The children of the contemporary world are faced with a mounting pressure to prove their academic prowess and are mostly provided with technology-based recreation. This has started killing their enthusiasm towards hobbies and extracurricular activities. With that in mind, it’s high time that we encourage our kids to participate in extracurricular activities as a supplement to their academics.
15 Best Extracurricular Activities for Kids
The truth is, not everything can be taught through formal education. In addition to what children learn as part of their curriculum, they acquire so many vital skills from other activities. The top cbse schools in Chennai all offer extracurricular activities as a core part of their course curriculum. Apart from everyday studies, these help them gain essential practical life skills that help them lifelong. The following are a few activities that significantly improve the children’s overall skill set:
#1. Sports
Considered to be one of the virtues that need to be learned during the formative years, sports of any kind enables all-round development in children. Sports impart discipline and instill team spirit in the young ones. Any type of games and sports activity is good for them. Again, the choice lies with the individual child, with a great number of sports activities being available. Improving the fitness level and triggering enthusiasm, sports are a great way to have fun and develop skills at the same time.
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#2. Music
Training in music opens up an ocean of opportunities and recreation to children. While the choice of the instrument lies with the child, children are sure to enjoy and evolve with the sound of music.
#3. Dance
One of the physically engaging and mentally sharpening activities, dancing offers the much-needed exercise and focus for today’s kids. There are different styles of dance, and the child can choose one based on his or her interest.
#4. Drawing/Painting
The blossoming artist in your child can come to the fore through drawing or painting. While playing with colours is a lot of fun, the creativity in the child is triggered and developed. This is what makes it an excellent hobby to pick up.
#5. Martial Arts
Martial arts such as Judo, Karate, and Taekwondo serve the dual purpose of inculcating discipline and teaching self-defense to the kids. Children may pick their preferred style to channel and control their strength rather than using it for violence.
#6. Book Club
An activity that enables children to quench their thirst for learning and socializing with like-minded friends, a book club is among the most preferred extracurricular activities for kids today. Opportunities to gain knowledge abound here. Some of the top CBSE schools in Chennai house huge book clubs that help children develop reading habits.
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#7. Cooking
An important life skill, cooking is for anybody and everybody. Taking part in this activity ensures that our children become self-reliant and independent. Cooking helps children develop fine motor skills while learning about nutrition and sharing.
#8. Swimming
Swimming – Best Extracurricular Activities for KidsThis is one of the best physical activities that tones most parts of the body. A skill every human being needs to master, swimming creates a fighting spirit that facilitates young children to face emergency situations and helps develop self-confidence.
#9. Gymnastics
An organized and deeply coordinated activity, gymnastics helps kids to gain physical as well as mental strength that ensures fitness and a sense of accomplishment. Physical well-being is promoted while a child’s cognitive skills are boosted greatly by taking part in this activity.
#10. Foreign Language
The contemporary world is fast becoming a global village with communication and networking having been made effortless and rapid. The one skill that helps connect people from various parts of this world is language. Learning and mastering a new, foreign language helps kids to acquire knowledge, develop analytical skills, and break the language barrier.
#11. Archery
An activity that hones children’s attention span, improves focus, and helps them to do better in their academic activities, archery is an evergreen art. It improves responsibility among kids.
#12. Nature Studies
What could be the best teacher for growing children other than Mother Nature? With several approaches to formal and informal education emphasizing nature-oriented study methods, exploring the outdoors and getting to know about our environment extensively is a great way to learn and grow.
#13. Pottery
Clay is a fascinating substance that keeps children engaged and improves their creativity. One of the oldest arts that has a calming effect on the participants, pottery improves concentration and perseverance.
#14. Drama Club
A productive way to channelize imagination in children, acting develops physical, social, and artistic skills among kids while enhancing their public-speaking skills. Developing personality and improving confidence, being in a drama club builds the child’s creativity.
#15. Sewing Class
Though not considered an extracurricular activity by many, sewing is one skill that comes in handy, especially for those in their formative years. Mastering the basics of sewing enables children to blossom into fashion designers in their future. Creativity and imagination are greatly stimulated in children by taking part in this activity.
Significance of Extracurricular Activities Among Children
Respite from hectic academics: Extracurricular activities provide a much-needed breather for kids from their otherwise hectic life.
Analytical skills: Learning solely through academic books is not sufficient in the modern world – critical thinking is the need of the hour, and extracurricular activities provide it.
Self-confidence: Self-esteem and confidence play a crucial role in the success of a child. Active participation in other activities in addition to academics helps boost their self-belief.
Hidden talent is identified: Recognizing and encouraging the hidden talents of a child is very important during the developing stage of their life. Active participation in activities outside the classroom brings out such hidden talents.
Social skills: Technology-based recreation and gadget-based life have impacted socializing abilities significantly. Understanding the social values and bonding can be made possible through extracurricular activities.
In this fast-paced life, it is essential to integrate suitable extracurricular activities to a child’s academic life. It helps children in learning to set priorities and manage their time while widening their perspective about the real world. The best place to help children nurture their inborn talents and interests is the school. So, while hunting for the best schools in Chennai, it would be wise to choose the school which offers equal importance to extracurricular activities as well.