WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

Opening Doors With Outside Activities

There are many reasons why parents enroll their children in extracurricular activities. Whatever the reason, the benefits of participating in these programs are numerous:

1. They broaden a child’s horizons. Participating in extracurricular activities enriches children’s life experiences.
2. They promote physicaldevelopment. Playing a sport gets your child off the couch and onto the field.
3. They encourage team spirit and social skills. Learning to be a team player is an essential life skill.
4. They teach time management. Extracurricular activities require children to organize their time so that they can do their activities and succeed in school, while still finding time to eat and rest.
5. They build confidence. When given opportunities to learn and excel in an activity, children build confidence, which in turn benefits them in all aspects of their lives.
6. They provide an outlet for stress. Time away from the academics of school can serve as a great physical and psychological outlet for stress.
7. They lower the drug and alcohol risk. Children who have busy lives filled with productive activities are far less likely to experiment with drugs than their less-involved peers.
8. They teach commitment and decision-making. Extracurricular activities are a perfect opportunity to teach children about making decisions and sticking to a commitment. Discuss options with your children, but give them the power to decide which activities to sign up for.

- written by Jeff Bentz, CESA 8 ATOD & Related At-Risk Program Consultant

See "Education in the News" link to the left for another article related to extra - curriculars.

Poster Contest Opportunity

Click on the document below for more information on the Marinette County Land & Water Conservation Environmental Awareness Poster Contest.  Included in this document is also information on the MCLW's Teaching Outdoor Awareness adn Discovery Programs.