MANHATTAN, Kan. – The old saying goes, "idle hands are the devil’s playground." That may be why many working parents are turning to after-school programs to keep their children’s idle hands busy, in hopes of preventing negative or violent behavior.

According to the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice, 6 million school-age children currently participate in before- and after-school programs. Having a healthy place to go during the late afternoon keeps kids busy during a high-crime time, the agency reports.

"Research shows that the highest crime rate time for kids is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during weekdays, and most gang activity takes place during those hours, as well," said Jana Hackney, who manages the OPEN-K initiative at Kansas State University. "Good after-school programs provide a place for kids to belong, where they can be with caring adults and healthy peers."

OPEN-K, which stands for Opportunities for Prevention Education and Networking in Kansas, currently operates in seven Kansas counties. The initiative, managed through K-State Research and Extension, is designed to enhance and implement community-based youth development programs for vulnerable or high-risk youth. Hackney said the OPEN-K after-school sites are successful because they promote skill-building while providing a safe place for youth.

"The after-school sites help the children learn to make their own decisions and also helps them develop the necessary skills to solve problems," she said. "It also gives the youth a choice in environment, activities and behaviors, while giving them a chance to be a leader. The sites teach the youth skills on how to control their own behavior.

"An effective after school program will help prevent violence by helping youth build social skills and respect for others. It will also create a place for kids to learn about themselves and each other. The after-school environment can be a place where children develop skills like identifying how they feel, a skill violent kids often have a problem with."

But Hackney emphasizes that after-school programs are effective only if parents and the community are involved.

"An after-school program alone won’t solve the problem. We rely on involvement from parents, teachers, police and many others in the community," she said. "These programs won’t replace parents. It is important for parents to be involved and for kids and parents to discuss things together. Hopefully the after-school program provides a starting point for parent-child discussions."