Choosing the Right Extracurricular Activity

Many parents often wonder: Is there really such a thing as the “right” or “wrong” extracurricular activity for children?

As a mother, teacher, and neuroscientist, my answer is a resounding yes! Choosing an extracurricular activity is a decision that can profoundly impact your child’s development. If done randomly or without careful consideration, it can not only waste time and money but may also have unintended negative effects on your child’s growth and wellbeing.

Why Extracurricular Activities Matter

Parents trust the education system to provide their children with a solid education during the school hours. But here’s something many of them don’t notice: between the ages of 5 and 18, children spend nearly 40,000 hours after school (excluding sleep). That’s 40,000 hours of opportunity to shape your child's growth and this is too much time to leave up to random chance.

Factors to be considered

When planning an extracurricular activity, two broad factors should be considered:

 1.The type of activity

 Every extracurricular activity we plan for our children should be purposeful and add real value to their development. It’s important to remember that these activities don’t always have to be formal classes or expensive programs to be meaningful. They can be as simple as going to the park, having a playdate with a friend, baking together, or even enjoying unstructured free time.

The key is choosing activities that help your child develop a range of skills. They might build social skills, such as teamwork, communication; academic skills such as mathematics and English or physical skills like fine and gross motor development. Even unstructured time can help with the development of valuable skills such as creativity and problem solving . Ultimately, the question to ask is: are the activities your child is engaged in truly enriching their life in meaningful ways, or are they just keeping them occupied?

2. The logistics

   
   

   The logistics of an activity are just as important as the type of activity itself. Even the most enriching activity can fail to have an impact if it isn’t practical in terms of accessibility. Choosing an activity that fits your family’s schedule and resources ensures that your child can participate consistently and persist over the long term, which is essential for real growth and skill development. If an activity is difficult to sustain because it is too costly, too time-consuming, or logistically complicated, it’s unlikely to produce meaningful results, no matter how valuable it might be in theory. Thoughtful planning around logistics allows children to develop steadily, and benefit from the long-term advantages of their chosen activities

   
   

   Final Thoughts

   
   

Choosing extracurricular activities isn’t about filling time or following trends. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that nurture your child’s growth in meaningful ways. Every choice whether it’s soccer practice, piano lessons, or an afternoon at the park can become a building block in your child’s development if chosen with purpose.

So yes, there is such a thing as the right activity for your child. The right one is not necessarily the most prestigious or popular one it’s the one that adds real value to your child’s journey of becoming their best self.