Sports such as soccer are a common after-school activity.
Extracurricular activities can help kids to explore a potential career, make friends, explore an interest or just try something new. Clubs, groups and other activities can even help students to achieve better grades and test scores, develop self-esteem and decrease the likelihood of risky or delinquent behavior.
Sports
There is no doubt that playing a sport can benefit a child's physical health, but this extracurricular activity also has other benefits. Whether your child is playing soccer, baseball, basketball or hockey, he or she can enjoy increased self-esteem, stress reduction and possibly even greater school success. Playing a sport can help to increase leadership and teamwork abilities while helping to build critical thinking or strategic thinking skills. Parents looking for a sport activity for their child may want to consult the local YMCA, school district, recreation center or specialty league (such as soccer or Little League baseball).
Performing Arts
Whether your child longs to act on the stage, play a favorite instrument or dance in every ballet recital, the performing arts are common extracurricular activities for U.S. children. Many U.S. public schools offer activities such as drama clubs, dance teams and bands and orchestras. Additionally, non-school arts organizations, community and recreation centers churches and girls/boys clubs often provide after-school or weekend classes in the performing arts. These include specialized programs such as ballet, jazz dance, tap dance, guitar, percussion, dramatic acting, musical theater or singing/vocal coaching.
Visual Arts
A visual arts education can improve critical thinking, develop creativity and imagination, build mathematical and spatial reasoning and even increase cultural awareness and sensitivity. Children from preschool through high school can enjoy extracurricular visual arts classes in after-school programs, museums, art centers and community/recreation departments. These may range from basic hands-on courses to more advanced activities that include a viewing or art gallery component.
Academic Clubs
Academic clubs are an educational alternative to athletic or arts activities. These clubs include groups dedicated to mathematics, foreign languages, science, writing and social studies. Like sports teams, academic clubs may compete in inter-school games and activities such as debates, trivia challenges or math competitions. Students who join academic extracurricular activities may find a new career interest, improve scholastic skills or make friends with similar interests. Additionally, participation in this type of after-school activity may enhance a college or job application.
Tags: activities such, after-school activity, community recreation, critical thinking, make friends, performing arts