Definition(s):

“The set of after-school environments and schedules for a particular child.  Weekly after-school arrangements for a twelve-year-old might include attendance at an arts-and-crafts center three days, participation in soccer one day, and self-care at home one day.  After-school arrangements are conceptualized along a continuum, characterized at one end by a stable schedule utilizing the same setting or settings over time, and, at the other end, by a high degree of change on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis” (Nash & Fraser, 1998).

Nash, J.K. & Fraser, M.W.  (1998).  After-school care for children: a resilience-based approach.  Families in Society:  The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 79, (4), 370-384.