Monday, 08 August 2011
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To Do or Not To Do Extracurriculars?
I got a good response from my comment on the post "To Do or Not To Do Gymnastics?". I have more to say on the topic.
I may be a little biased when it comes to being involved in activities other than school. I was super involved, and played every sport (except soccer for some reason). I was in dance lessons, and played clarinet and piano. If I could I would have had art lessons as well. I may still take them.
When my mother put me in dance lessons at 4 years old, both my sisters having already taken dance for years, she had no clue that I would choose it as a career. She's an accountant; my father a lawyer. Who knew I would be a dancer? I am so thankful I got the opportunity to develop that love for dance. If my mom had never taken me to that first lesson, who the heck would I be today?
Exposing our children to every possible outlet is so important. My little girl is 3 now. She loves playing ball, and she loves dancing. I'm going to do everything I can to get her on sports teams. Her first year of dance will be this year. She will be exposed to gymnastics, and later hopefully piano or guitar. She does wonders with a tambourine.
I know some people don't view these things as important. I know a lot of people who think I do not have a "real" career. Even if the children do not pursue these things into adulthood, I guarantee they will take something with them. The team mentality you get from sports. The hard work and dedication it takes to learn an instrument or dance/gymnastics. Being active makes you healthier. It stimulates your mind and helps you learn in other areas. Colleges give scholarships to people who have expertise in something other than school. No matter if you get a degree in it or not. That could be the only way your child gets to go to the college they want.
I think it is horrible that arts programs are cut in schools every year, but that is another issue.
All of this being said. Do not FORCE your child to do these things. If they try it, and put forth effort and it doesn't work. Toss it. The other side. Don't let your child quit something on a whim. If they have done well, and haven't had problems, but maybe their friends aren't doing it, or maybe they had a bad week -don't let them quit. They will regret it. There are countless people I know who regret quitting dance. Help your child be well rounded. This is my view.
What's your experience with extracurricular activities? Do you plan on exposing your children to any sports, musical instruments, arts or other extracurricular activities?
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About the Author
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- From: leahKtutu@xanga
- Name: Leah
- Location: Texarkana, Texas, United States
- About Me: I love dance, I love music, I love you... Leah K.
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Comments (6)
Absolutely! I am totally going to be crazy Asian mom and make my future kids pick up a sport and a musical instrument of some sort. Personally, doing these types and other types of extracurricular activities were really the only the relief I received from the academic pressure and stress of school. I also felt that these activities contributed greatly to my determination to be successful; I didn't just want to play lacrosse or the violin, I would strive to be the best at it.
Haha ok, so my view is more along the lines of "forcing my (unborn) child to do things," but I definitely agree with yours :)
I kind of wish I would've been enrolled in extracurricular activities earlier...but at the same time I feel as though my childhood was better because I wasn't. I got to be a child for longer. When I joined middle school was my first encounter...I was part of student council. Then, when I started high school I became EVERYTHING - manager for football, basketball, and track, held every position in student council, was in EPYCS, FBLA, Natl. Honor Society, Yearbook treasurer/editor for 2 years, Marching/pep/concert band, Class President, secretary, etc...Yeah, everything. THAT I am thankful I did. I had so much fun and I miss doing all of it.
My boyfriend's 5 year old is playing Pop Warner football this year which has practices 5 days a week. His son's mother disapproves since it's so time consuming, but really, he loves playing with all his friends every day! It's great exercise and discipline, plus he sleeps great at night! My son will be here in less than a month and I can't wait till he's old enough to try every sport and activity out there!
Personally, I was also super involved as a child, and I loved being involved in tons of stuff. I think it made me a more interesting and well-rounded person.
I have a niece who's parents decided she was going to play soccor. She hated it, and cried all the way there, and all the way home. I felt that for a 5 year old, trauma didn't need to be introduced. I think if your kids love what they are doing that's one thing. If they don't, they won't look back on their child hood fondly. There is something to be said for kids learning how to amuse themselves without the parents paying for it. My kids learned to swim in the summer, took piano lessons, and my son played school sports, of his choosing. My daughter preferred activities like book clubs, as she was an avid reader. If your child is a natural at a sport, then he or she will thank you as an adult. If they are not, and you push them, and cause stress in their lives, trust me on this one, you won't be parent of the year. Let their natural aptitudes speak for themselves, and go with those. And when I attended my son's baseball games, I was appalled at the helicopter parents who'd scream at every child they felt hadn't caught the ball, hadn't hit the ball right, hadn't made it to 2nd base, you get the picture. My son could have easily had a scholarship with baseball, but made the decision to quit far too early because too many other moms and dads yelled at him at every damn game.
My fiance & I are expecting our first baby. We want our children to go to a good school that has a good academic program as well as other activities & sports they can partake in. When my fiance was growing up he was into sports, mainly soccer. He eventually got into bowling & pool when he was older & liked working on cars too. He's gone to school for graphic design & 3D animation but hasn't finished because he enlisted in the military 3 years ago & hasn't gotten the chance. He became interested in photography as well & taught himself everything he knows today. That's the whole reason why we met. I saw him one day & he had his camera & I started talking to him about photography because I'm a photographer too. When I was in school I was in band from ages 11-17. I played clarinet. I tried softball when I was in elementary school but I'm shy around people & it just wasn't for me. I felt really insecure about my ability & it seemed like everyone else had already been playing for years and just gave up. I didn't want to take dance or anything when I was little because I was shy and didn't think I could do anything & I was also a tomboy. I only joined band because a good friend was also in band, and I'm glad I did. I joined the track team when I was in middle school. I only got to go to a few practices & I got kicked off the team because my then boyfriend came to visit me after practice since he stayed after school too. So I didn't get to do anything with track.. I got into photography when I was 16 & I'm also self taught. When my fiance & I buy a house in the next year or two we are going to convert the garage into a studio & begin advertising ourselves more so we can have our own photography business together. We're shooting a wedding close to the end of this year. As for my career, I took some pre-reqs for nursing school a few years ago. I never finished because I put school on hold to go to Japan to be with my now ex husband. I never wanted to be a nurse anyway. I couldn't finish school in Japan but I did take a few classes. I still don't have a degree yet but within the next 3 years or so I will be a veterinary technician. After I meet that goal I'll take classes while I'm working to become a veterinarian. & that's what I've wanted to be for as long as I can remember.