At a young age we learn much of what guides us through life and children are magnets—their brains attract and hold onto new information without even trying. That’s why in this age of video games and TV babysitters, it’s crucial to give your kids an opportunity to learn something new in an easygoing, non-competitive environment. And as odd as it may sound, after school activities provide some of the best learning opportunities. Cooking and language classes are both popular extracurricular activities for kids. Childhood is the best time to learn a new language when the mind is soaking up information like a sponge. Linguist Noam Chomsky, says, “It does appear that young children have a much richer capacity to develop and to acquire many languages simultaneously than adults have.” Whether you enroll them in a language course or just take nature walks, your kids will learn a lot more than they ever would while shooting bad guys in a video game. One day they may even thank you. 1. Take a HikeOr at least go for a nature walk. Identify trees by the color of their autumn leaves. Take binoculars and see how many birds you can find in the park. Then treat yourselves to some hot chocolate to warm up those cold hands. Read Related: 5 Tips to Manage After-School Activities