Extracurricular activities that children participate in outside of school can help them improve skills, make new friends and get active. Selecting a suitable activity can be challenging, as there are so many options and factors to consider.
Exploring your options
Talk to other parents or teachers, check online and read reviews to discover different extracurricular programs and the many different agencies that offer them. There are academic, athletic, artistic and many more program options that will meet different families’ needs, goals and budget. Whether it is in your local community centre, studios, tutoring agencies or sports clubs, there are a wide variety of options available for everyone with different interests and talents.
Choosing an activity
Start by assessing your child’s needs and interests.. Some key factors to take into consideration are your children’s physical, academic and developmental level, their interests and talents, and areas that need improvements. Identify programs that meet your children’s interests, passion and strength, as well as challenge them to get out of their comfort zone, build new skills and work on areas that need extra time to develop or improve.
Assessing costs
The cost of extracurricular activities is something that families need to budget for. They can involve various fees and costs, such as registration fees, tuition fees, uniforms, equipment or supplies.
Other additional costs include club or membership fees, examination fees, and performance and competition travel expense. There might also be withdrawal or cancellation fees. Consider setting a budget, be selective and explore lower-cost options, as well as programs that offer financial assistance, subsidies or discounted lessons.
Committing time
The amount of time required for extracurricular activities really varies on the type of activity chosen. Some require only a few hours per week, while other intensive programs require a significant time commitment. Consider the time, location and frequency of extracurricular programs to ensure your children have enough time for school, homework, play, sleep and family activities, too. Take into consideration extracurricular programs’ time, location and frequency of the programs, to ensure children have time for school, homework, play, sleep and family time.
Other considerations
Once you narrow it down to a few possible activities, do take time to learn more, including the program and teaching philosophies, class sizes, duration and frequency, safety plans and emergency procedures, instructors’ qualifications, uniform and equipment requirements, and company’s tuition and refund policies.
It might be a daunting experience for parents to find the right program for the children, especially when one is unfamiliar with the extracurricular options in a new country. If unsure, you can start with free or affordable trial classes or a shorter course for your child to try out. From coding to gymnastics or soccer, there is something suitable for everyone.
Whether the goal is to you’re your child to foster their creativity, learn new skills, make new friends or stay active, these extracurricular activities can help spark curiosity in your child and help them reach their full potential.
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