With the start of a new school year, there are extracurricular activities. Ballet, soccer, taekwondo, swimming, skating, etc., are some of the activities that occupy the children’s schedule apart from their school day.
Many of them are educational and enriching activities for the development of the little ones, provided they leave time for rest and play. However, the development assessment form(แบบ ประเมิน พัฒนาการ, which is the term in Thai) helps as we must be careful not to overload children, since excessive demand can cause unnecessary stress.
Below, we will present you with threeimportant keys to keep in mind when choosing extracurricular activities:
- The Child Wants To Do It
Have you asked your children what they want to do? It seems obvious, but sometimes the parents’ desire for the activity prevails more than the child’s own. We want them to be the best at tennis or volley ball, but there is no point in forcing them.
Sometimes we decide for them, regardless of their actual tastes and interests. It is possible that our family organization does not allow us to choose any activity.
- Leave Them Free Time
After-school activities can be very enriching, but children should also have free time. Some parents become obsessed with going through their schedule without a spare minute, although in many cases it is the fault of a poor reconciliation.
But the important thing is the children. Remember that after the long school day many children bring homework to do at home, so overloading their schedule with extracurricular students leaves them with no time to play with other children, something also necessary for their early childhood development (พัฒนาการ เด็ก ปฐมวัย, which is the term in Thai).
- Make It According To Your Tastes
There is no ideal after-school activity, as each child has their interests. The best extracurricular activity for your child will be the one that makes him feel good, that he enjoys, that should be a hobby, an entertainment, apart from that, provide benefits on a physical or intellectual level.
The ideal extracurricular activity for your child is one that he does with pleasure and does not cause stress.Not all children have the same interests. Some are for more physical activities, while others opt for more artistic ones.