Kids' Extracurricular Activities
Managing Your Children’s After-School Interests
Extracurricular activities are great for the well-rounded, successful student. Parents need to help their children manage their activities, make choices and set limits.
So many things to do, so little time: That’s the life of so many school-age children who are fortunate to have scores of extracurricular activities offered to them. The challenge to them and their parents, however, is to manage after-school interests, strike a balance between them and schoolwork, and avoid stress and burnout.
Most studies find that children who participate in extracurricular activities are more successful academically than those who don’t. Dr. Robert Needlman on DrSpock.com says extra-curricular activities expose children to subjects not covered in school and may bring out a hidden talent in a child. He suggests that parents help their children choose which extracurricular activities they participate in, and help monitor their time.
“You need to help your child be realistic about how much time and energy he has,” Dr. Needlman said.
Many parents dream of having a “super teen,” a child who excels at school, sports, peer leadership, the arts and clubs. The reality is, however, that over-scheduled children are often overstressed and unhappy.
Things to Watch Out For
Many schools offer a wide variety of after-school activities as a convenience for parents who work. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, keep in mind that staying after school every day may not necessarily be what’s best for your child.
Some school districts offer both before- and after-school activities, to allow kids to pack more into the day. Before you sign up, think about the length of your child’s day and what he can handle.
Set Limits
Just because your school offers a huge number of extracurricular activities doesn’t mean your children have to join all of them. Many families set limits of one extracurricular activity at a time. Making your children choose among school sports, band, theater or clubs forces them to choose what they really want to do, and allows them to give more to what they choose.
Decide what you can financially afford, what you can handle in transportation, and what your child can handle in time management, and set the limit. High school students sometimes can handle a busier schedule than elementary and middle school students.
Is Your Child Present Focused?
An added burden to parents is a child who enthusiastically signs up for an activity, but then complains about going, resists and fights his parent, and then once there, loves it. This inability to look forward to what kids know they will enjoy is called present focus, says Tim Rosanelli, who works with children through a karate studio in Dublin, Pa.
Rosanelli suggests parents remind the child early in the day that he has an activity coming up. Talk positively about it, and limit highly stimulating activities right before you leave.
“Have your child perform less stimulating activities like eating dinner or finishing homework instead,” Rosanelli says.
