Tips On Choosing Your Kids' Extracurricular Activities

By Paige Townley Staff Writer

Frombirth, children are ready to learn and explore, and getting them involved in activities and classes early on can be ideal for their social, emotional, and physical development. Luckily for parents, there are a variety of activities in which children can partake. But what time is the right time for children to begin extracurricular activities? We talked to the experts around Birmingham to discover the benefits of some of the most popular after-school activities and find out what parents need to consider before enrolling.

Tips for Choosing a Swim Class

Swim classes provide much more than the obvious health benefits. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children aged one through four, and statistics show that participating in formal swim lessons can help reduce that risk by upwards of 88 percent. Noah Young, assistant general manager at Goldfish Swim School, shared what parents should think about when selecting a swim class for their child:

• Know what you want going into the class. Some parents may simply want their child to know just enough to keep from drowning if they fall into a pool, while others prefer their child to be a competent swimmer.

• Start early if possible. Any age is a good age for a child to start learning how to swim—the earlier, the better, Young shares. An excellent way to know if your child is ready is when they begin to exhibit some independence. "If the child is independent, that would be a good time to enroll in group lessons," Young says. "If the child is not independent, a parent/child class might be more appropriate to consider."

• Consider group versus private lessons. Group classes are fantastic for helping children understand how to learn in a group and act socially with other children, but for certain children, a group setting may be better. Private classes are better for children who need more personalized attention or can't handle larger class sizes.

• Visit a class. If unsure about a particular program or instructor for your child, ask to check out a class before enrolling. Many programs, such as Goldfish Swim School, offer free trials for parents for that very reason.

Tips for Choosing a Martial Arts Class

Discipline, respect, concentration and confidence are just a few benefits of martial arts for children. Depending on the program, classes start for children as young as four years old, and children can learn various martial arts styles. Jessica Scarsella, co-owner of Master Scarsella’s World Class Tae Kwon Do, shared what parents should know when considering a martial arts class for their child:

• Classes are available for all age groups. Children can get into martial arts at a young age. World Class Tae Kwon Do offers a Little Tiger class for children as young as four or five years old. “We have found this is a good age where their attention span can typically last about 30 minutes,” Scarsella explained.

• Consider the style that may work best for your child. There are a variety of martial arts styles, such as karate, taekwondo, jujitsu, and kung fu. Each has its emphasis, Scarsella notes, such as kicking for taekwondo, weapons for karate, and grappling for jujitsu. "Even more important than the style a child learns is the teaching methods used in the classroom," she says. “For students to gain skills from a program, they must fit into the right environment. Some schools focus on developing character like confidence and respect, while other schools primarily focus on developing students for competition.”

• Find the right fit. Visit a school before signing up, and take an introductory lesson, or lessons, first. "We always recommend visiting a school before signing up," Scarsella adds. “An introductory lesson shows you how their program works and if it’s a good fit for your family.”

Tips for Choosing a Dance/Gymnastics class

Dance is a popular extracurricular activity for children of all ages, and for good reason: in addition to promoting social solid skills, dance promotes physical activity and helps with a child’s cognitive abilities. Dance at any age is good for physical, social and emotional well-being. “Not only do classes in dance offer physical benefits like increased coordination, strength, flexibility and poise, research shows that dance classes also develop creativity, problem-solving, communication, high-ordered thinking and social awareness,” adds Shellie Chambers, a program director at The Dance Foundation.

Linda Dobbins of Linda Dobbins Dance in Mountain Brook, says it is important to ask good questions to ensure a positive and suitable experience for your child.

Chambers and Dobbins shared tips parents should know when considering a dance class for their child:

• Begin at any age. No age is too young when it comes to a dance class—as long as the curriculum is age and developmentally appropriate, Chambers adds.

• “Inquire about the instructor’s qualifications, experience and training background,” Dobbins says. “You want to make sure they have a degree and/or professional dance experience. A knowledgeable and experienced instructor can greatly impact your child’s dance education.”

• Think through the time and financial commitment you can make. Before committing to a dance class, consider what you feel is appropriate for your child when it comes to time and financial obligations. “Dance schools vary in their focus and class offerings,” Chambers explains. “Some dance schools participate in competitions, some dance schools' programs are recreational, and some are designed to prepare a student for a professional dance career. The focus of the school will determine what styles of dance are offered and the investment of time and resources that are necessary.”

• Start with an observation before committing. Consider starting out by observing a performance or class, if possible, before signing up.

• Doing so should help ascertain which type of dance style would be best for your child. Determining the dance style that interests your child can then help you identify the school that would be best for the child.

• See if there is an opportunity for a “trial” class, Dobbins says. “This allows your child to experience the class firsthand and see if they enjoy the dance style and teaching methods.”

• Get social. When to the point of considering specific programs, check to see if they have a social media account and, if so, check out their videos and photos to get an idea of their movement, music, and costume choices to make sure they are in line with what you want for your child.

• Ask questions. When speaking with staff at a program, don’t be afraid to ask questions, Chambers stresses. Consider asking about the qualifications and training of the instructor(s) teaching your child. Ask about the higher-level classes offered to determine if your child has a place to grow in the program if dance becomes their passion. Lastly, make sure you find out the specifics about the financial investment required within the program, including if there are monthly fees per class or per hour and any other fees that would be required.

• “Ask about the studio’s communication policy,” Dobbins points out. “It’s important for parents to stay informed about their child’s upcoming events and any studio policies or changes, as well as one that has an open-door policy for questions and concerns about their dancer’s growth,” Dobbins adds.