Choosing the Best Extracurricular Activities

A brand new school year is upon us, and with it comes an opportunity to sign up your child for any number of extracurricular activities. Here in Kansas City, the sky’s the limit when it comes to options. From swim team to dance class, chess club to music lessons, parents may find themselves swimming in a sea of options. Just how do you determine which ones will be in your child’s best interest?

First and foremost, establish what your goals are for adding extra activities into the mix. Whether you want to expose your child to something new, provide an opportunity for him to make new friends or simply have an outlet to release some extra energy, unearthing your motive can help you determine which organization will be the best fit for your family. For instance, if your child wants to try her hand at a new sport but doesn’t want the pressure of intense competition, direct your gaze to recreational leagues geared toward teaching the basics and having fun. However, if your little slugger has determined he wants to be the next Alex Gordon, a competitive league will be just the thing to fine-tune his skills and push him to the next level.

Here are some other factors to take into consideration when determining which extracurriculars will be the best fit for your family:

Discover Your Child’s Passions

What makes your son tick? When is your daughter in her element? Talk to your child—and better yet, listen to what he or she has to say over time—to get a deeper understanding of interests, hobbies and creative pursuits. It might be that your child has an interest but hasn’t voiced a desire to do anything about it, simply because he’s unaware that such an activity exists. Do you have a little Lego lover? He might be in hog heaven in a Lego club. Your animal lover could have a ball in a local 4-H chapter. Also, don’t overlook the potential of an unlikely match. Shy children often shine on the stage, while the most wiggly of kids can focus their energy within a karate class.

Do Your Homework

After you have an idea about what your child is interested in, begin researching what options are available to you. Start with your child’s school. Teachers can provide a host of good options, while consulting with other parents provides insight from families who have already been involved. Other community resources include local recreation centers, churches, gyms, libraries and museums.

And the Grand Total Is…

Some extracurriculars are free, but others cost a pretty penny. An activity doesn’t need to be expensive to be high quality, but keep in mind there may be additional costs to take into consideration, from uniforms to supplies to transportation.

How Does This Fit the Whole Family?

Take into account how your child’s activities affect the family dynamic. Just because a student is capable of tackling music lessons, dance class and sports practices all at once doesn’t mean all those activities are ideal for the family as a whole. Many families limit extracurricular activities per child simply because Mom (or Dad) can only be at one place at one time. Also, be mindful of the expectations for parental involvement within your child’s activities. If parents are required to be present during lessons, provide snacks for the class or fundraise for upcoming events, there’s more involved than just shuffling kids out the door.

Dip Your Toes In

What are parents to do when they want their child to try an activity without committing their life to it for a semester or more? Look into arts camps and sports clinics! Dance studios, community theater groups and sports organizations often host week-long sessions for budding artists and athletes to give an activity a go without the expense or commitment of signing up for a full session. Starting with these can give children and their parents an idea whether an extracurricular is a good fit or not.

It’s Not All for Naught

If your child doesn’t excel in art lessons or show talent in gymnastics, there’s no need to consider it a wash. Learning to do something that doesn’t come easy builds character, while finishing an activity to completion develops perseverance. Aim to find the life lesson when an activity is no longer enjoyable and direct your child toward something else that might suit him better in the future.

According to advocacy organization the Afterschool Alliance, there are multiple benefits to extracurricular activities, ranging from better school performance to gained leadership skills to learning how to cope with peer pressure more effectively.

Start Your Own

Some children gravitate toward interests as unique as they are. If you have a hard time finding an established class or club that caters toward your child’s passion, consider starting one yourself!

Get By Giving

One of the most easily overlooked opportunities to enrich a child’s life is community service. Don’t underestimate the difference you and your child can make by seeking ways to make the world around you a better place. Reading to senior citizens at a nursing home, sewing blankets for a pregnancy center or sponsoring a child through an organization such as Compassion International teaches valuable lessons and increases awareness for how your child can use his time and talents to serve those in need.

Lauren Greenlee was involved in 4-H, Awana, Suzuki violin lessons and had nine years of classical ballet as a child. She now shuffles her own lot of kids to and from their respective activities while writing from her Olathe home.