The Benefits Of Extra-Curricular Activities For Children

Extra-curricular activities are important for a child’s development. You may think that they learn enough at school, but there are plenty of personal skills that can be learnt through various hobbies that will support your child’s overall progress, both academically and more generally. I have teamed up with an independent school in Essex to explore some of the benefits of extra-curricular activities in further detail.

Impresses Universities

If your child is hoping to go to university one day, pursuing an extra-curricular activity may help them secure a place. This is because it gives them something to talk about in their personal statement, which is an essential part of the application process. Essentially, it shows that your child has a bit of personality about them and is able to commit to something outside of their studies.

Teaches New Skills

As mentioned above, extra-curricular activities are a chance for children to develop a range of skills, from playing sport to learning an instrument. In addition to that, they will become better at time management and will learn to be resilient when their chosen hobby becomes challenging.  Other skills they may learn are things like problem-solving, leadership and teamwork.

What’s more, many extra-curricular activities are group based, which can help your child with their social skills and allow them to form strong relationships. Social skills are important for young people as they must interact with other children and lots of adults on a daily basis at school. However, during extra-curricular activities they will have the chance to socialise with likeminded children outside of a classroom environment, so it’s more relaxed and informal.

Boosts Academic Performance

Many of the skills developed through extra-curricular activities, such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving, can be transferred over to your child’s academic life, which can help them perform better. This alone is a great reason to encourage your child to pursue a hobby because it will keep them occupied in a productive way while also helping them to succeed in school.

Enhances Self-Esteem

As your child meets new people and develops new skills, they will become increasingly more confident in their abilities. A strong sense of self is important for success throughout life so it’s great to enhance this early on to give your child the best chance. This is because while their self-esteem is improving, they will start to feel more comfortable stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new things. For instance, they may engage in classroom discussions more frequently than before.

Collaboration.