After the Bell: Real Talk for Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Professionals — Short, memorable, ins

The Afterschool Child Care Creator

After the Bell is the podcast for afterschool program staff, site coordinators, and out-of-school time (OST) professionals who are doing the real work every day. Each week we cover practical strategies for child behavior management, staff development, curriculum planning, and family engagement — so you can lead better programs and build a career you love. Whether you're a frontline afterschool worker, a program director, or a STEM enrichment specialist, you'll find actionable advice, inspiring guest stories, and resources designed specifically for the afterschool and expanded learning field.

Episodes

  1. May 27

    Handling Challenging Behavior in the Classroom Positive Discipline Strategies That Work

    Managing challenging behavior in the classroom can be stressful, exhausting, and emotionally draining for educators and caregivers. In this episode, we dive into practical, research-informed strategies for responding to difficult behaviors in school-age children using positive guidance, logical consequences, and relationship-based classroom management. Learn how teachers can shift from punishment to discipline, create supportive classroom environments, and turn challenging moments into teachable opportunities for emotional growth and self-regulation. We explore common behavior triggers, communication breakdowns, effective redirection techniques, and ways educators can build trust while maintaining structure and expectations. This episode is packed with real-world examples, classroom strategies, and actionable behavior management tools for teachers, childcare professionals, afterschool staff, and parents working with children who struggle with emotional regulation, defiance, impulsivity, or attention-seeking behaviors. In This Episode: Understanding the root causes of challenging behaviorPositive discipline vs. punishmentLogical consequences that actually teach childrenClassroom management strategies for school-age programsHow to respond to defiance and emotional outburstsBuilding trust and connection with studentsEffective communication and redirection techniquesSupporting children with ADHD, ODD, and behavioral challengesWhether you work in education, childcare, or youth programs, this conversation will help you create a calmer, more supportive learning environment while improving student behavior and emotional development. #ClassroomManagement #PositiveDiscipline #ChildBehavior #TeacherTips #BehaviorManagement #SchoolAgePrograms #SocialEmotionalLearning #TeacherPodcast #ChildDevelopment #EducationPodcast

    26 min

  2. May 27

    The Silent Bully: Understanding Cyberbullying in the Digital Age

    Cyberbullying is one of the fastest-growing threats facing children and teens online today. In this episode, we explore the hidden impact of cyberbullying, how it differs from traditional bullying, and the alarming statistics showing how deeply it affects students through social media, texting, gaming, and online communication. Learn about the different forms of cyberbullying—including harassment, impersonation, cyberstalking, exclusion, and online aggression—and discover the warning signs parents, teachers, and caregivers should never ignore. We also discuss how platforms like Facebook and other social media companies are responding, plus practical strategies to help prevent and stop cyberbullying before it escalates. Whether you're a parent, educator, childcare provider, or simply concerned about online safety, this episode provides valuable insights into protecting children in today’s digital world. Topics Covered: What cyberbullying is and why it’s increasingSocial media and online harassmentWarning signs of cyberbullying victimsEffects of online aggression on children and teensCyber safety tips for parents and educatorsHow schools and families can respond effectively#Cyberbullying #OnlineSafety #DigitalParenting #BullyingPrevention #SocialMediaSafety #ChildSafety #TeenMentalHealth #InternetSafety #ParentingPodcast #EducationPodcast

    21 min

  3. May 27

    When Kids Clash: A Practical Guide to Conflict Resolution in Afterschool Care

    Conflict between kids is inevitable — but how you handle it makes all the difference. In this two-part episode of After the Bell, we're diving deep into conflict resolution in school-age care, giving you the tools to not just stop fights, but actually teach children how to resolve disagreements on their own. We start by breaking down the five root causes of conflict — communication, emotions, values, structural forces, and history — and the five conflict styles you'll see play out in your program every day. Then we get into the skills you need as a teacher: how to listen to both sides without bias, read nonverbal cues, ask the right questions, and mediate without just picking a winner. In part two, we cover practical, classroom-ready strategies you can start using tomorrow — from role playing and I-messages to the Peace Path, conflict journals, Rock Paper Scissors for minor disputes, and even training student conflict managers. We also walk through a step-by-step process for mediating conflict calmly and effectively, and why giving kids a voice in the solution leads to better outcomes for everyone. Whether you're dealing with daily squabbles over LEGOs or escalating shouting matches, this episode will help you approach conflict with confidence — and turn every disagreement into a learning opportunity. Topics covered: causes of conflict, conflict styles, teacher listening skills, proxemics, discipline vs. punishment, logical consequences, I-messages, role playing, peer mediation, the Stop-Talk-Listen-Think framework, win-win solutions, and building a conflict resolution culture in your program.

    22 min
  4. Afterschool Basics: Everything You Need to Run a Great Program

    May 27

    Afterschool Basics: Everything You Need to Run a Great Program

    If you're new to afterschool care — or just want to sharpen your fundamentals — this episode is for you. We're breaking down everything you need to know to run a structured, safe, and engaging afterschool program from day one. We cover how to build a daily schedule that actually works, why homework time and transitions matter more than you think, and how to set up your classroom space to reduce chaos before it starts. We also dig into supervision strategies, the science of proximity and how your physical position in the room affects children's behavior, and practical behavior management tools like logical consequences, time-out done right, and the "you break it, you fix it" approach. Whether you're a brand-new afterschool worker or a seasoned site coordinator looking for a refresher, this episode gives you a strong foundation to lead your program with confidence. Topics covered: daily scheduling, lesson planning, room arrangement, licensing-required centers, supervision best practices, proxemics, behavior management, logical consequences, and setting age-appropriate rules.

    24 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

After the Bell is the podcast for afterschool program staff, site coordinators, and out-of-school time (OST) professionals who are doing the real work every day. Each week we cover practical strategies for child behavior management, staff development, curriculum planning, and family engagement — so you can lead better programs and build a career you love. Whether you're a frontline afterschool worker, a program director, or a STEM enrichment specialist, you'll find actionable advice, inspiring guest stories, and resources designed specifically for the afterschool and expanded learning field.

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