Surely you are beginning to plan the new course. Next to the school schedule they propose many extracurricular activities that could completely fill the weekly children's agenda little ones. English, sports, theater, music, drawing, games, crafts ... the offer is wide.
And although sometimes it is a way to combine the work schedules of parents with school hours, is it really the best for children? From a certain age Extracurricular activities may be beneficial and appropriate, but to the extent, without pushing the children's agenda or forcing them to do something they don't like.
This is going to be one of our good purposes for the new course, purposes that we will be talking about these days in which the beach and the mountains are changed by house and backpacks for school.
It is really sad that a child spend all day tied to a strict schedule that barely leaves time for lunch, lunch, snack, play ... or do nothing. Simply "getting bored", which is not only a good method for you to think, is the best trick to stimulate your imagination and find a way to have fun.
It is sad that he does not spend that afternoon time with his parents or relatives, with his friends, in the park, on the street, without predetermined activities, doing what they like best. But what is most interesting is that society is organized in such a way that working hours do not allow you to get home before and be able to be with children.
But it may not be time problems, and of course you can tell me, "What he likes most is what he does as an extracurricular activity", and I will say, "Bravo, but ... don't you do other things?"
And if the child is happy to do the extracurricular activity, an activity that is beneficial emotionally, intellectually and / or physically, there is nothing to object to. The objection comes if that hobby (we will take it that way, not as a competition or challenge) occupies you every afternoon of the week, leaving no room for other activities and games.
And then there is the issue of price, since most extracurricular activities are not free, they are not even cheap. Then you have to weigh and see if the effort is worth it or we can make children play sports or learn languages in another way ...
The flip side of the coin is that precisely because of the crisis fewer children do extracurricular activities that involve physical activity and as a consequence obesity is increasing. But as I said when talking about this news ... there are many free ways to exercise and stay fit, children and adults.
They spend too many hours in school to extend the school day without measure and that the child does not leave the same environment (in the case that the extracurricular is in the same school; but also if it develops in an academy, then finally and after all it is a classroom). At least, we hope that the activities to be carried out are of another nature and do not spend all day stuck to a paper, a book and sitting on their chairs.
The ideal extracurricular activity
As you can imagine, the ideal extracurricular activity does not exist, but depends on each child. Not all children are equal and you have to be attentive to their words and their "signs", because what is beneficial to each other can have negative effects.
Remember that self-motivation is the key for children to do activities, and as much as we like them to learn English or to practice judo, if they don't like those activities they will hardly get any benefit; They will have a bad time and we will also be spoiling a money ...
The ideal extracurricular activity is therefore that which the child likes and brings benefits, but also that which allows him to have free time to be with parents and family, to interact with other children, to choose, as far as possible, his leisure .
And, positions to choose, if we only chose one, the ideal extracurricular activity combines intellectual, artistic and physical activity with the game: so they exercise body and mind in a fun way. Although the usual thing is that they are activities in which one or the other of these aspects wins, so many parents opt for two different activities: one for study and another for sport. Is this a lot for a small child?
It depends on whether it is one, two or more weekly classes, but perhaps more than three busy afternoons can be excessive, and even tire the child.
Do not forget that the excess of extracurricular activities encourages child stress, overload, depression ... which gives much to think. Are adults not stressed enough with our jobs and our pace of life? Do we really want that for children? Why do we insist on assigning schedules and occupations for the elderly? They will have time ...
Finally, the ideal extracurricular activity allows the child to interact with other children and adults different from those of their day to day at school (one of the undeniable benefits of these activities), allows them to socialize with other people and expand their circle of affections , better in a different environment to the school that already knows too much during the day.
Definitely, It is not about denying extracurricular activities, but about doing them in their proper measure. If there is no other possibility, try to "ration" to combine them with free time; and if children do not want to do them, do not force them because they will end up abhorring them.
Photos | Fort Meade and Daniel Hughes on Flickr In Babies and more | Less extracurricular due to the crisis, more overweight children, whether or not to target extracurricular activities?
