Choosing An Extracurricular Activity

The hours after school gets out are full of possibilities for your child. There are so many activities she could enjoy, but how do you know which one is right for her? Polk County Catholic Schools offers advice to help you and your child choose the perfect extracurricular activity.

Skills and Interests
When choosing an after-school activity, consider what your child enjoys doing and what she succeeds at. Activities, such as team sports, can help children build camaraderie with a team and burn through excess energy after a long day of school, while artistic pursuits such as music lessons or church choir nurture your child’s creativity and help her make friends with like-minded peers. Ideally, you should choose an activity that aligns with both your child’s strengths and her interests. Even if she gets A’s in math every report card, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll love joining the math-letes. 

Opportunities For Growth
The benefits of extracurricular involvement extend far past a few hours of fun for your child. All types of activities offer opportunities for personal development. Consider which area of your child’s skillset you and she are most interested in developing. Team sports, such as soccer or baseball, promote physical stamina and leadership skills. Individual sports such as karate or gymnastics improve physical fitness, self-esteem, attention, and focus. Joining a club like scouts or book club can develop your child’s social skills, behavior, and self-awareness. Finally, taking classes in music or art helps your child improve fine motor skills as well as cognitive skills like math and learning. Choosing any of these activities will help your child develop in areas outside of academic instruction.  

Gentle Guidance
Maybe your child doesn’t want to participate in any activities after school. If you still want her to reap the benefits of extracurricular involvement, you may need to offer her some gentle guidance. Encourage your child to step out of her comfort zone and try new things. Childhood should be a time of exploration, and your child will benefit greatly from experiencing a variety of activities. Of course, if she seems apprehensive towards a certain activity, listen to her concerns. Never force your child to participate in an activity she does not want to do. Doing so will only harm her trust in you and create future roadblocks towards new experiences.

Whatever you and your child choose, after-school activities are valuable experiences for any child. At Polk County Catholic schools, we foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact the Office of Catholic Schools at the Diocese of Orlando by dialing 407-246-4800.