Most people look at
extracurricular activities in a good light, as they have the benefit of
teaching children something new even once the school day is over. However, it
is possible to overdo it on the after-school activities. If you’re wondering if
your children are too busy because of their clubs and other activities, here’s
what you should consider before you make any changes to their schedule.
The Many Benefits of Extracurricular Activities
There are clearly
benefits for kids who join clubs, sports, and other activities outside of the
school day. First, they can explore their interests, which will let them
discover which activities they truly enjoy—and which ones they don’t like. All
the while, they’re boosting their self-esteem as they discover where their
talents lie.
Involvement in
after-school activities can also teach kids responsibility and time
management skills, since they have to juggle their activities and their homework during the school year. Plus, for
older children, getting involved in activities can improve their chances of
being accepted to college, especially when they excel at some of those
activities. Finally, some studies show that extracurricular
activities can improve a student’s grades and behavior at school. Knowing all
this, it’s clear why so many parents prefer to keep their kids busy after
school. But like anything, there may be some downsides to this decision.
The Problem With Being Too Involved
The concept of “too
much of a good thing” applies to extracurricular activities because it
turns out many kids these days are overscheduled. Some parents simply assume
that if a couple of activities have been good for their kids, then even more
will be better. While some kids do thrive on staying busy, not all can take the
pressure that comes with having too many activities to do. Some might start
exhibiting signs of anxiety, and some simply don’t get
enough sleep because they’re too busy. And not enough sleep can lead to poor grades.
Many experts say children these days don’t have enough
free time to play or just be a kid. Children shouldn’t have every minute of
their day accounted for. They should have some time to relax, use their
imagination, or just sleep in on a weekend morning. Otherwise, they could end
up feeling overwhelmed by, and even resentful of, their outside activities.
Finding Balance
One rule of thumb to consider is that if
you’re stressed from getting your kids to their extracurricular activities,
your kids probably are too. Additionally, if it always seems like going to
their practices, games, or rehearsals is a chore for them—and they rarely smile
or laugh during these activities—then it’s time to reevaluate what they’re
involved in.
Maybe it’s clear your
children are stressed-out by their extracurricular activities, but they claim
to love all of them and don’t want to give them up. That’s when you have to
take control of the situation and let them know they need to make some
decisions. This might mean limiting your kids to one or two activities at a
time. And note that, according to one study, kids who had 20 hours
or more per week of extracurricular activities started to have health problems
such as stress and loss of sleep.
It’s up to you to
decide how many activities your children can realistically handle. For some
families, it’s one per child, and for others, it’s a few. But as you figure out
how to balance it all, be sure to stay organized with a calendar that has
everyone’s activities recorded. You might also find out if you can carpool with
other families, which would at least cut down on your stress.
And remember to set aside time for your family
to be together without any activities as well as time for your kids to just be
kids!
by Learning Liftoff Nov
6, 2017 Education Issues, Extracurricular, Sports
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