School & Extracurricular Activities – It’s A Balancing Act - KATV - Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports

School & Extracurricular Activities – It’s A Balancing Act

Compiled by Michelle Young, M.S. Ed                                                                            

Parent Resource Center                                                                                                           

5905 Forest Place, Suite 205           

Little Rock, AR 72207                                                                         

Now that school is back in full swing, many parents and children are beginning to feel a little bit overwhelmed with all the activities that happen beyond the school day.  Why do we as parents want our children involved in extracurricular activities?   For the majority of parents, we want our children to be exposed to opportunities we may or may not have experienced.  Also, playing, exploring or simply roaming the neighborhood on a bicycle is not always safe.  In our changing world, activities and play have become much more formalized.   Going to college is more common today, too, which means added pressure to do well in school as well as in activities outside of school. All of this adds up to more involvement in an abundance of extracurricular activities. Today's challenge is helping your kids maintain a healthy balance between school and the myriad of extracurricular activities they have on their plates.

"There's definitely less informal play these days," says George W. Shannon, MD, FAAFP, a family physician in Georgia who is on the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Good parents have concerns about kids in unsupervised environments. We've all heard horror stories about kids being snatched. I used to wake up and get on my bike at 6 in the morning and come back at dark. Today there are more structured activities. I'm glad because, in the absence of free-form play, there would be nothing for them to do."

There is also some parental pressure for kids to succeed. "You must make sure you don't put undue pressure on kids when it comes to extracurricular activities," Dr. Shannon says. "The kids will be stressed. When our plates are too full, we might be short-tempered; we feel rushed. I've seen some kids who are tremendous over-achievers. Some kids can handle it and others can't."

Finding the Right Balance: School and Extracurricular Activities

Here are some tips from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to help your children maintain a good balance between academics and activities:

• Check in on time management. Get together regularly with your children to make sure their involvement in extracurricular activities isn't negatively impacting their academics. Discuss scheduling and time management to be sure they are not overwhelmed.

• Divide your attention equally. Be sure that you spend as much time with your child going over schoolwork as you do in helping to prepare for a school play or practice for a ball game.

• Don't push in the wrong direction. Encourage your children to get involved in at least one club or activity of their choosing. If you push them into an extracurricular activity they don't like, they may become resentful of the activity and possibly you.

• Promote real-world activities. Getting involved in a language club or the school newspaper makes learning a child's favorite subject, such as English or Spanish, even more enjoyable.

• Encourage role models. Kids need the friendship and inspiration found in relationships with teachers, counselors, and coaches that develop during extracurricular activities.

• Foster friendships. Allow children to be involved with friends as part of these clubs to build lasting relationships.

• Teach them about teamwork and competition. Encourage an interest in sports or other activities that require tryouts and competition. Kids will learn the value of teamwork and competition.

• Talk about good sportsmanship and build strong self-esteem. Being involved in extracurricular activities can sometimes mean losing or winning an event or competition. Help prepare your child for ups and downs.

• Be honest about what extracurricular activities cost. Make sure your child understands that extracurricular activities can often add extra costs to the family budget (for uniforms, instruments, and club fees) so that they value your financial commitment.

• See switching gears as normal. Don't be too upset if your child wants to change activities. It's important to try new things and switching activities is normal.

A Well-Rounded Education

The U.S. Department of Education points out that just about every school offers some extracurricular activities, from music to sports to academic clubs. Involvement can reinforce academics and help kids learn social skills. Also, research has shown that involvement in extracurricular activities can improve a child's sense of belonging to the school and reduce his chance of failing or dropping out.

But remember that kids are exploring what works and what doesn't, so give them some room to change. "If your child is trying to pull away from an activity, recognize that he may have too much on his plate," Shannon says. "He doesn't have to start playing football at age 7. … Don't push kids into activities that they don't want to do."

Source:  Article by Lynn Yoffee ~ Everydayhealth.com

Websites to Explore

About Our Kids         

http://www.aboutourkids.org

American Academy of Family Physicians

http://www.aafp.org

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://www.healthychildren.org

Kids Health                                                               

http://www.kidshealth.org

Books for Further Reading

Raising a Team Player:  Teaching Kids Lasting Values on the Field, on the Court and on the Bench by Harry Sheehy & Danny Peary

The Hurried Child:  Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon by David Elkind

The Over-Scheduled Child:  Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap by Alvin Rosenfeld & Nicole Wise

*The books listed above plus MANY more are available at the Parent Resource Center.

Please visit the Parent Resource Center located at 5905 Forest Place in Little Rock.  You will find books, videos, DVDs and other printed material as well as internet access all FREE of CHARGE.  Hours are 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.  For more information, call: (501) 666-6833.