One of the best parts of being a parent is getting to watch your kids experience the world. Seeing them discover new things and grow their ever-expanding list of interests really does feel like having a front row seat to them becoming themselves. It’s this perspective that makes the after-school sprint to sports clubs, choir practice, piano lessons, and all their other extracurricular activities more enjoyable for you as a parent.
If your kids are reaching that age where they could benefit from picking up a few hands-on hobbies, then you’re probably wondering what extracurricular activities are worth picking up the bill for – or perhaps which activities could be cost-effective without sacrificing on education or enrichment. Well, today we’ll be sharing some of the most popular educational and enriching after-school activities that’ll help shape your kids into passionate and purposeful adults.
Boxing and martial arts
First on the list is a British staple – boxing, and other forms of martial arts. But mostly boxing! With the sheer number of boxing clubs across the country and quality boxing gloves available in kids sizes, your little ones can take up this particular activity as early as 7 or 8 years old.
The benefits of boxing are more numerous than you’d imagine as well. For starters, boxing and martial arts provide your kids with a vital self-defence education, which is always nice to have. Alongside this, boxing and martial arts disciplines help cultivate strength, agility, and even endurance, ensuring your kids are set up with a strong foundation for lasting physical health.
As they grow older, these disciplines can also become a great outlet for all the frustrations of young adulthood. Many boxing clubs themselves are a safe haven for young people who need a supportive community environment that’s outside of both their school and home settings. And thanks to England Boxing, finding your local boxing club online is easier than ever.
Team sports
Playing team sports are a great way to teach kids not only about the value of good sportsmanship but also about just how enriching it can be to work towards common goals. When they’re part of a team, your kids will ideally learn that they’ll have their moments to shine when they do their part to bring their team to victory.
That being said, kids naturally also want to have their own moments to shine, which is why sports like basketball and soccer have become so popular. These sports reward players who commit to their training and possess the confidence and skill they need to not only score goals, but support their team mates as they navigate the playing field. With basketball recognising assists, kids can really take pride in being a strong team player.
That being said, team sports aren’t for everybody. For instance, shy or reserved kids may still find that they don’t come out of their shell when they’re part of a team. Contrastingly, some really do! If your child doesn’t enjoy their team sports as much as they were expecting to, however, then sports like tennis or volleyball can still provide the experience of playing in a smaller team or playing doubles. Or simply playing all on their own!
Swimming lessons
Much like self-defence, swimming is just one of those life skills that all parents want their children to have. That’s why this extracurricular is most likely to be the very first class you ever sign your kids up for.
And truth be told, starting young is always wise when it comes to swimming, because it helps ensure your kids are comfortable in the water and know how to float. This foundational skill can help keep them safe not only in the pool but also on beach days or any other instances where your kids are likely to do some open water swimming.
Alongside being a vital life skill, most if not all kids also just really enjoy swimming. Getting in the water and feeling weightless makes swimming a surreal experience that lets kids escape to a deep blue world. That, and swimming is also one of the most low-impact aerobic exercises for the human body to enjoy – being a strong swimmer at a young age can set your kids up for a life of outdoor fun and easy physical activity.
Music lessons
Much like learning languages, learning how to play a musical instrument can actually boost your child’s neural development. This is because they use their brain in different ways, namely by identifying patterns that they otherwise wouldn’t have to recognise in their day-to-day activities.
There are also different types of instruments that appeal to different types of learners. For instance, children who are interested in music theory can learn a lot from mastering the piano. Percussion instruments like drums, xylophones, and gongs are great for kids who are interested in rhythm – and maybe also have plenty of energy to spare!
And for kids who are deeply interested in harmonies and vocal training, joining a choir is sure to provide them with plenty of enriching opportunities. Joining a big band or choir can also provide a great introduction to the art of performing without any of the pressure that accompanies going solo. But who’s to say that they can’t get a great solo down the line?
Library clubs
This next one is a great low-cost extracurricular activity that still provides plenty of enrichment. If you’ve ever attended a kids’ library club regularly, then you’ll already know just how much of a gift these community initiatives can be. Alongside providing ample opportunities for cold weather arts and crafts activities, library clubs can also be a great way to get your kids interested in reading without any of the pressures of school. And with initiatives like ECALM being developed to boost library membership rates across the UK, joining a library club with your kids is vital for participating in this education-driven movement.
Library clubs can also provide parents with the opportunity to connect, making it a social experience for both kids and adults alike. For parents of younger kids in particular, spending time in a library after school can help provide a bit of respite in the day before you go home and sort out dinner and their bedtime routines. And speaking of the bedtime routine, getting some great storybooks from the library every week can also help ensure your household stays stocked up on educational stimuli for your kids to enjoy.
School/community gardening clubs
There are countless benefits to getting your kids involved in gardening, including the often overlooked value of getting your hands in some dirt and really establishing their connection with the natural world and all the systems that sustain us as living beings.
For kids who don’t have garden space at home, however, you do have the opportunity to get involved in school or other community gardening clubs. These clubs allow kids the space and resources they need to learn valuable gardening skills, and all without needing to build any of that garden infrastructure yourself.
Community garden clubs can also often provide unique gardening projects for children that are specifically designed to cultivate little green thumbs. So if you’ve been struggling to find out how to get your kids engaged in gardening, look to your community garden to see what initiatives and activities they have across their group calendar.
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Any of the activities we’ve outlined above are sure to make your kids’ weekly schedules feel full and enriching, ensuring that they can experience both a balanced education, and plenty of opportunities to identify what their own interests are. Because that’s all you can really do for them as a parent at the end of the day – introduce them to all of the wonders of this life, and let them see for themselves where their strongest sense of purpose and most potent wellsprings of joy lie. If they can find these passions early, then they’ll surely grow up to become determined adults who know just how they can make a positive impact on the lives of all their friends, loved ones, and wider community.
