Steemit Engagement Challenge / S16/W4 - "Children Vs Extracurricular Activities "
Kids... extracurricular activities... and memories!
They go hand in hand for me.
I am a mother with two grown children. A boy and a girl who are now long gone out of the house with their own children. Although I don’t have them in the house anymore, the memories we’ve built will stay with me forever.
Lots of these memories were made in the afternoons after school.
Let’s start with my son.
He is an intelligent child. No, he is not intelligent, he is gifted. Being as gifted as he is, it was extremely difficult for him at school. He just could not concentrate in class as he was always bored with the lesson. He would read his textbook long before the teacher started with the first lesson.
He started pulling his face in funny ways without him even noticing it. We pleaded, we begged, and we moaned for him to stop, but it just got worse. I was at a loss for what to do.
One afternoon, after school, we fought. Again, over this new habit of his. I had enough and told him to go put his sneakers on, as he was going for a run. He didn’t want to, but in the end, Mom always had the last say.
There he was running in the street, and I was driving behind him. The next afternoon, he was the one asking me when we could go for a run.
He joined the cross-country team of the school, and soon he was running 5 kilometer fun runs. Gone was him pulling faces, and best of all, gone was him being bored in the classroom.
Not long after that, he was playing junior league cricket. Did it end there?
Nope, it did not.
He read in our local newspaper about a triathlon marathon taking place and that there was also a race for children. He entered without telling us.
He woke me up on Saturday morning and told me that we must leave as he must participate in a race. It was only when I got to the place where it was to take place that I discovered what it was. Now, he had a mountain bike, but for the race, you have to have a racing bicycle. He arranged with one of the waiters at the restaurant to borrow his bicycle. I remember so clearly how he could not get off the bicycle as it was too big for him; he literally had to fall off.
Still, it did not stop him. He eventually got his provincial colors at the age of 14. It was then that I was the one regretting telling him that he was going for a run, as right through his high school and varsity years he was involved with extramural activities, making me drive from A to Z.
He passed high school with seven distinctions and passed medicine cum laude.
Today, he is a neurologist and is currently specializing as an emergency medical surgeon.
When times get tough, he gets on his bicycle and rides the mountains and streets of the world in the comfort of his home for hours at a time. He believes that it keeps him fit and insane.
I think you will agree with me that:
- Extracurricular activities helped my son, and they are still helping him physically and mentally.
- I forced him to take that first step, but from there on, it was his decision of what, where, when, and how.
- YES, extracurricular activity was necessary for him.
- It was up to him to decide what extracurricular activities he wanted to take part in.
Now over to my daughter.
This was a different ballgame. Believe me when I tell you that no two kids are the same.
She was born on Christmas Day, almost 5 weeks before her time. From the first day, the battle started. So many things went wrong with her, and she had to go through numerous operations. When she went to school, the real problems started. She battled. I had to take her for occupational therapy at the age of eight, as she just had no spatial orientation. I had to watch her cry while she was rolling on the medicine ball with toddlers. She could not play netball with her friends at school, as she just could not catch a ball.
Who needs to catch a ball anyway? There are other things she could do.
Right across from where we lived was a ballet school, and I decided to enroll her. My husband and my parents told me that I was crazy because she could not jump, and counting was not her forte. Crazy or not, I took her.
I wanted to give up after the first lesson, but she begged me to go back. I called her my little elephant, as all these little princesses were running softly on the ball of their feet, but when it was her turn, you could hear her miles away.. plof.. plof.
It took some dedication and practice, and soon she was running softly, just like her friends, counting happily as she was dancing, passing one exam after the other.
It did not stop at ballet.
She joined the Brownies girls’s scouts, where she proved herself to be an excellent teammate and leader. In the five years for her attending Brownies, she did not miss one Friday afternoon.
Not only did she loved it but she shined in who she was, and to top it all, her schoolwork also improved.
Later on, she wanted to do some modeling. I was not very keen on doing it, but it was her choice, and I supported it.
Looking back I can in all honestly say that modelling taught her a lot of discipline and to believe in herself. The best thing for our relationship was for her to discover her potential in her own way.
It was her turn to pass her matriculation, and yes, she got two distinctions. Something we never thought would be possible.
Today, she can write the word “coke” in ten different ways, but she is a winner and she exercises every day of her life.
Again, you can agree with me that:
- Extracurricular activities helped my daughter's physical and mental growth.
- I forced her to take that first step, but from there on, it was her decision of what, where, when, and how.
- YES, extracurricular activity was necessary for her.
- It was up to her to decide what extracurricular activities she wanted to take part in.
I have experienced firsthand that extracurricular activities are of vital importance for children to participate in. What is just as important is for parents to support their children and not lead them.
Okay, times are different, and children today might think they don’t need it and that their parents are forcing them; therefore, I believe that we must encourage the schools to get the kids to participate.
We have it with my stepson. Every term, he must participate in two extracurricular activities according to the school rules. What is nice is that it is not just physical activities like swimming or rugby; they also have activities like a photo club, robotics, chess, and more.
I cannot help but smile when I think about him. He chose to play rugby and swim last term. Well, he got the shock of his life when he had to discover the rugby practice on a Tuesday is at 5:30 in the morning and on a Thursday direct after school until 18:00. As for swimming, it is every Thursday at 6:00 for 1.5 hours before school.
He thought he was going to die. Guess what? He is still alive, and his marks this term increased by nearly 10%.
Children need to participate in competitions, be part of a team, meet new friends, learn what it is to be in a routine, and take a break from their cell phones. They also need to learn that they cannot be good at everything.
Parents, let your children participate in extracurricular activities and let it be their decision. Participation is what counts, not what to participate in.
I invite: @nexcis @saintprisca @smartlouis
Thank you to those who invite me to enter:
@sushanta83 @josepha @rahul989 @shabbir86 @fadlymatch @jakaria121
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Yep... I agree with you when you point out that "let your child participate in extracurricular activities and let that be their decision. Participation is what is important, not what to participate in."
Parents have their own role in the growth and development of their children, imposing their will only limits their development and growth, I have the same assumption that through extracurricular activities children will grow and develop according to their true identity.
I have two children with an age gap of 18 months, my first child is currently only studying at elementary school and his younger sibling is receiving education at home according to his age, but I am aware of the existence of extra-curricular activities for the growth and development of their character.
My first child, who initially had a shy character, when he started taking part in extra-curricular activities at school, she changed for the better, she became brave and able to appear in public to express his opinion. Even though he only took part in the dancing and drawing program.
I realized that what children need is not just intellectual intelligence, but how children are able to interact and hone their emotional intelligence as a great potential for achieving success. This is closely related to my personal experience since childhood which was more directed towards academic grades, but lacked socializing and participating in extracurricular activities, perhaps my parents' opinion, who did not have higher education, was that academic grades were the main factor in supporting a career, it turns out this assumption is not always true. and it can't be said to be wrong.
I am so glad to read that you see the importance of participation. It doesn't matter in what or on what level; all that matters is that they participate.
My parents were just like your parents; education was the alpha and the omega. Luckily, it was the school program that forced us to participate. Dad could not understand how I could put a debate before a family meal, but in the end, he had to admit that what we as children took part in after school shaped us for what we are in life today, not just learning the spelling of 20 Afrikaans words every day.
You are a wonderful daddy, my friend!
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Every child likes extracurricular activities as it is what makes children feel happy. I can remember the day I saw a child who was back by his mother, crying for his mom to allow him to join other children in playing.
Some children grow smarter because of their engagement in extracurricular activities. It is nice to read your post. Thanks for inviting me, and success to you.
And it is for me to say thank you for the visit and the nice comment.
I can get so cross with some parents. I often sit at school, observing the parents attitudes, not just towards their children but also towards the school, and wishing that they knew what I knew about raising two children. There is no manual that tells us exactly what to do; it is a trail of error, and the best is to allow your children to be children.
Lovely write-up @patejewell...it is very important to allow kids participate in extra curricular activities. Over here in Nigeria where i am from, we weren't allowed to participate in extracurricular activities most times. We studied every time. Like myself, i love football and wanted to be a professional football player, but it never happened because i wasn't allowed to take that path.
Awh, this is so sad! How I wish I could turn the clock back for you.
Unfortunately for the elder generation, education was the key to a "good job." I know, as my dad was the same.
Luckily, times are changing, and parents now realize that they must allow their kids to participate in activities after school.
Thank you!☕ I enjoyed your comment.
Extracurricular activities play an important role in the physical and mental growth of children. Along with education, there are many recreational activities that help accelerate children's mental development. In addition to education in extracurricular activities, physical activity in sports, exercise, cultural events can be especially helpful for the physical development of children. By doing this, children's physical fitness needs to be increased. Very nicely written ma'am.
It is for me to say thank you for the visit and the comment! ☕
Let's allow our children to be children again and encourage them to participate in those activities outside the school environment.
Wow...
Good day ma. Your article took my attention hearing that your son is now a neurologist as an emergency medical surgeon,all because I also want to study medicine and become a neurologist too, so hearing about people who have already become that excites me a lot and I would love to know more about them.
I really enjoyed your entry ma,and thanks for the invite. 😊
Hello!
How nice to see you back in action. I was getting worried about you.
With hard work the world is at your feet. Never forget that. 🎕
Thanks ma for your concern 🥰
Really combining work with steemit but I'm sure I would be back soon
I'll be keeping an eye open for you. 🧁
Upvoted. Thank You for sending some of your rewards to @null. It will make Steem stronger.
Thank you!
I see that you are very supportive of your two children in extracurricular activities, your son joins the cross-country team at school. Your daughter is in ballet school, scouts, and modeling. It's great to have parents who always support their children's activities.
Unlike me, when I was a child until I grew up, my parents strictly forbade all extracurricular activities, they only wanted me to always learn religious knowledge, they only wanted me to become an obedient Muslim, have faith, and fear sin. Every time we meet, my parents always tell me to always pray for him when he is alive or when he is gone.
I know all too well how the older generation can be.
Luckily, times are changing, and parents are far more open minded these days.
Thank you for the visit and the engagement!