5 Extracurricular Activities for Kids to Get Involved in This Fall
With the school year in full swing, now is a great time to consider what extracurricular activities your kids can get involved in this fall. These activities will not only help kids learn new skills, but they may also uncover a new passion! It helps to find activities that are enjoyable for your child and what best suits their interests. This will ensure that they enjoy working towards their goals and filling their free time advancing their skills.
We’ve put together a list of 5 extracurricular activities for kids to get involved in this fall, even from home:
1. Play an instrument
Being able to play a musical instrument is a talent many children are excited to begin at a young age. Whether they are playing solo or in a band, it’s an activity that allows them to be creative while having fun. If your child is interested in learning a new instrument, many elementary school programs introduce this to students. Discuss which instrument your child would enjoy the most and stick with practicing it on a regular basis.
2. Learn a language
Learning a new language takes time and practice but will allow your child to communicate with a broader range of people. Nowadays, you can learn a new language from the comfort of your own home! To start, you can search online to discover free resources or classes that best suit your child’s preferred learning style. Duolingo is one app to try to make learning both educational and enjoyable.
3. Learn to code
From web design to app development, there are many different methods of coding. To begin coding, you can research free resources online, use educational books or enroll your child in a program such as Code Ninjas. Coding is an activity that is both useful and fun as your child gets to see projects come to life while being able to use these skills in the future.
4. Volunteer
Volunteering can be done for a specific organization or different projects that align with your child’s interests. Check your local community websites to see if there are any upcoming events or research organizations in your area. By helping others, your child will learn to overcome challenges, be exposed to diverse perspectives, and develop leadership skills as they work to achieve goals.
5. Creative Writing
Does your child have a vivid imagination and love to tell stories? Creative writing is a way to put those ideas down into a work of art. If your child needs help getting started, use these Story Starters or search for writing prompts to inspire their thinking. You can find opportunities to submit their work to writing contests. You can also look into ways to publish a piece in your local newspaper.
6. Bonus – The Kumon Math and Reading Program
The Kumon Math and Reading Program focuses on expanding math and reading knowledge but also teaches children to develop a love of learning. The program is ideal for anyone looking to fill in any gaps and continue advancing. It’s also a program that helps many students gain time management skills which allow them to focus on the extracurricular skills that they’re passionate about in addition to their school work.
The Takeaway
Finding what extracurricular activities to engage kids this fall is easier than you think! Encourage them to find an activity that suits their interests or makes them happy to do on a regular basis. It may take some trial and error to find which activities they enjoy and greatly benefit from. Some activities may involve hard work – it helps to celebrate any small wins to motivate them and encourage them to have fun by doing what brings them joy.