Extracurricular activities are a great way for students to explore their interests and develop important life skills. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which one works best for your child. There are many factors to consider while making this choice. Here are some tips for finding the perfect extracurricular activity:
Discover Your Child’s Interests
When choosing an extracurricular activity, the first step is to discover your child’s interests. What subjects do they enjoy most? What are they best at? What are they enthusiastic about? Do they have a special talent? These are all good questions to ask yourself. It is important to choose an activity that aligns with your child’s passions.
You can also consider your child’s strengths. Maybe they have strong reading and writing skills, or maybe they are very strong in math. Maybe their strengths don’t lie in a school subject, but in their special talents. Your child might be a great dancer, singer, athlete, or chess player. All children showcase strengths in different ways. For some, it’s more creative, for some it’s more logical, and for others it’s more physical.
Consider Time Management
Participating in an extracurricular activity can take up lots of time. Take your family’s schedule into consideration when choosing an activity for your child. Take into account how much homework your child has on a daily basis and how long it generally takes them to complete. Extracurricular activities are meant to complement your child’s academics, not hinder them. So, see if an activity fits into your family’s schedule or if it’s too much of a time commitment. If that’s the case, look for a different activity that your child may be interested in that requires less time. If your child is truly passionate about the activity, talk to them about adjustments that would need to be made to make it work.
Look Out For Fees
When choosing an extracurricular activity, be aware of fees. Not all activities will require paying a fee, but some do. Depending on the type of activity there may be costs to cover uniforms, equipment, instruments, travel expenses, etc. Also, if there are fees, inquire if they are recurring or one-time. Always keep your budget in mind while choosing an activity. Also, keep in mind that there are free extracurricular activities to choose from that your child may enjoy just as much.
Here at our Orlando Private School, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, we know just how important extracurricular activities are for developing your child’s skills. That is why we offer a variety of activities to our students. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.
