COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

“All study no play makes Jack a dumb boy ” – This is a perfect

statement for those who think extracurricular activities are no good while
studying.

A student should study well but not focus only on it, rather he should also
participate in other extracurricular activities.

Before proceeding further let us understand what exactly does

extracurricular activity means

Define Extracurricular Activity

Extracurricular activities are the activities which do not fall under the
school or college curriculum but helps in developing the skills and abilities
of students. An extracurricular activity is that activity which does not
relate to the professional life based on degrees. These extra activities are
more beneficial when the children are enrolled in it sooner based on their
interests.

For example, these activities play an important role in shaping and

directing the passion and interest of the students, apart from the degree
courses.

The extracurricular activities teach the practical factors of life, are self-
sponsored and hence, one needs to think well before opting for anything.

There are innumerable options available to choose from, as an

extracurricular activity. If you are interested in a certain activity then you
should not step back.
However, like everything else extracurricular activities come along in a
package of boon and bane. The choice has always been subjective but you
should consider both the factors well before enrolling. Let us learn more
about it.

Advantages or Benefits of Extracurricular Activities:

Comparison Table:

Advantages of Extracurricular Disadvantages of

Activities Extracurricular Activities

Time management is the key to success Time management and commitments

Conscious or unconscious denial of

Self-exploration with the diversity of talents
priorities

Enhances the ability to fulfil commitments Interests, likes and capability matter

Personal growth and development Too many schedules in short time

Improves the confidence and esteem of the

Extra expenses in the schedule
students

Social comfort and relationships Tiredness and frustration

It is a secret to a perfect college

application

Best way to keep them under supervision

Are you debating on whether you should take up extracurricular

activities in high school or not?

Have you reached no decision yet?

Well then, look out for these advantages of extracurricular activities in

high school. Of course, no talent ever gets waste but you can enhance it
by choosing an extracurricular platform.

Let us look at a few extracurricular activities benefits.

1. Time management is the key to success:

Time management has always been the #1 problem in the lives of many
people. However, there are a few people who manage time like a pro. As a
fact, they take time management as a key to success.

Various successful people have opted for extracurricular activities, which

benefited them in learning time management. With extracurricular
activities in the schedule of the high schoolers, they not only enhance the
inborn talent but also learn the “how’s” and “when’s” which refers to
prioritizing things.

Time management requires the capability of opting to work important

things first with efficiency. Thus, extracurricular activities are the best
practices that enable high schoolers to manage time effectively.

2. Self-exploration with the diversity of talents:

Piano lessons, violin lessons, singing, western-style dancing, classical

dancing, skating, ice skating, skateboarding, cheerleading, sports
activities, etc are some of the extracurricular activities that high schoolers
opt for.

If you are an observant person, you must have noticed that these talents
have great diversity. The amount of variety provides options that are more
diverse. This gives the perfect platform to the high schoolers to
understand and explore themselves.

High school is the learning ground before entering college. Self-

discoveries can prepare them to face the challenges in their lives.

3. Enhances the ability to fulfill commitments:

The ability to hold on to a commitment is as important as making a

commitment in the first place.

Today’s corporate sectors require candidates who are committed to their

career and promise an outstanding development for the company within
the company. Thus, it is important for today’s generation to develop the
ability to fulfill its commitments.

Extracurricular activity is the best method to develop this ability in high

schoolers. The students dedicate their time and manage to complete both
the school work as well as the activity work. This helps them on the longer
run.

4. Personal growth and development:

Have you ever noticed those children who adorably take care of their
friends?

How do you think they started thinking about someone else?

They developed that attitude gradually with time. However, you can
accelerate the learning of this attitude by enrolling your child in
extracurricular activities.

In extracurricular activities, they get a chance to be involved in the group

with their peers. Moreover, they learn sharing and caring, all at once.

5. Improves the confidence and esteem of the students:

Recent studies show that teenagers face a lack of confidence when they
feel that they are good at nothing.

Not all students can equally score great in academic work. Similarly, it is
important to make them feel like they are capable of doing something.

Academic grades are not the end of the world. They need to realize that
they are talented. This is only possible when you enroll them in an
extracurricular activity of their choice. This will not only boost the self-
confidence but also build their esteem.

Moreover, working on something of their choice gives them the

opportunity to master their talent. So, the purpose of extracurricular
activities is to bring out the hidden unique talent of the child.

6. Social comfort and relationships:

Bullying has always been one of the major problems in high school years.
Regardless of various initiatives, authorities have barely been able to
eradicate it from the system.

However, the question is how will you prepare your child against
these?

Well, extracurricular activities have a solution for this. Enrollment in

extracurricular activities means that the children will have a certain group
that shares similar talent as them. As a result, children will find someone
to confide in and talk.

Moreover, the group together can be each other support against the
bullying. Extracurricular activities also play an important role in improving
the social behavior of children. They learn appropriate and inappropriate
behaviors, which helps them to act according to the social norm. Indirectly
it builds the personality of the children.

7. It is a secret to a perfect college application:

You may agree or disagree with this fact. However, extracurricular

activities push college applications a little more than the usual one.
It is safe to say that colleges prefer candidates who are capable of doing
more rather than the usual book work. The real world is about action. It is
true that action speaks louder than words but here mere mention of the
extracurricular activity in the college application may increase the odds of
admission.

Extracurricular activities (as I have mentioned in the earlier points) shape

the personality of the high schoolers in more than one way. These
activities reveal many things about them. Thus, it is yet another boon of
such activities.

8. Best way to keep them under supervision:

This is the best way to keep the children under supervision while the
working parents are not at home. At several houses, children get back
home to an empty place or spend a weekend alone. This practice is not
healthy, as it gradually affects the emotional and physical state of the
child.

Extracurricular activities keep the children busy while the parents are busy
in their offices. Hence, you kill two birds with one stone i.e. your children
stay under supervision while you are not around; secondly, they do
something productive in their free time.

This not only helps them learn to organize but also teaches them team
spirit, improves leadership skills, etc.

There are innumerable benefits of participating in extracurricular

activities. Although the negative points might never outnumber the
importance of extracurricular activities, one should not neglect the bane
of such.

Disadvantages of Extracurricular Activities:

Extracurricular activities are the best way to enhance the learning

experience of school-going students. Schools, nowadays, provide various
opportunities for the students to enhance their talents.

However, extracurricular activities play an important role in enhancing

their talents but also come along with certain shortcomings. Thus, parents
and students should consider these potential drawbacks to ensure healthy
schooling experience.

1. Time management and commitments:

Time management is one of the most important factors, which the

students have to consider before making any commitments. Not all
students share the same ability to get work done in a given period.
Thus, if you are a slow person, opting for an activity, which requires a lot
of energy and hours, it may create troubles for you. This may also affect
your grade at school.

As a result, the schooling experience will start deteriorating day by day.

However, you can tackle this problem by opting for an activity that allows
you to manage time.

For example, you can work on your extracurricular activity once or twice a
week.

2. Conscious or unconscious denial of priorities:

You might end up choosing something that requires attention once or

twice a week. However, you can hardly ever deny the urge to do
something that you love compared to other priorities.

Similarly, you prefer a tempting escape against the usual schoolwork.

Consciously or unconsciously, you deny the academic priorities to live the
passion.

For example, your extracurricular activity is skating. It is natural for you to

keep on procrastination your school homework. This on the long run can
affect academic performance, which may lead to a fall in grades. Thus,
the biggest drawback of these activities is the priority crisis for some
students.

3. Interests, likes and capability matter:

Extracurricular activities require commitments, as these tasks are in

addition to the regular schooling days. Thus, the first thing that comes to
the mind while choosing an extracurricular activity is that activity is
something of your interest. Nothing can be compared to the frustration of
unwanted activity.

For example, if dancing is something you do not prefer even if it has a

good scope you would barely make it. Hence, if you choose something
merely out of blue, without any interest or passion for the activity, it will
prove to be a waste of time for you.

4. Too many schedules in short time:

Playtime is an important period for early schooling kids. As a fact,

playtime in itself helps in learning many things without being taught.

For the children of the pre-primary section, playtime works as a learning

ground for teamwork and sharing. However, it is not limited to learning
values but also terms like shape, size, depth, etc.
But, when this playtime is replaced by a strict schedule, it kills the free
time. This may help your children adapt to the activity of your choice but
it will also diminish their self-discovering attitude, carefree imagination,
etc.

Unknowingly this structured and planned life will make your child
burdened at a young age with frustration and workload. Over-schedule or
back to back activities can increase the stress level at a very young age.
Thus, you should not force young children into a tight schedule with no
escape.

5. Extra expenses in the schedule:

Extracurricular activities come along with their own expenses too.

Regardless of the activity you chose, an expense is required. It may be the
cost of an instrument for the music lesson or the uniform or clothing for
the dance.

Similarly, skating activity requires good quality skates. Previously schools

provided equipment and charged some fees. However, nowadays parents
have to go the extra mile to provide for the extracurricular activity of their
wards.

Moreover, these expenses do not stop at buying the necessary

equipment. You also require paying the learning fees, registration fees,
etc. Thus, these activities come along with various expenses (in disguise
sometimes).

6. Tiredness and frustration:

Have you ever felt like you have totally exhausted yourself?

You feel like your day went on and on without any break. That is the
feeling you get when you experience a tight, never-ending schedule.

Similarly, when your children go through a tough and tight schedule,

which leaves no free time, it may lead to frustration, tiredness, and
exhaustion. This does not only affect the academic performance but also
the health of your little one. Thus, extracurricular activities are extra in
nature and should be limited.

Extracurricular Activities Examples:

Here are a few examples of extracurricular activities which we have

differentiated into separate sections:

Sports and physical activities:

 Playing sports in a well planned competitive association

 Fun sports (football, hockey, soccer, long-distance running,
badminton)

 Outdoor activities (rock climbing, downhill skiing, kayaking),

informal practices(volleyball, basketball) and physical fitness
training (aerobics, swimming)

 Taking lessons (swimming, snowboarding, judo)

Cultural activities:

 Writing and working on a play

 Showcasing and exhibiting artworks

 Creating and producing a show

 Directing a short film

 Participating in writing, painting, ceramics and jewelry-making

workshops

 Choir singing

Community activities:

 Supporting various NGO’s or humanitarian causes

 Participating in a committee to improve things around like school,

hospital.

 Visiting retirement and orphanage homes.

 Being a part of the student radio station or the student council.

Extracurricular Activities in College:

College life is a beautiful phase in our life and everyone will be having few
memories that they always cherish during this phase. We usually have lots
of fun in our student life and moreover, if you are good at extra-curricular
activities along with your academics then it is a plus point for you.

You can easily get admission into any of the colleges for higher education
if you are an active participant in extracurricular activities.

Some of the extra-curricular activities are:

 Student Government(leader, like students chairman)

 Cultural Clubs

 Academic Teams and Clubs

 Volunteer Work
 Debate group

 Student Newspaper

 Arts club

 Part-time Job

 Internships

 Athletics

Extracurricular Activities in High School:

As in college, extracurricular activities can be made mandatory in schools

as well. There are several schools which give importance to extracurricular
activities along with academics and also motivate students to participate
in their interesting activity.

Some of the best extracurricular activities in which students can

participate in schools are

 Building clubs based on topics like math club, Philanthropy Key

Club, art club, etc

 Student groups

 Debate

 Reading

 English society

 Sports

 Fan clubs

 Art

 Entrepreneurship

 Robotics

 Tutoring

 Orchestra

 Band

 Choir

 Drama