by Kelly A. Mello

Created on: March 21, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

In this age of increasing technology advances, there are so many distractions which can lead a child to be inactive or waste precious brain cells. Often times a child's health is put in jeopardy because he or she would rather surf the Internet or watch television. And though these two means of entertainment can be useful tools in sharing information, more often than not they are used to watch worthless garbage which can actually reverse what they have already learned. Extracurricular activities are imperative to keep our future and our child's future from dissolving into mindless piles of muck.

You may say that is a bold statement to make. However, we must think about what the world is evolving into. According to the American Obesity Association, "The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is now higher than ever before. Poor dietary habits and inactivity are reported to contribute to the increase of obesity in youth. Today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities." We all know that the key to good health is eating right and exercising. Now we must implement this knowledge and teach our kids this very same concept.

Gym class isn't always enough to combat obesity either. In order to ensure that your child is healthy, it is a great idea to enroll them into an extracurricular activity. There are plenty of physical activities to choose from. To name a few:

Cross Country
Volleyball
Baseball
Gymnastics
Basketball
Soccer

T he list goes on and on! There is bound to be an activity that they will enjoy while getting the exercise they need. If they don't, the result could prove to be a lifelong plague. "If no intervention is made, 80% of them will stay overweight as adults" (Keep Kids Healthy).

Another wonderful thing about extracurricular activities is that it can promote comradeship. Working as a team is a valuable skill that can grow with them in their chosen careers. Also, they may take the time to shine and become a leader to their peers, which may also prove to be a great asset in the workplace.

Additionally, extracurricular activities can improve your child's brain activity. Don't just think that they are restrictive to physical activities. They may also participate in things such as:

Chess
Math Club
Science Club
Piano

These activities will embrace your child's desire to learn and may also help

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>