Extracurricular activities for children are beneficial in more ways than one. It helps them to socialize, develop team spirit and stress management skills besides improving their health. Extracurricular activities are critical for the development of skills such as time management and balancing of responsibilities. Just as self-care is vital for adults to be their best for others, it is important for a child to participate in extracurricular activities to learn positive social skills and build healthy self esteem. This doesn’t mean every child will enjoy sports on a team, but it does mean that all children need nourishment outside of school, socially and recreationally.
Extracurricular or extra academic activities are those that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school education performed by students or pupils. From sports to music to special interests clubs, there’s no shortage of activities for kids to choose from.
In Nigeria, children engage in a lot of physical activities including sports like football and basketball, swimming, and physical activities like ballet, dance, martial arts and more.
They also get to play musical instruments like the piano, guitar, flutes and violins. Other activities children could also take part in include painting and sketching, crafts, pottery and sculpting, book clubs, sewing classes, amongst others.
Getting involved in an activity, whether sports, drama, music etc. can encourage kids to connect with their school environment, their peers and the adult figures in their life.
When kids feel this connection, it can prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness, and it can give them somewhere to turn when they need support and encouragement. It also gives kids a chance to meet new people and practice being a good friend, teammate, etc.
It is important for parents and teachers to identify areas of interest in children and encourage them to be actively engaged in these activities. Extracurricular activities are a great way for our children to learn a variety of life skills that will set them up for success later on.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blogpost, we would like to hear your feedback in the comments section, what extracurricular activities do your children engage in?
