Today, teenagers feel the enormous pressure of doing well in school, being involved in the community, socializing with their friends, and maintaining a positive presence on social media. These distractions and the information that they carry often cause teenagers to feel deeply dissatisfied with their lives. If you aren’t careful, you will not notice that your teenage kids are finding it hard to cope with the realities and challenges of the modern world. That’s why it is healthy for teenagers to discover the extracurricular activities that they enjoy.
They can take music lessons. They can join a sports academy. They can play for leisure or competition. They can learn how to dance, play a musical instrument, or kickbox. They can volunteer at an animal shelter. There are so many things for teenagers to do these days. It would be hard not to do anything at all, in fact.
As parents, you are the driving force behind this. If you don’t support your kids with what they want to do with their time after school, they are going to be pressured to do things that you might not be comfortable with. Peer pressure is real, and the more you neglect guiding your teenage kids, the more that this pressure will take hold of them.
Better Grades
There’s a misconception that kids who do extracurricular activities neglect their studies. Studies show that kids who are active in sports and many other things often get good grades academically. These activities do not distract them at all from their academics—though there are exceptions, of course. Kids who are involved in sports, music, and other things are passionate and excited. These extracurricular activities improve their brain functions. Keeping up with their classmates and teachers academically becomes easier for them.
Time Management
What’s the one thing you wish you could learn right now? Most people aren’t great at managing their time. They lose sleep and go to work late the next day. They hang out with their friends on a Friday night and miss on doing errands earlier the next day. They then spend the whole weekend trying to catch up with what they are scheduled to do.
Teenagers who participate in extracurricular activities are great at time management. They know they cannot let their grades slide, or they will be thrown off the team or organization. They know that they need to keep up with their schoolwork. As a result, they develop the ability to manage their time well and prioritize responsibilities at an early age. This is a skill that will be required of them throughout their lifetime.
Self-esteem
Extracurricular activities provide opportunities for teenagers to prove their worth. In a world that has increasingly become volatile, teenagers need to find their niche. Their success (and even their failures) in these activities develop their self-esteem and self-worth. The challenges that they face in sports, music, writing, and other things often make them stronger and better equipped to face adversities.
Skills
The time they spend on extracurricular activities improve the skills they are born with. They can develop the talents that they are gifted with. This opens up doors of opportunities; doors that would have remained close had these kids failed to hone the necessary skills. Can you imagine what the NBA would have been like if Michael Jordan had sulked in the corner after being cut from his high school basketball team?
Parents play an important role in supporting their kids’ school and post-school activities. Spend time with them. Talk to them. Figure out what they want to do with their free time. Try to be as supportive as you can possibly can. You never know, you might be raising the next Rafael Nadal or Lady Gaga.
Meta Title: Should You Persuade Your Kids to Join Extracurricular Activities?
Meta Description: What do kids do after school? Do they stay at home? Hang out with friends? Get involved in extracurricular activities? The last one is best for them.