Parents often ask the following questions: Is enrolling my child in extracurricular activities, in addition to school or camp, a good thing? How many activities are considered too many? What do I do if my child doesn’t like the activity, even though I know it is good for them? How do I choose the best activity for my child when there are so many different activities available?
The answer to these questions always begins with, “It depends.” It depends on the temperament of your child, any special needs your child may have, time and financial resources available, and a whole host of other factors unique to your child. Taking into consideration who your child is and using these guidelines, you can make extracurricular activities a wonderful experience for your child.
It is important to set yourself up for success by first asking and answering the following questions:
Commitment questions:
Quantity questions:
Quality questions:
Choosing extracurricular activities
Once you have honestly answered these questions, your next steps should be easier. To show you how to go from questions to answers, here are a few examples of how this is done:
Q: Sara asks, “Should I enroll my son Michael (age five) in more gymnastics classes?”
To consider: Michael is showing advanced skill in gymnastics and does more tumbling around the house. He has already taken beginner level gymnastics, gets a full nine hours of sleep each night, and has no other activities other than school and Hebrew class once per week. There is a new gym with reasonably-priced gymnastic classes taught by experienced, professional coaches.
A: Yes, he sounds ready for more gymnastics.
Q: Brian asks, “My daughter Kelly (age 15) is asking to learn the guitar. Should I enroll her in guitar lessons?”
To consider: Kelly takes and enjoys piano lessons at her home, is on the basketball team at school during the winter, and travels between mom and dad’s home each weekend. She does not appear to be reaching her full potential at school and often stays up late. There is a great school nearby that teaches guitar in group classes for teens.
A: No, this is not a good time. Ask Kelly if she would be willing to switch guitar for piano lessons for a period of time to try the guitar out. I also suggest Brian use guitar lessons as an incentive to help Kelly focus on improving her schoolwork prior to signing her up for lessons.
Q: Jennifer asks, “My son Brandon (age seven) is on the autism spectrum and has trouble making friends and being a part of group activities. Should I continue to push to get him into extra group classes?”
To consider: Brandon excels at schoolwork but doesn’t know how to include himself in projects or games with his peers. Social skill advancement is needed and unlikely to develop on its own without some assistance. Brandon does struggle at first with new tasks, but once he knows the routine, he likes to follow the rules.
A: Yes, Brandon needs as much structure as possible to help him advance socially. I strongly suggest Brandon learn a martial art since martial arts training is an individual skill-building activity learned in a social setting. This activity inherently also includes improving motor coordination and self-esteem, and staff are usually responsive to working with children with diverse needs. Also, some dojos offer some financial assistance to families who cannot afford the full fees.
I hope these examples have been helpful in seeing how just a few extra minutes of thinking through the issue can bring clarity into your decision. Also, there are a few more suggestions here to make sure your child’s extracurricular experience is great and fun for all.
Remember, you have all the information at your disposal to make a good decision about extracurricular activities. You know your child best, you have done your research, and you have listened to your gut. With these things in place, your decision should lead you only in a positive direction.
Additional guidelines
For kids, having at least one day off a week to do something with a caregiver at home and spend some time entertaining themselves is a positive thing.
Never take away an extracurricular activity as punishment. Remember, you have enrolled your child for other reasons: skill-building, taking a break from schoolwork, or even making friends.
Always introduce yourself to your child’s instructor and explain any special needs your child may have. Remember, instructors want to do a good job and will only be able to do their best job if they have all of the necessary information about your child.
Julia M. Rahn, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and owner of Studio for Change.
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