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The end of the course is about and many dads are starting to organize the agenda of their kids face the next year. Extracurricular play a leading role in this "agenda", perhaps too protagonist ... So today I want to discuss the pros and cons of this type of activity, and key points to consider when choosing the most appropriate activity for our small.

When thinking about extracurricular activities, I'm sure there are two main questions you ask yourself ...

What is the most suitable activity?

There is honestly no general rule applicable to choosing an after-school activity. Each child is different and has specific needs. The best thing is that you talk to your teacher. Ask him what he thinks is the area you should reinforce. Add this opinion to yours and that of your child and with this make your decision.

Logically, there are always general recommendations:

• If your little one has some kind of motor difficulty, it will be great to do some sports such as swimming.
• If he is lazy in languages ​​or you think you should reinforce school time with extra time, sign up for an academy. Many parents only sign their children to class when they begin to fail or have problems, but this idea is not very successful. From my point of view we must anticipate.
• If you have trouble communicating and are introverted, you can point to theater.
• Music is also very good for creative development.

In any case, as I've said before, these are very general recommendations, and we will always have to see the case of each child.

What extent?

I can't tell you what is the "ideal" measure of extracurricular activities, mainly because I don't think there is. What I am clear about is that we do not want stressed children, they don't have time to play, and this is what is currently happening.

I understand that we all want our little ones to be the best prepared, those who best play soccer, the best students, those who speak the most languages, but you always have to sacrifice something, and what cannot be is that the children have activities from Monday to Friday from five to eight in the afternoon, and that they do not have a little time left to meet and play with their friends.

After school yes but ...

Personally I am in favor of children doing extracurricular activities, as long as they meet a series of "requirements".

• If possible, out of school. Many parents leave their children in after-school activities at school, because in this way the school day of the little ones is lengthened, and so they can be better organized. I fully understand that for you it is a hassle to have to pick up the children from school, give them a snack and take them quickly and running to another place. Even so, we must be careful with the extracurricular activities organized by the centers. On many occasions they give an extracurricular service as a way to extend the day, but without worrying about giving quality classes according to the needs of the little ones. On the other hand, if the children do the extracurricular activities outside your usual environment, expand their circles of friends and relationships.

• We must respect the child's decision-making capacity. No matter how small, the children know well what they want, and we must, as far as possible, let them choose. Ask your son what he would like to do. If he tells you that basketball instead of soccer, aim for basketball. You may later want to change, nothing happens, is discovering and choosing, let him decide what he likes and what he doesn't. Obviously, there are activities for which you will have to guide him. Surely, he will not tell you that he wants to go to an English or other language course. Then, If you sign up, you will have to take into account the points that we will see below.

• Respect the adaptation periods. If at the beginning your child tells you that he does not want to go to the activity you have signed up for, nothing happens, the new environment, The new faces and new activities are taking you out of your comfort zone. Leave time to adapt, Talk to the teacher to see if it is an integration problem, always closely following its evolution.

• Do not force him. If finally your child tells you that he does not want to go to a certain activity do not force him. If we talk about extracurricular activities it is because they are that, extracurricular. Force your kids to perform an activity that they don't like outside school hours, When they are tired of the whole day, You can just make them end up hating it, either football, Music or English.

• The game is fundamental. As I said before, The game is fundamental to the development of children. Leaving them time to play is essential for their learning. The Game teaches them to self -regulate, naturally overcoming frustration, the aggressiveness and other emotions that emerge when children play among them. Keep in mind that it is phenomenal that you play with your children, but The game with parents is not natural. Many times parents let them win and, further, The game is usually the one who wants, Truth? 😉 When playing with other children, they have no choice but to adapt.

• Careful! We don't want stressed children. Children who have an agenda full of activities are usually stressed children who have no time to play, but also, These children usually:

1. Be saturated with information.
2. They have difficulty concentrating and reading.
3. They are not able to enjoy a moment and are always worried about the following activity.
4. They have little autonomy. They are children totally directed by their parents, unable to make decisions. They become dependent and not very autonomous.
5. They get bored if someone organizes us what they have to do.
6. They have little decision capacity.
7. They find it difficult to relate, Negotiate with equals, Work in a group, self -regulate or solve problems.

Taking these points into account, Once you decide for the activity you are going to point to your child, I recommend that you take into account the following.

• Activities taught in a playful way. Children are already enough hours in school, as to sign up for an activity that is simply a tracing of what they do in class. If for example you have decided to sign up for English class, Make sure classes are fun and dynamic.
• Talk to the teacher. If you can recommend that you talk to the teacher who will teach classes. A teacher of extracurricular classes cannot be super serious and strict. Request him to explain the method that uses and assure you that he convinces you.
• See a class before aiming. Ideally, your child can go to a class before aiming. Thus you will know how good classes are really and you will not throw the money.
• Huid of the centers that promise great results. There are many teachers and centers that promise great results in a short time. These usually have strict teachers. I personally, I don't think this type of methods and centers work, especially talking about extracurricular activities. In any case, No magical methods and every learning process requires its time.

I hope these little tips help you decide the extracurricular ones for the next year. And take into account a thing: Your little ones They must want to go to their extracurricular activities and, above all, They have to have a good time.

Thanks for being there!

“The good teacher makes the bad student become good and the good student in Superior.”

Marva Collins

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Tags: activity, deport, to choose, extracurricular, soccer, english, best, music, theater

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 14th, 2015 at 9:22 pm and is filed under Means. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.