How can you help guide your children to the most enriching after-school activities? It helps to think about all the options.
According to estimates from Child Trends DataBank, the most popular after-school activity for children is sports, with 31% of children participating in athletic programs. Other popular choices include religious activities (20%), arts (18%), scouting (10%), community service (8%), academic activities (7%) and school clubs (6%). To identify local opportunities for your child, ask at school and inquire at places such as swim centers, arts centers, museums, recreation centers, universities and synagogues.
Music lessons are a great option or if your child is struggling in a particular subject, tutoring might be a good idea. If your child needs to burn off energy or needs to be more physically active, you might want to look into an activity such as karate.
After-school activities that are the most fun for children usually emerge from their own interests. Ask yourself whether your child really loves this activity. If the activity is not something the child is even moderately good at, it can have a negative effect on his self-esteem. So listen to your child.
Look for persistent expressions of interest rather than something a child mentions once or twice. Figure out what sparked the interest. Was it a friend? Was it seeing the activity? Then ask yourself whether your child is old enough for the activity and what the benefits will be.
If a child doesn’t express a particular interest vocally, look for other clues. If your child is always doodling, you might suggest art lessons. For a child who loves to argue, suggest the debate team.
If your child jumps into activities and then quits, allow such experimentation, but don’t invest in the necessary equipment right away. For the child who resists involvement in any activity at all, don’t push too hard. Pushing your child to get out and do something is going to make him miserable. Just keep suggesting possibilities until something tickles his fancy.
Whatever you choose, don’t overdo it. Recently, overscheduling has become a problem, leaving children with absolutely no down time. For some children, this works fine, but for the majority, the pressure is intense and they’re exhausted and their academics suffer. Many parents think the more activities their child participates in, the better he or she will look when applying to college.
Overscheduling can affect your family life, too, so consider the demands on your own time. Keep in mind what will be expected of you when your child begins a new activity. This will include time and transportation, obviously. But it can also mean volunteering, fundraising and coaching.
One way to let children try out different interests without too much commitment is to enroll them in summer programs. Many of these activities, which can run as short as a week, can be a good way to explore different interests during a time of year that’s free from the pressure of school demands.
When it comes to sports, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children take the summer off from a sport and that they not play on two teams in the same sport so as to avoid serious injury.
After-school activities should not become a burden for your child; they are meant to enhance his knowledge and build character. He should not be overly tired as a result of these activities. If an after-school activity starts interfering with his school work or takes up so much time that he doesn’t have time for family, you may need to cut down the number of hours he spends on it. Keep in mind that each child’s tolerance is different. One child may be able to handle only one activity, whereas another child may be able to participate in three. Your child’s activities should match his needs, interests and abilities while at the same time accommodating your schedule.
