My boys are always bringing home fliers from school for extra curricular activities. From wrestling to baseball, jazz band and math club. How do you know which activity will be a good fit for your child? More importantly, how will the activity affect their schedule and homework load?
When you are looking to involve your child with extra curricular activities, you need to do your homework. You may feel your best resource are friends, but be cautious when gathering information from friends. Every child is different. Just because Johnny couldn't handle playing baseball and juggling homework, doesn't mean your child can't. These are the questions you will want answers to:
- How many nights a week are practices/meetings held?
- Are practices/meetings held on the same night every week?
- How long do practices/meetings last?
- Are there penalties for missing practices/meetings?
- What type of parental involvement is expected?
Once you have evaluated the commitment involved with the particular activity, you then need to look within the walls of your home. Can your schedule handle the driving back and forth to the activity? Does your child have nightly or weekly homework commitments that will be adversely affected by joining the team/club? Take a good hard look at your child's after school schedule to see if missing that 1-2 hours, two nights a week will negatively affect school work. When you learn that practice is 2 hours a night, two nights a week, you can't just block out those two hours. You have to look at time needed to get ready, and drive time. You may be extending that to 2 1/2-3 hours a night. Then, you have coaches/leaders who do not end practices/meetings on time. The unpredictably of the activity can wreak havoc on homework schedules. In our house this month, we have had 1 hour baseball games, and some that have lasted 2+ hours. You just never know.
Once you evaluate the time commitment of an activity and decide to sign your child up, then the juggling act begins. There is a link between student success and extra curricular activities, and that link can be positive or negative. The adjustment may be difficult, and as a parent you may need to be more hands on in the beginning when it comes to homework. Be sure to check that assignments are being completed and that you know when tests are coming up. Your child may have a difficult time getting used to balancing their time, especially if this is the first time being involved in an activity. In the past, your child may have been able to complete a 5 paragraph paper in one evening, but if it is due the day after a game, adjustments will need to be made. Don't get stuck in the cycle of staying up late on the nights of extra curricular activities. With the added activity, your child will need more sleep, not less.
There are positive links to student success from participating in extra curricular activities. Students become more responsible and are forced to become more organized with their time and materials. They need to now juggle their school work with the outside activity. This may cause some craziness in your household, but in the long run, it can provide your child with life-long lessons in time management. There is also the social aspect, as extra curricular activities give your child the opportunity to meet new friends and work through conflicts. The hard work involved with mastering an activity is also a great self esteem builder.
Doing the legwork necessary to find out what you can about the activity your child is interested in will pay off in the long run. You do not want your child to have to quit before fulfilling the commitment. Challenge your child to work hard and the extra curricular activities will be a positive experience for everyone.