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The benefits of extramural activities are numerous. They provide an opportunity for your child to learn new skills, develop emotionally and physically and have some fun. Too many activities can be over-whelming for a child and may lead to frustration and burnout.
“Depending on the type of activity chosen, they can help your child deal with issues such as winning and losing, conflict resolution, sharing, compromising and assertiveness,” says Cindy McDonald, and educational psychologist, from Benoni. “Extramurals help youngsters learn to deal with stress and competitiveness in a structured environment, but it is vital that a caring adult be on hand to assist the child to make sense of these feelings and issues and to mediate between the experience and the child’s responses to the experience.”
Society places enormous pressure on parents to be ‘perfect’ and have ‘perfect’ children. Cindy cautions parents not to fall into this trap and put pressure on their kids to ‘be the best’ at every activity. “When your child comes back from a match or tournament, avoid the infamous: did you win or how many runs did you make? Rather replace it with: did you have fun? Did you do your best? The emphasis should be on enjoyment and sportsmanship rather than on winning at any cost,” she states.
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| When extra activities are heaped onto a young child, he may become despondent and frustrated. Over-scheduling will leave him with little or no time to play and just be ‘a kid’. Children learn through play and develop emotional and social skills by interacting with their peers on this level.
Just as you try to balance your own life - work, family and social commitments, give your child a chance to find a balance between homework, activities and free time. If things seem to too hectic, maybe it’s time to cut back on that busy schedule. Help your child to decide which activities he wants to continue with and which he would rather stop. Concentrate on those activities he enjoys or activities which help him to improve on an area of weakness. A few free afternoons a week are okay!
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Is your child constantly tired? Does he have difficulty concentrating and lack energy? |
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Is he forgetful or tearful? Is he moody, despondent or frustrated, even angry? |
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Younger kids need opportunities to play with their toys or ride their bike. Does your child have time to play? |
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Look at his marks at school. Have they dropped? Chat to his class teacher and ask about school work. Has she noticed a decline? This often happens when kids don’t have enough time to dedicate to homework and studying. |
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Does your child have time to spend with his friends? If he doesn’t have time to see his friends after school for some fun time at home, he may become resentful of his busy schedule and will struggle with building relationships with his peers. |
| Need more information? Find out about the benefits of extramurals or how to choose the right activities for your child. |
| Expert consultant: Cindy McDonald, Educational Psychologist. |
