Extracurricular activities aren’t just hobbies or pastimes. They play a crucial role in enhancing a child’s learning outside school. As a parent, it’s important to encourage your child to engage with enriching extracurricular activities that aid their development as learners and thinkers. U2 Tuition, a London-based tutoring consultant, explores how extra-curricular activities can assist your child’s learning and improve their academic performance.
Building on Academic Learning
Extracurricular activities contribute to the holistic development of children. There are lots of extracurricular activities out there that build on and complement academic learning, challenging students beyond the syllabus. This could be things like coding clubs, going to an exhibition or workshop at a museum or learning a new language. These activities promote development, helping children discover their interests and making learning enjoyable.
Improved Academic Performance
We’ve noticed that all our students who get involved in beyond the curriculum activities see improvements in their school performance and results. Students who get involved with academic extracurriculars are more likely to succeed in school and university applications and to enjoy their learning throughout their academic career.
Learning to Work as a Team
Often, extracurricular activities involve working within a group and learning to interact with peers outside of the classroom. In drama clubs, sports clubs or group projects, students learn communication and listening skills, working with their peers to create a collaborative outcome. Team sports, in particular, are a key way of teaching children about teamwork and the benefits of working with each other, an essential skill for school and life.
Boosted Self-Esteem and Confidence
Taking part in extracurricular activities can significantly boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Achieving goals, whether it’s winning a match, setting up a tent or performing in a play, gives children a sense of accomplishment and encourages them to take on new challenges.
Stress Relief and Mental Health Benefits
Extracurricular activities offer a break from what can often be an intensive and exhausting academic routine, providing a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety. Sports and physical activities are known to reduce stress levels and enhance mood through the release of endorphins, making them a particularly good extracurricular for mental health.
Better Time Management
Learning to balance schoolwork with extracurricular activities teaches children effective time management skills. Being able to prioritise tasks and manage their own time is a valuable skill that benefits students throughout their academic careers and beyond.
Development of Soft Skills
Alongside time management, extracurricular activities can teach your child soft skills like discipline, resilience and problem-solving. Learning a new hobby or skill won’t always be easy. In overcoming the challenges and knockbacks, your child can develop these important soft skills that will help them overcome future challenges in their life and bounce back with resilience.
Exploration of Interests Outside School
Unlike in the classroom where learning is dictated by the boundaries of the school syllabus, extracurricular activities allow children opportunities to explore diverse interests which extend beyond the curriculum. Perhaps your child discovers they love creative writing, or they enjoy working as a team in an afterschool football club. Extracurriculars give them the opportunity to explore and find out what they love, learning more about themselves and giving them a greater sense of what they want to do in life.
Strengthening their Personal Statement or School Applications
Higher education institutions often look to extracurriculars as evidence of a child’s development of important skills beyond school. Being actively involved in extracurriculars indicates your child is able to demonstrate and provide evidence of soft skills like commitment and leadership. These skills are particularly important for students at 11+ or 13+ school interviews where candidates are asked about their interests outside the classroom, and ahead of university applications, to add depth to a personal statement and demonstrate their interest at interview.
From better time management and increased confidence to boosted academic performance and school application success, there are immense benefits to encouraging your child to get involved in more extracurriculars that support their learning.
If you’d like to learn more about what are some of the best extracurriculars to enhance your child’s learning, see U2 Tuition’s full guide here.
Last Updated on 2 months by Lavania Oluban