Most people who took part in extracurricular activities when they were young will tell you how much they enjoyed those activities and how much they gained from them.

An obvious benefit of extracurricular activities is that children have something to keep them busy. While idle hands may not always be "the devil's workshop" they can be for some kids, so keeping kids busy isn't a bad idea.

Extracurricular activities give kids a chance to meet friends they may not have otherwise met and to form that bond that can occur when people work together on something. Children who participate in extracurricular activities get to learn more about subjects in which they're interested and/or be introduced to activities they didn't realize they would enjoy as much as they discover they do. Children who participate in extracurricular activities often gain confidence they may not have gained without the activity.

Kids who don't do very well in school can get the chance to excel in something when they join activities, and kids who may feel a little different in school because they have exceptional abilities often appreciate the chance to forget about their "place" at the top of academic achievement and, instead, be "just one of the other average kids" in some activities.

Children shouldn't be pushed into activities if they don't want to participate, although encouraging them to pursue interests beyond school is a good idea. Parents are often blamed for pushing children when, in fact, some children gain so much from their extracurricular activities it is they who want to participate in whichever ones they do. It is usually in most young children's nature to enjoy belonging to a group and particating in something special; so when it comes down to it, even if the only benefit is their pure enjoyment of the activity, that can make the activity worthwhile. For most children, though, there is far more to be gained than just enjoyment.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Hunt Warren.
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