by Joseph Hazelbaker

Created on: March 20, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

Extracurricular activities for young children provide tremendous benefits for young children, as long as they are pursued properly. Choosing age appropriate activities and making sure your child isn't overwhelmed by the number of activities are keys to realizing this benefit.

Social skills are critical to the successful development of children in today's society. Extracurricular activities assist children in developing those skills. The more children your child interacts with, and the more difference among children your child observes, the more well-rounded your child will tend to be. The simple act of putting your child in positive situations where they meet and interact with different children will instinctively inspire your child to develop social skills. When that development is guided by caring adults, the social tools your child will acquire will be invaluable.

Keeping your child active, but not overactive, is important for the physical and emotional health. We are suffering a crisis of childhood obesity in the United States. Children are far too sedentary. Getting the kids out of the house and involved in extracurricular programs can break the inertia of sedentariness and inspire your child to become more active. Let the child's weight be the child's choice, and not due to the failure of options. The more your child interacts with other children, the more your child will encounter different personalities. Your child will come to understand that there difference is universal, that there differences are normal, and that other's differences are to be embraced.

Extracurricular activities "can", but don't always, help a child develop self-confidence and self-awareness. As long as they are properly guided and not overly competitive, extracurricular activities can teach your child self-worth and inspire self-confidence.

As a parent, you should regularly evaluate the extracurricular program to make sure that you are comfortable with what messages are being sent directly and indirectly to your child. You should make sure your child is comfortable in the activity's setting. It's also important to discuss the activity with your child, so that you can get a sense of what the child is learning from the activity. Finally, remember that, just as children need extracurricular activities with other children, they also need such activities with their parents. You, undoubtedly want your child to develop a strong relationship with you, as much as they develop the skills to build strong relationships outside the family. Sharing such activities with your children makes your relationship multi-dimensional and rich.

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