By Tanni Haas, Ph.D. | Contributor
As the new school year begins, a question many parents ask themselves is which extracurricular activities to sign their kids up for. If their school or your local community offers lots of options, how do you choose? Start by talking to your kids about their particular interests. Here’s a list to get the conversation going:
If your kids love to put on shows with family and friends …
One of the many performing arts might be just right for them. You could sign them up for acting, clowning, comedy, dancing, juggling, or puppeteering classes. If they enjoy using their voices or making music, chorus, jazz band, marching band, voice-overs, or learning how to play an instrument like guitar, trumpet, or violin could be good options. If they prefer to watch others perform, many schools and local community organizations offer film and theater programs where the kids get to attend movie screenings and dramatic plays.
If your kids love to be engaged in creative activities, either on their own or with others …
Enroll them in one or more of the visual arts. They might be interested in joining clubs or taking courses on animation, architecture, calligraphy, cartooning, drawing, fashion design, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sewing, video game design, or weaving. Other related activities include arts and crafts like carpentering, ceramics, cooking, knitting, and jewelry design.
If your kids are analytically minded and love science and technology …
See if clubs or classes on chemistry, coding, engineering, math, physics, or robotics are available. They might also be interested in joining their school’s chess, puzzle, or quiz clubs. If they have a competitive streak, many communities host chess, math, or robotics competitions where they can demonstrate their skills.
If your kids love sports …
Most schools and local communities have baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and lacrosse teams that the kids can join. It might also be fun to learn other sports like badminton, cycling, gymnastics, skating, tennis, and swimming. If your kids have an abundance of energy and could use some calming downtime, a yoga or meditation class might be just right for them.
If your kids love to read and write …
Check out the local offerings. Common options include book, blogging, and poetry clubs, as well as opportunities to join the school’s literary magazine or newsletter.
If language is their passion …
Foreign language instruction could be a lot of fun. Many schools and local communities offer instruction in major languages like Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Sign Language. Latin is less commonly offered but very useful especially if your kids find it exciting to learn the rules of grammar. If they happen to be great at spelling, consider signing them up for the local chapter of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
If your kids are interested in the world around them …
They would find like-minded peers in clubs that focus on economics, politics, and the environment. If they have strong opinions and enjoy sharing them with others, consider enrolling them on their school’s debate team.
If they’re drawn to the natural world …
Go online and see if you can find any courses or clubs that focus on biology, geology, or geography. Your kids might especially enjoy programs that include one or more trips to local beaches, forests, or rivers where they get to observe what they’ve learned in class.
Finally, if their biggest passion is helping others …
Check out the available options. Most communities offer kids opportunities to volunteer at local hospitals, especially children’s hospitals. Other common options include volunteering at homeless shelters and soup kitchens. If they want to do good deeds together with other kids, enroll them in the local boy or girl scouts club.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.