fitness, teamwork, and coordination, after school cheer programs also build confidence, sportsmanship, social skills, and perhaps above all, a greater spirit of community!
Jefferson Parish Recreation Department
Lagniappe
If those weren’t enough for you, here are a few other options, from sailing to sewing to saddlin’ up on horseback, all of which could be perfect for your kids.