Enrichment Classes and After School Programs in Forest Hills: Learning Lab

An article by Psychology Today, After-School Programs do Work! said:

After school programs are a golden opportunity to extend children’s literacy experiences in ways not generally possible during the school day.

Researchers also mentioned that children who go to quality after-school programs are more likely to stay in school, hand in their homework and get better grades. Parents are always looking for centers that keep their children safe, support growth in literacy, improve physical fitness and fun extracurricular activities.

Are you a parent searching for enrichment classes and after school programs in Forest Hills? Learn more about Learning Lab on Metropolitan Avenue.

We interviewed Learning Lab and here’s our Q and A:

1.  When did Learning Lab start and why did the founder(s) choose Forest Hills?

Learning Lab opened in June of 2017. The co-founders, Han-Ching Lin and his wife Jenny Lin, chose Forest Hills as the home for Learning Lab because Han-Ching grew up in Forest Hills and the Lins are currently raising their children in Forest Hills.

2. Could you please tell our readers what programs are available at Learning Lab?

During the school year, Learning Lab has an after-school enrichment program on weekdays that provides snack, homework help, and enrichment activities. On the weekend, Learning Lab offers a variety of classes, including writing, art, yoga for kids, baby and me yoga, STEM, and chess.

In addition, Learning Lab offers one-on-one tutoring. During the summer, we have a summer program that includes reading, math, writing, and art from 8 am to 1 pm, and thematic learning activities from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Finally, we have special events each month, such as sewing crafts classes taught by costume designer Amelia Dombrowski and season/holiday-themed art classes.

3. What age group do you cater to and what programs are the most popular at Learning Lab?

The bulk of Learning Lab’s programs serve elementary age children. However, some of our classes, such as art, yoga for kids, and chess work for children that are slightly younger or slightly older as well.

4. The Baby and Me Program sounds like a super exciting program. Could you please elaborate on this program to a reader who is interested and has a 6-month old baby?

Currently, we have monthly baby and me yoga classes. We plan on expanding our selection of classes to include regular mommy and me art classes as well. Our baby and me yoga classes are designed to enhance the bond between mother and infant through movement and breath. They also relieve stress, calm the mind, and relax the body for both mother and baby. Babies develop their gross and fine motor skills through poses, and the group setting supports socialization, language, and cognitive and emotional development.

Moms work together to address postpartum concerns, create a safe place to move openly, and develop a sense of community. Moms also learn to re-strengthen their core pelvic floor muscles and alleviate tension in the back, neck, and shoulders.

5. What type of programs do you have for students who need help in math or writing more than what you can offer in a group setting?

For students who need extra support in reading, writing, and math beyond the support that can be provided in a group setting, we offer one-on-one tutoring. Our qualified tutors work carefully with parents to create a plan for helping their children to improve in the area in which they need extra support.

6. What is your advice for parents who are looking for ways to help a child who prefers playing games instead of reading?

For parents who are looking for ways to help a child who prefers playing games instead of reading, we have a couple suggestions/tips:

• Try to find books that match your child’s interests.
  • If your child is really into sports, try to help them find books about sports, both fiction and nonfiction. Giving children the opportunity to choose what they would like to read will make reading more exciting for them.

• Try to make reading at home a special time when your child gets to have your exclusive attention.
  • For younger children, you can try reading to them, taking turns reading, or having them read to you right before they go to bed.
  • For older children, you can read the same book on your own time and then schedule regular times to have fun book discussions with them over milk and cookies. You can share your favorite parts, characters that identify with, or your predictions for what will happen next. When children associate reading with a special time that they get to spend with their parents, they will look forward to and want to do more of it.

7. How has the Forest Hills neighborhood changed since you’ve been here?

In the short time that Learning Lab has been in Forest Hills, we are very thankful that the community has been supportive and has helped to spread the word about us. Now, when parents ask other parents where there are enrichment classes for children or where their children can get academic support in Forest Hills, our name is sure to come up.

Aldous Huxley, an English writer and philosophy said:

Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make their life full, significant, and interesting.

For additional information go to LearningLabNY.com.