Education

The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children

From developing skills to forging new friendships, extracurricular activities have innumerable benefits for children. Your child may unearth a hidden talent or discover a lifelong passion. To discover more take a look at the following from a private school in Buckinghamshire.

Life Skills

A significant benefit of extracurricular activities is helping children to develop essential life skills. Whether it’s at a football club or scouts group, your child will learn how to engage with others and work effectively as part of a team. They will learn to persevere in working towards their goals, and to work hard to improve when they find something difficult. These skills are extremely valuable, helping children learn to persist through challenges to meet their aims.

Friendships

Clubs and activities can be a great way for children to make new friends. They will meet people with similar interests, helping them spark conversations and break the ice. This can be particularly beneficial for children who struggle socially or tend to be on the shy side. Having an activity to focus on will take some of the pressure away from finding things to talk about and will help friendships develop more naturally. The feeling of belonging to a club or team can help children feel more supported and help them feel more confident in social situations outside of the activity.

Health Benefits

One of the main benefits of extracurricular activities is that they tend to help children stay more active and engaged. This is particularly true of activities focused around physical activity such as sport, dance or drama. But even less physical pursuits such as art groups or craft clubs help get kids off the couch and out of the house after school. Anything which minimises time sitting in front of a screen is beneficial in terms of health and can help with mental as well as physical wellbeing.