Extracurricular activities for children

Do not forget to reflect and assess very well all the available options before deciding to take the children to extracurricular activities . The age of the children, their personality, tastes, hobbies and even deficiencies are factors to take into account before deciding on one activity or another . What is common in all cases is the need to attend more to the needs of the children than to the comfort of the parents since, the latter, can affect the lives of the little ones, their development and even their happiness, which can have consequences in the medium and long term.

WHAT ARE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?

In search of fun for their children, their entertainment in a didactic way or to enhance or encourage the acquisition of skills , parents usually enroll their children in numerous activities that teach them very different and different disciplines from those they can learn during the teaching hours at school.

DO NOT FORGET THAT CHILDREN NEED TO PLAY, HAVE FUN AND RELAX

The most popular activities are usually sports such as football, basketball or rhythmic gymnastics . They are also popular artistic disciplines like the music , dancing in its most varied styles as well as drawing and painting . But there are many very varied options that facilitate the possibility of finding the most suitable for each child according to their tastes, hobbies or talents.

CHOOSE ACTIVITIES AND CONTROL THE WORKLOAD

As a general rule, children under the age of six do not require any type of extra activity in addition to school , however, it is very common that the need to adapt the children’s schedule to the work to which the parents are subjected, the children are forced to spend a large part of their non-school hours in extra classes.

In these cases, it is convenient to have the opinion of the children and look for alternatives that involve less effort for them. Do not forget that these are very young people and the greatest learning for them is the game . For this reason, it is worth opting for playful activities in which they can interact with their friends, that involve some physical activity and that help them combat stress . An excessive number of hours doing intellectual activities leads anyone to increase their stress levels to dangerous limits for health and children are more prone to suffer from these types of disorders.

For slightly older children it is much easier to choose the activities since in many cases they are the ones who suggest them to their parents . At an age greater than six years, children already have an interest in different disciplines, begin to excel in some sports or develop specific talents. Taking into account these interests of the minor, the most suitable extra classes can be chosen to develop their potential and learn while enjoying. However, it is not necessary to overload the children with an excess of overtime that leads to fatigue and the desire to leave; It is about having fun and learning, therefore, these extra hours should not be considered as an obligation, even if it teaches them to take responsibility for their commitments.

THEY PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN THE SOCIALIZATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL PERIOD

Do not forget that children need to play, have fun and relax . During the school period they are subjected to many hours of directed activities and intellectual efforts that must be valued. You have to be careful not to burden them with an overwork that leads to stress with many tutoring classes or disciplines that they do not enjoy as entertainment.

Saving the teaching needs that each child may have, the most recommended extra activities during the school period are those that teach them values, discipline and effort in a pleasant, affordable and entertaining way . Thus, these classes serve as a complement to what has been learned in school, providing new knowledge that may be useful in various life situations. Sticking to a schedule and keeping commitments with a rewarding result is a valuable education for children.

Considering the logical limitations to avoid child stress, extracurricular activities during the school period are highly recommended for many reasons. Fundamentally, these classes play a fundamental role in the socialization and physical activity of children . During the winter, with shorter afternoons and cold weather, little ones are more tempted to stay home in front of the television without receiving a variety of stimuli. The illusion of going to extracurricular commitments gives them an incentive and moves them to lead a less sedentary life .

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SUMMER: TIPS

With summer the end of school, the holidays arrive and it is the ideal time to forget obligations, discipline and daily duties. However, many parents consider that their children should continue with certain school hours during the summer period and, in this case, we must not forget the need for rest and play which, in summer , should be greater than the rest of the year .

Just as a parent seldom takes work with them on vacation, it is essential that children are not burdened with excessive obligations and allowed to enjoy play and some freedom until the school period approaches again.

CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOADED

In the event that the child fails one or more subjects, the grade obtained must be taken as a punishment in itself. Instead of canceling your vacations, it is best to reflect on the mistakes made and propose a work system that combines study and recovery of subjects with games and fun in an orderly way.

In any case, there are numerous summer activities such as sports or camps that can be attractive to children and that will allow them to be cared for in the absence of their parents. Despite this, we must not forget that the best thing about vacations is the opportunity to spend time with the family and create unforgettable moments that reinforce the bonds between parents and children . Therefore, do not forget to find those moments to travel together, go out to the field, play and talk.

Once again the practice of a sport will be the perfect excuse to spend time with the family . Another method to enhance these moments in community are board games since they are fun, integrate people of all ages and promote learning.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND CHILDREN’S STRESS

As already mentioned, an overload of teaching hours and extra activities, as well as excessive intellectual and physical effort can lead children to saturation with the consequent result of childhood stress .

This ailment can manifest itself with headaches, bad moods, sleep disturbances , poor appetite, emotional imbalances, and obvious signs of discomfort . To avoid this, the best measure is the rational planning of working hours and the introduction of more moments of play the younger the child is. Communication and understanding will be essential for the happiness of the little ones .