Steemit Engagement Challenge / S16/W4 - "Children Vs Extracurricular Activities "

Extracurricular activities are part of every child's live. This days, much attention are given to academic excellence that little attention is given to extracurricular activities. Due to this negligence, many have overlooked it's great importance to development of children.

From this contest hosted by @hindwhale community, we will be examining the importance of extracurricular activities on children's wellbeing. The topic is Children Vs Extracurricular Activities

How can extracurricular activities help children's physical and mental growth?

While we may not belittle the need for academic importance, there is need to take into consideration other factors that helps children to develop an all-rounded personality.

It is the engagement in extracurricular activities that helps our children to nurture and grow important skills in life that makes them a better person.

We can be able to identify the areas of strength and weaknesses of children by engagement in other activities. This engagement provides an opportunity for them to delve into their passion and interests. Knowing more about themselves helps them to build more confidence in themselves. They can be able to identify what they love most and will be more determined to pursue that area of interest.

This exploration so to speak is a motivating factor for them as they learn more about themselves, skills or subjects they love and the paths they want to follow in life.

It also helps parents to identify their area of weaknesses and then work on the child to improve in those aspects.

It is extracurricular activities that helps them to develop important qualities in life, like

° Patience

° Kindness

° Tolerance

° Compassion

° goodness

° self control

°etc. These qualities can not be learnt in the classroom. It is only by interacting with others via extracurricular activities that they can be able to develop these awesome qualities.

Extracurricular activities also help a lot in the physical well-being of children. It helps them to be mentally alert, do well in the class, reduces mental and physical stress and anxiety and overall leads to a better physical health.

Do today's children like extracurricular activities, or are they forced to participate by their parents?

Well I will say yes and no to this question, since I am approaching it from both dimensions.

Yes, some children love extracurricular activities a lot. They love going out to play football, basket ball with friends, bicycle riding and any other indoor or outdoor games. But these set of people are termed by their parents as academically unserious children as would use every opportunity to keep them book-occupied even during holidays.

_{swimming kids}

The second answer no goes to the children that were brought up with so much electronic gadgets that they prefer staying online all day rather than engagement in extracurricular activities. I will say that these set live a life of seclusion only going out when their parents are taking them for shopping or wall mart.

Is extracurricular activity necessary for children?

Extracurricular activities are very important and necessary for children. It helps them to develop mentally and physically, growing to become a well rounded person.

It is instrumental in cultivating great qualities that will make them good friends, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers.

It helps the child develop tolerance which is very essential when dealing with individuals.

Which are the best extracurricular activities for today's children?

Almost all extracurricular activities are good for children. Activities like playing football, swimming, dancing, gymnastics, chess playing, basket ball, etc. They are all good for the children.

I think it is important that we identify the areas the child loves most and see how we can help him out to develop skills in other areas.

For instance, my daughter loves dancing and singing while my son loves football, video games and others

_{basket ball}

Conclusion

It is important to create an opportunity for our children to engage in extracurricular activities. We should not over burden them with academic work such that these other aspect of education may seem forbidden by them.

I will like @ruthjoe @okere-blessing @moyeon @mesola and @drhira to take part. here