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NOVEMBER 18, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Parenting Pearls
Extracurriculars are Extraordinary By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
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eshiva schedules are a full day. After homework, dinner, and baths there is precious little time left. There is no doubt that school is not only a major part of a child’s day but also an important one. While adults go to work, children have school as their main occupation. It’s tempting to shun any form of extracurricular activities for kids. Kids and parents are both busy. Extra energy is certainly in low parental supply. Financial limitations can also be a deterrent for some families. Honestly, there are many reasons to deter you. Despite the many hesitations about outside activities, there are many benefits to extracurriculars for parents to consider. Children are not one-dimensional, and there’s more to life than just book work, as important as that is. Children, similar to adults, have many aspects to their personalities, and they deserve to express those talents. Balance is important in all areas, and a child’s routine schedule is
no different. Enjoyable and creative outlets, when combined with their regular academics, provide a more well-rounded child. Most schools provide many of the activities mentioned in this article. Some children will naturally gravitate towards the school-offered opportunities, while others may need a little encouragement. In addition, our community has many talented individuals that offer additional options. With a minimum amount of effort, parents should be able to find something within our area and their price range (or even free) that appeals to their child. Never assume that just because you don’t like something your child won’t find it enjoyable.
Becoming Successful Success breeds success, and children benefit from being successful in many areas of their life. Being involved in a variety of activities gives children multiple potential areas to improve themselves and succeed. Parents might be particularly hes-
itant to add to the schedule of an educationally struggling child. The fear is that if children divert their time and attention from an already difficult school day, they will do even worse in class. Children that struggle in school can easily see their self-worth plummet and become frustrated. By seeing how successful they can be in an area outside of their regular academics they can help maintain their self-worth even in the face of failure. Even more than this, the hope is that by experiencing how successful they can be in another environment they can then carry it back into the classroom. Children that find school stressful can also benefit from the healthy distraction that appropriate extracurricular activities provide. School is hard enough – even more so for children who find lessons difficult. Outside activities can give children a healthy outlet and respite from a stressful environment. Hobbies and extracurricular activities are known for being relaxing. Even kids need to unwind,
and this is a healthy outlet. Kids without a healthy outlet risk finding an unhealthy one, chas v’shalom. Many children can also find leadership roles within their chosen activity. A child who might be shy or hesitant may find they’re able to lead others in an activity that they excel at. This, too, can improve their self-esteem.
Chevra Kids have a circle of friends and acquaintances that come from a few places, predominantly from school, shul, and their immediate neighborhood. Many children benefit from expanding their chevra past their daled amos. Outside activities give children the chance to meet other kids, particularly children who have similar interests as them. This can be a wonderful opportunity for a child that has not been successful in forming appropriate friendships with the children they already know. Community-based activities offer a wider peer group than a
