Are Extracurricular Classes Good or Bad?

Summer is in full swing which often brings about a whole lot of buzz about extra-curricular and enrichment classes. I’m talking swim, dance, acting, art, violin, soccer, all the things. I mean, let’s be honest. It’s freaking ADORABLE to see your kid in their little mini uniform wandering around the field while the coach/instructor tries to corral them all back in. Or celebrating their first score/performance/award? The pride parents feel is basically at the same level it would be if they had won the Olympics or something. That’s why I want to start off by saying I do not hate extracurricular activities. I know there are lots of parenting experts out there who are vehemently against these classes for kinder and younger but I don’t think signing your 4-year-old up for cheerleading is the most awful thing you could do to a child. But are the classes needed? No. They aren’t missing out on developmental skill-building if you decide to never sign them up for afterschool piano lessons. Should you force them to participate? Also no. “But children need their parents to push them to try new things! Sometimes you gotta force them so they learn.” I’ve heard that line and similar statements before and again: no, we shouldn’t force them. And I’m going to tell you why in this episode. I’m going to share the 3 reasons to sign up your kids for extra-curricular/enrichment classes and how we as parents may have gotten a little bit off track about its purpose. And, if you do sign them up for a class, an unorthodox tip to help them get the most out of their class. For my parents who have kids who just blank stare at their instructor during Karate or break out with their own choreography in tap dance, this tip can really help remove the battle of the wills between you and your child about participating and practice. Grab the Scripts to Manage the Top 10 Crazy-Making Behaviours: prnt.link/scripts Watch the video recording here: Join the Parenting Posse: prnt.link/group the Mudroom is recorded live every Wednesday at 1:30pm ET/ 12:30pm CT/ 10:30am PT on Facebook: facebook.com/arfamilyservices