Contrary to what most parents might think, there’s a lot more to school than homework, tests, and essays. School is a place to make friends, develop social skills, and spark new interests. One of the best ways to achieve this is by getting involved in extracurricular activities.
The Social Side
A great way for students to de-stress after a long school day is by joining teammates on the football field or fellow thespians in the school auditorium. Sports keep kids fit and energized, and drama can provide a student with valuable leadership roles.
Team-based after school activities also create a sense of camaraderie, which can help students break out of their normal social circles and make new friends. These new opportunities for social interaction keep kids learning and productive, all while having fun.
Exploring New Interests
While pursuing an extracurricular that fits their interests, students should also take the opportunity to explore new ideas. Developing the courage to break out of their comfort zone builds character and is as much an indicator of future success as a high GPA or perfect test scores.
Odds are your child’s school hosts a number of nontraditional extracurriculars. Encourage them to try the debate team, Mathletes, star-gazing groups, or one of our favorites, an outdoor cooking club.
The Well-Rounded Student
As school life is increasingly demanding, extracurriculars provide a much needed moment of mental clarity during a student’s day. Dedicating time to a variety of extracurriculars is also the hallmark a well-rounded student – not to mention it looks great on a college resume. Most significantly, your child will learn valuable life lessons that simply can’t be taught in a traditional classroom setting.
