Kids need more than academic activities. That is why you should encourage them to join clubs and meet new people.
Academic success is something that parents want for their kids. After all, success at school helps them achieve a promising and bright future in the long run. However, keep in mind that kids need more than just academic activities. You want them to be well-rounded and socially capable, which you can do when you expose them to activities that interest them. School activities that not strictly academic can also help your kids build their self-esteem and form an identity.
That means that you need to help your kids find a suitable extracurricular activity. It can be quite challenging for you, but trials and errors are just fine at this stage. Here are some of the things you may want to keep in mind:
Focus on their interests
The first goal should be to make sure that your kids will love the activity. Otherwise, there is no point in doing it. A kid will be motivated to pursue the activities if it is in line with their likes and passions. For instance, if you notice that your kid enjoys classical music, you may consider getting them classical piano lessons. However, it is vital to ask them if they are keen on going through it.
Don’t be too strict about it
The word “extra” in extracurricular should remain as it is. You will notice that your kid’s commitment level will dwindle eventually. And that’s okay. You may encourage them to continue pursuing it, but keep in mind that it is not all right to force them to keep on doing it. If you notice that your kid’s feeling demotivated, take a look at their load at school. They may be experiencing stress, and you must allow them to rest. In time, if your kid loves that extracurricular activity, they will undoubtedly go back to it.
Give your support
You may find yourself in a situation where your kid is more than motivated and dedicated to the activity, yet you do not have the same level of commitment. However, you need to show and provide some support. If your kid loves playing baseball and wants to be good at it, help them achieve that goal. It may be as simple as getting them a new bat or enrolling them at your community’s Little League.
It’s okay to leave
Make some effort to observe if your kid is having fun in their clubs or organizations. If you notice that they feel constant dread whenever they engage in the activity, there is an excellent chance that they look at it as a burden and obligation. Know that it’s always okay to leave.
Plan it with your kids
Finding the right extracurricular activity for kids may feel like a challenge, especially if you notice that your little ones have a wide range of likes and passions. In this case, you need to sit down with them and ask them thoroughly about what they want to achieve. Such sincere conversations will undoubtedly help a lot.
