7 Tips for Choosing the Most Suitable Extracurricular Activities

A vast majority of parents in Hong Kong enrol their kids in a variety of extracurricular activities. There are art classes, music lessons, STEM sessions, theatre, sports, and different dance forms, among others.

One might ask –“What will our kids achieve from such classes? Is it worth the time and money spent?" As per Lisa J. Crockett, a psychology professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, "activity participation can help kids with early identity development. Kids can build a better and richer picture of themselves and what they hope to accomplish." Research also shows that kids engaged in activities tend to have better grades, higher self-esteem, better time management skills, and are less likely to drop out of school.  Interest classes can also help uncover a fascination that could lead to a lifetime of joy and might even help ascertain career options. That said, as parents, we need to tread with caution and understand our motivations as well before we invest in these activities. 

We need to ask ourselves, are we enrolling our kids into some activity simply because of peer pressure or do we just want to make them the jack of all trades? In which case, we have digressed from the path. If on the other hand, we are signing them up for these classes to hone a talent in our children and it brings them joy and a feeling of contentment, then we certainly are on the right track.

Parents and teachers often wonder about the right age to develop a kid's passion and how to identify it? While there is no one specific age bracket, there are certainly some signs and helpful guidance below in this regard: 

1. Start by Observing Your Kids' Behaviour- Try to discover what comes naturally to your child and what makes them joyful? Do they like dancing or painting? Are they fascinated by numbers? Do you often find them watching cooking shows? Make sure to also keep a tab on their school grades and assignment as this will also help you monitor which subjects or knowledge areas interest them.
   
   
2. Offer an Enriching Environment – If you have identified that your child has a particular interest, you could encourage her by having her pursue different activities, watching relevant shows, or going on certain interest-specific outings.  Does your child love dinosaurs and knows all about them by heart? Then why not take her to the museum, look for books on palaeontology, or let her watch Nigel Marven’s documentaries on paleontological wildlife.
    
3. Test Different Activities – Not many kids are able to know what they truly love early on. If your child has still not shown a passion for something so far, you can try letting him try a variety of activities.  You can take him to concerts, show him plays, and watch a football or basketball game. Don't forget to try reading different kinds of books together and watch a variety of TV shows. Gradually, you will see what your kid is being drawn to.
    
4. Do Not Impose Your Own Desires – Some parents unintentionally make the mistake of pushing their agendas forward rather than that of their kids. Your child may be better at performing arts instead of sports. So don’t try to shove tennis down his throat because it has been your own childhood dream. Further, even if your child knows his passion by now, simply try to offer new ways for him to enjoy his passions and give regards to his ability and age as you go about nurturing his gifts.  Your job is to encourage and not pressurise them to learn things that are not yet ready to learn despite being passionate about what they do.
    
5. Follow the Rule of Three – Do you know how many activities are ideal for your kid? The answer is two or less. Tina Seeling, a neuroscientist, author of “What I Wish I knew When I was 20: A Crash Course in Making your Place in the World” says “The U.S. Marine Corps and other military organisations use the ‘The Rule of Three’ as a general principle. They have found that people can only track three things at once. A squad leader is in charge of three fire team leaders. Anything more than three, the effectiveness drops.” To help your family live by the Rule of Three, count school as one, and then add two more activities. Anything more than that and you are bound to get disappointed.
   
   
6. Talk and Listen - Every kid has a spark or a talent. We just need to be patient enough to listen to their stories and understand what makes them all excited. You may use leading questions to ask your child “What’s important to you?”; “What subject do you enjoy the most at school and why?”  While they are watching television, check with them “Why do you like this show?”; “What aspect of this animated series do you enjoy the most?”
    
7. Make Good Use of Family Time - Unstructured hangout times such as holidays or weekend outings might also provide invaluable clues. If you ask your kid, what do you want to do this afternoon, and if she says “let’s go bake cakes” fifth time in a row, you’d know for sure that a baking class might be a great fit for her. Do not miss out on clues floating around the house. You may find an open book full of amazing doodles next to your child’s math book. Or your child may have already started beating her own time on a Rubik’s cube. 

To conclude, extracurricular activities are crucial for the development of our kids. As stated above, choose the activities wisely and stick to no more than two at a time. Our task as parents is to honour our kids’ evolving interests, encourage them to continue to walk the path that intrigues them, rather than what we think would be best for them. This is how we can help them develop a strong sense of self, build up their confidence, encourage them to live rich lives, and develop lifelong skills.