Don’t Overload Your Kid With Extra-Curricular Activities; They’re Simply A Waste Of Money!

About a couple of decades ago when we were kids, after school, we’d have a gala time with friends for at least a couple of hours before settling down for doing homework or self study. These couple of hours was precious as we’d recreate ourselves by playing games and socializing with friends. They were enough to rejuvenate us mentally and physically for the rigorous academic sessions of the entire day. But now the scene has changed drastically. School kids seem to be busier than corporate executives. In the mornings they go to school with heavy bags, come back in the afternoon and attend private tuition classes and extra curricular activity sessions after that without a break!

I hardly get to see any kid spending some leisure moments with friends. Even weekends are packed with special classes for music, karate, computer, painting, embroidery, entrance examination coaching etc. Parents have very high expectations from their kids and every kid is pressured to prove himself/herself a wonder kid. Not only parents, but peer and social pressure also make high demands on the capabilities of a child. Children today, have to struggle and survive in a highly competitive environment right from the time they wake up in the morning to late in the night.

A child is made to register in at least 3 or more extra curricular activities classes. Before registering the kids for the classes, make sure that they like them and have an aptitude for the art which is taught in those classes. Parents invariably put children in music, dancing, and sports classes without knowing the aptitude and inclinations of the child. Piano lessons seem to be a favorite with many parents, but before you enroll your child in a piano class or invite a tutor to teach the lessons at your place, make sure that your child has an inherent liking for the art. Don’t pressure the child to take up the classes because you want him/her to learn it or because your friend’s kid is learning it and you want your child to be at ‘par’ with him/her. If you enroll your kid in any of these classes, without finding out about the child’s likes and dislikes, the child will not be able to perform well in the art. This will not only depress you but result in wasting a lot of money as fees for these classes.

Isn’t it better to let children breathe a bit and let them decide upon the interests that they’d like to pursue? It’s always better for a child to opt for one other extra curricular activity and master it. Don’t pressure your child into becoming a ‘Jack of all trades and a Master of none’ by enrolling him in a number of extra curricular activities which he/she cannot handle efficiently.