Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Students
Parents usually have two sets of attitudes when it comes to extracurricular activities for students. They either (i) push their child to actively participate and learn beyond school or, (ii) they contemplate the need for extracurricular activities as to whether or not they’re too much pressure for their child alongside academics. We often come across questions like “Why are extracurricular activities important?”, “Will they actually benefit my child?”, “Since activities are not a part of academic requirements, are they even needed?” and so on and so forth.
Even the students who perform excellently in academics may not be able to tap into their highest potential if they do not have the opportunity to explore extracurricular activities. Given an opportunity, students can benefit from extracurricular activities in multiple ways. Besides shaping up their personalities, they also provide a room for fun when studies get too monotonous.
Even though good grades are essential, they are not the only attribute that helps your child later in their career. In a present day scenario, a successful career demands much more than plain bookish knowledge. Extracurricular activities, on the other hand, not only add up to one’s resume but also help prepare them for a much brighter future with a wider horizon of trial and error. Let’s take a look at what extracurricular activities are and how they benefit your child.
What are extracurricular activities?
If we simply split the word “extracurricular” into two, we’re left with two words, “extra” and “curricular” which makes it perfectly clear that extracurricular activities are activities that are outside of a running course or curriculum. To be precise, extracurricular activities are activities that aren’t a part of the standard academic syllabus but are taken to nurture practical skills and talents. If one opts for an extracurricular activity and completed it, they’re doing beyond what’s required of them in a regular school year.
However, not everything that one does beyond academics is an extracurricular activity. A certain level of interest, commitment and consistency is required to take one. A particular sports training, instrument classes or an online course outside the syllabus are some common examples of extracurricular activities.
What are the benefits of extracurricular activities?
The following are the most commonly observed benefits of extracurricular activities:
1. Academic excellence
Well, we know this wasn’t something you were expecting but hear us out. Contrary to what’s commonly believed, extracurricular activities do not divide your child’s focus and deter them from academics. Instead, studies have shown that an extracurricular activity can actually help students boost their performance in academics. Participation in activities of interest helps improve a child’s brain function, develops a positive attitude and gives them an edge in comparison to those who restrict themselves to academics.
2. Socialization
We are all aware of how social a bookworm is! (Speaking sarcastically) We’ve all either been that kid who is always with the books or know of someone who was. Skills and interests beyond academics are essential to develop healthy bonds with others. Doing activities of similar interests together helps build and strengthen friendships. Not only in school but students with extracurricular activities also find it easier to strike up a conversation and make friends in a completely new setting.
3. Making future-ready
Now, we’ve already discussed how extracurricular activities help shape a student’s personality. Well, consider this example. If your child is a science enthusiast and he joins a science club, chances are, he’ll be exposed to a much broader range of science topics than what he picks up from his academic books. So, in the future, those practical experiences will add much to his knowledge besides what he has learnt from his books at school. Oftentimes, students get a lot of amazing opportunities if they become exceptionally good at an extracurricular activity.
4. Time management
Life only gets harder and more complex as one grows up. Extracurricular activities help students learn the essential time management skills that help them get ready for the future. It teaches one to make time for their passion even if their career comprises a different profession, thereby making them efficient individuals.
5. Self-esteem
Regardless of what we expect from our children, at the end of the day, we need to accept that they may or may not always be the best at studies. Now, students often tend to lose their self-esteem when they aren’t performing great at academics which further deteriorates their performance. Extracurricular activities, here, play a key role in giving a hand to hold on and gain back their lost self-esteem. They further nurture their self-respect and even help them perform much better at academics.
At MS Dhoni Global School, our focus is on nurturing an environment where holistic development of students takes place. Not only do we provide an exceptional academic experience but also lay equivalent stress on sports and extracurricular activities. After all, we aim to help our students tap into their highest potential.
