Resilience-In-Kids-Clubs-And-Activities

Resilience in Kids: Clubs & Activities

I have recently written about the benefits of kids being members of sports and music organizations and how they add resilience or Teflon coating to their lives.  To help them when they face difficult times or when faced with a moment of decision.  Today I am suggesting the benefit of young people participating in non-school sports or organizations one or more hours a week.  When kids have the chance to interact with other kids in non-school organizations, they learn social skills differently from a school environment.  Often, the atmosphere is more relaxed and has fewer restrictions than school-related activities.  A new setting allows kids to communicate with kids; they aren’t typically around.  It encourages them to learn team working more openly and helps them to socialize more flexibly.

To ensure that kids have this opportunity, check out the many opportunities that abound, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or just Scouting, YMCA, religious organizations, intramural sports organizations, and neighborhood community centers that exist many communities.  Getting kids involved in these opportunities encourages them to be independent, to hold their own in various situations often not encountered at school.  I challenge parents to find non-school sports or organizations and get their children involved one or more hours a week.  They will meet new friends interested in these types of activities and add to their personalities.

Clubs and activities help build self-esteem in kids and often lead to greater skills than they may possess.  Activities such as debate teams, music organizations, drama, and Knowledge Bowl are areas from which kids can draw skills in the future. As a high school band director for many years, I know that the kids who participated in band activities were outstanding kids with goals and support systems from their friends in the band.  Visit various groups in the school with your child and help them select something that would be of interest to them and possibly beneficial in the future.

VeryWellFamily.com has a great list of Clubs and Groups for Children and Youth at Types of Clubs and Groups for Children (verywellfamily.com)

Clubs and Activities align with School Achievement Tips for Teens: School Achievement – Dr. Rich Patterson (pattersonphd.com)

Yours for Better Parenting,

Rich