Extra-curricular activities are positive experiences that contribute to the wellbeing and happiness of children. Generally speaking, children who are involved in sports get higher grades in school and have better self esteem than children who don’t play sport. They are also generally healthier as a result of their increased activity and have better social networks than those who don’t participate in sport.
Children who are involved in music activities are often better adjusted, have an increased academic performance, better able to think creatively and have better memory skills than those who are not musically trained.There are so many benefits that can be gained from getting involved in extra-curricular activities. Here are some tips to ensure your child is effectively engaged in these activities.
Be a role model
Children take example from their parents, so it stands to reason if your child sees you enthusiastically practicing an instrument, they will be very likely to follow. This also goes for sport, exercise and even diet.
Create a supportive environment
If you have sports equipment, like tennis rackets and footballs around the house, they are more likely to be used! This is the same for musical instruments, such as a keyboard, violin, tin-whistle or guitar. To encourage them to practice more, you will need to reduce other distractions, such as the TV, internet, games consoles and so on. A child won’t practice the piano while there are cartoons on the television or when her brother is playing games online.
Encourage your child
Look for opportunities that will allow your child to challenge herself. Ask about sports opportunities and teams at school. See if she would like to be part of a school choir or music group.
Social support
Individual sports and music require more effort than team sports. Being part of a team seems to increase motivation as children enjoy playing with their friends and don’t want to let them down.
Be involved yourself
Getting involved, will give you the chance to provide encouragement, feedback and pass on your feelings about how valuable and positive the activity is. Research shows that when parents are involved in activities with their children, the children will be more likely to continue the activity even when parents aren’t around.
The way parents involve their children in music or sports matters. Simply signing them up for a team, sport or music lessons may have a positive effect if your child remains motivated. By following these simple guidelines you can ensure that we’re more likely to see long term motivation, participation and success.
As a parent, you want what’s best for your child and are probably wondering what you can do to make them fulfil their potential. There are lots of ways that you can ensure your child is successful at school:
Minimise screen time:
Too much time spent sat in front of the television, watching cartoons or too much time spent on the internet or playing computer games can affect your child in two ways. Firstly, it can limit your child’s opportunities for social interaction and secondly it can have an effect on your child's interest in reading, doing projects, experiential discovery or play. One hour of television per day for primary school children is plenty.
Develop extra-curricular interests:
Sport and music are two examples of extracurricular activities that are good for children to take part in and can help children do better in school and get better grades.Children who play sports are also usually healthier due to their increased activity and their stronger social networks than children who don't participate in sports.
Children that are involved in musical activities are often better adjusted, perform better academically and more emotionally developed. Children who play music are also typically thought to have better memory skills than those who are not trained musically.
Encourage the idea of practice makes perfect:
Children that are involved in musical activities are often better adjusted, perform better academically and more emotionally developed. Children who play music are also typically thought to have better memory skills than those who are not trained musically.
Encourage the idea of practice makes perfect:
Some children think that they are either good at something or not. They may try something once or twice but if they should fail, this will make them give up. Other children are taught that success is practicing and getting better. These children typically have parents who emphasise the importance of learning through mistakes, set-backs, failures and practice. It is important to teach your child that if he keeps trying he can do anything. This way they will practice, master and succeed!
Parents want what's best for their children and want to do everything they can to make sure they are successful at school.
Parents want what's best for their children and want to do everything they can to make sure they are successful at school.
