Benefits of Extra Curricular Activities

Benefits of Extra Curricular Activities Children of all age groups need a break space from their usual routines of school, homework and daily chores, that does not involve screen time in any form, and to stimulate their mind and body more, to keep them focused, and to keep them stress-free.

That is where extra-curricular activities come into the picture. An activity that is not related to the child’s academic curriculum, something that greatly interests him is exactly that. Extra curricular activities can be indoor or outdoor.

benefits of extra curricular activities

What can start as a normal fun activity can gradually be structured, if there is interest, time and resources and can develop into a new major skill, apart from academics. Nevertheless, the main aim of encouraging the children to engage in one or more extra-curricular activities is to improve their physical, emotional, intellectual strength and social skills.

Nature Walking Your Child and Benefits

Difference between Co-curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities

Co-curricular activities are those activities that are outside of regular but usually complementing the regular curriculum. SpellingBee and Olympiad competitions are a few examples.

Extracurricular activities are defined as those school-based activities that are not tied to the curriculum.

Examples can be music, an outdoor sport or an indoor game, painting, gardening, dance, martial arts, craft works, sewing and stitching, Theatre, Reading/Book Clubs etc.

Why is it important to have an extracurricular activity

Productive Break from Studies
Build Skills out of the Classroom
Instill new Interests
Exposure to new opportunities
A massive advantageous add-on for foreign admissions for higher studies

How To Start Reading for Toddlers

How to help the child involve in extra curricular activities?

Young children during their growing years absolutely need at least 30-60 minute rigorous physically exerting activity. Starting as early as toddlers by taking the child for a walk, to playing small sport games to introducing them to different sports to understanding and encouraging what they are interested in can be done.
Understand your child’s pace. Every child is different and try to understand him, his likes, rather than compare him with other children.
Introduce him to nature. Help him to come out of his cocoon.
Read out to him. Play with him. Draw with him. Talk to him.
Storytelling, especially that he could relate from his real world, events from history, stories of leaders can motivate him.
Bed time talks are sure shot winners with respect what you want your child to listen and understand. What you speak gets registered in their subconscious mind.
Challenge your child for a game or two.
Enrol in a course or a class or a training.
Make sure you acknowledge and appreciate him whenever possible and boost his confidence. Praising him is not needed.

Benefits of Extra Curricular Activities

Some major benefits of extra curricular activities are –

Boosts Confidence

The child will develop proficiency in a particular area over time. This will improve his self esteem and his confidence.

Improves creativity

Children will be facing new situations and dealing with them enables them to develop their skills. Each experience will add on to their abilities and help them to apply their previous knowledge in new and different ways.

Builds leadership skills

Children will be getting opportunities to fine tune their leadership skills, taking up responsibilities, fulfilling them or at least strive to.

Improves communication skills

Children will learn how to put across their thoughts in a manner that is easily understood by others. They will tend to be more aware of how others perceive what is said and be able to communicate in the right manner depending on the situation.

Improves child’s time management skills

Juggling various activities along with school work will make them understand the importance of time. They will learn to use time in a wise manner. They will learn how to prioritise what’s important.

Broadens child’s social circle

Child when becomes involved in extracurricular activities starts to interact more with children and adults who are not from his own school or family. Children might even meet people whom they would not be otherwise likely to be interacting within the normal scenario. This broadens their social circle.

Becoming Resilient, Strategist and Organized

Children will learn to be more focused and organised to make his routine flow smoothly. They will understand the importance of planning well and then following through with the plans. They will grow to be flexible to accommodate the unavoidable changes and setbacks.

As a parent, as you understand the importance of one or two extracurricular activities for your child, it is equally important to realize we are not aiming him to make a superstar or a champion, but basically making him grow up to be an individual with a solid mind body. It should be the child’s choice and interest that drives him to become what he wants to be.