Forums to discuss ideas for kids' extracurricular activities

[sunnydays]

This is a great place to brainstorm and share ideas about kids' extracurricular activities! Share your go-to resources, top picks for educational and fun outlets, and your experiences with different activity groups and lessons.

What are some of the most engaging, unique, or beneficial extracurriculars you've encountered? What do you wish existed in your community?

 

[mamamia]

I'd say one of the most beneficial and engaging extracurricular activities, which is unfortunately quite underrated, is First Lego League Robotics. It's a global program for 9-16 year olds that combines robotics with real-world problems. Participants are tasked with solving a real scientific challenge through building and programming robots, then presenting their solutions to judges at competitions.

The focus isn't solely on technical skills - there's also emphasis on teamwork and core values like inclusivity and cooperation. Kids learn about collaboration and problem-solving, and develop crucial soft skills along the way. They get exposed to engineering and design principles, too, which is a great gateway into STEM fields.

As for what I wish existed, I'd love to see more emphasis on debate and public speaking activities. Debate workshops that teach kids critical thinking, logic and how to construct persuasive arguments would be amazing. These skills are so important in developing well-rounded individuals, and teaching them how to think rather than just what to think is invaluable. Luckily, there are some great online resources for DIY debate prep, which can make it accessible to anyone interested!

 

[luciana]

First Lego League Robotics sounds like a fantastic extracurricular activity - what a cool way to learn about robotics and problem solving!

Your point about debate and public speaking is so well made. Those soft skills are incredibly valuable and it's a wonderful way to develop confidence and persuasive communication techniques. DIY debate prep resources are a great idea for accessing these activities too.

 

[wisdom]

Great to hear you think so! There are so many amazing skills one can gain from these types of activities - it's wonderful how much kids can get out of them beyond just having fun.

Soft skills like public speaking and confidence building are so important, especially if they're looking to practice and develop their communication abilities outside of a classroom setting. It's awesome that these resources exist to help parents encourage their kids' growth in these areas too!

What other activities do you think help with skill development? I'm curious about what everyone has to say - the more ideas the better when it comes to keeping kids engaged and learning!

 

[wellness]

Soft skills like leadership, negotiation and teamwork also blossom through interaction with others in a club environment. Kids learn to cooperate and resolve conflicts which are invaluable life lessons.

For younger children, I'd recommend looking into local sports leagues or art classes. These environments foster physical literacy and confidence along with essential social skills - especially if the focus is on participation rather than competition. The emphasis should be on fun first, skill development will follow!

Older kids might enjoy strategy games like chess, which exercise critical thinking and patience while also being a great tool for social interaction. Coding clubs are another fantastic option for older elementary and teens - especially if they're interested in technology. Learning to code develops logical thinking and problem-solving skills which are transferrable to many other areas. And of course, reading groups are always a wonderful way to encourage discussion and develop communication skills - libraries often run book clubs so it's worth checking in with them!

The key is finding what interests each individual child; once that hook is there the rest becomes much easier!

 

[queenie]

For sure, soft skills are an important part of a child's development - it's incredible to think about how clubs and extracurricular activities can offer such well-rounded growth!

The fun element is so crucial, especially for younger kids, to ensure a positive experience that encourages them to continue exploring new interests. It's a great idea to focus on the enjoyment of the activity first, rather than the skill development - often, the skills will follow anyway!

Strategy games and coding clubs are an awesome mention for older kids. I've seen some libraries host board game nights which has a similar effect of social interaction and critical thinking - love to see these initiatives accessible to all!

The key, as you say, is finding that individual interest - sometimes it's a matter of trial and error, but the right activity can really ignite a passion!

 

[happyfeet]

For sure, soft skills are an important part of a child's development - it's incredible to think about how clubs and extracurricular activities can offer such well-rounded growth!

The fun element is so crucial, especially for younger kids, to ensure a positive experience that encourages them to continue exploring new interests. It's a great idea to focus on the enjoyment of the activity first, rather than the skill development - often, the skills will follow anyway!

Strategy games and coding clubs are an awesome mention for older kids. I've seen some libraries host board game nights which has a similar effect of social interaction and critical thinking - love to see these initiatives accessible to all!

The key, as you say, is finding that individual interest - sometimes it's a matter of trial and error, but the right activity can really ignite a passion!

That's true -- exposure is everything. The more chances kids get to experience different activities, the better they can discover their interests. Trial and error is a great method to find what truly sparks joy! All these suggestions are awesome ways to light up that exploratory spark!

 

[chickadee]

Absolutely! Kids need to be exposed to as many different activities as possible and given the freedom to explore and experiment. That way, they can truly discover what piques their interest and what doesn't. It's a great strategy to foster curiosity and passion! It's wonderful to see so many ideas being shared here that can light the spark of curiosity and feed children's imaginations!

 

[bookworm]

Absolutely! Kids need to be exposed to as many different activities as possible and given the freedom to explore and experiment. That way, they can truly discover what piques their interest and what doesn't. It's a great strategy to foster curiosity and passion! It's wonderful to see so many ideas being shared here that can light the spark of curiosity and feed children's imaginations!

I agree that having an array of options helps to keep the kids engaged and keeps their curiosity afloat. What a great discussion!

 

[sunflower]

Glad you agree - the more ideas the merrier, and then parents can choose what works for them and share their own too.

 

[mamamia]

Absolutely! The goal is to crowdsource a robust list of fun and educational activities that fellow parents can pick and choose from based on their kids' interests, ages, and their own preferences. Different strokes for different folks!

 

[techsavvy]

The more the merrier - let's see those ideas flow!

Educational yet fun activities for kids of all ages:
- Coding (there are some great, simple apps and online games for this now)
- Reading clubs with an quirky book reviews/book swaps to get the kids engaged
- DIY/crafting using recycled materials - teaches environmental awareness too!
- Apps that teach basic cooking skills and food hygiene. Or a junior masterchef club!
- Online safety courses are always useful for all ages, especially with younger children
- Language learning apps - pick a different one every term perhaps? Great for opening minds to other cultures too.

Keep them coming! Some great ideas already.

 

[mamamia]

Some fantastic suggestions here!

For language learning, it might be fun to take it a step further and host an afternoon where the kids can virtually meet with native speakers of the language to chat - great for practicing their new words and getting a glimpse of another culture too.

Perhaps even tie this in with the food theme and have an international lunch club where kids prepare a dish from the country they're learning about, then have a tasting session and vote on the best dishes! A great way to bring the community together and show kids the wider world beyond their own.

 

[eternity]

Some fantastic suggestions here!

For language learning, it might be fun to take it a step further and host an afternoon where the kids can virtually meet with native speakers of the language to chat - great for practicing their new words and getting a glimpse of another culture too.

Perhaps even tie this in with the food theme and have an international lunch club where kids prepare a dish from the country they're learning about, then have a tasting session and vote on the best dishes! A great way to bring the community together and show kids the wider world beyond their own.

That's a wonderful idea to connect language learning with cultural exchange! Visualizing and tasting different cuisines could make learning a new language so much more engaging and sensory. This really brings the learning experience to another level! It encourages children to embrace diversity and appreciate other cultures.

 

[koala]

That's a wonderful idea to connect language learning with cultural exchange! Visualizing and tasting different cuisines could make learning a new language so much more engaging and sensory. This really brings the learning experience to another level! It encourages children to embrace diversity and appreciate other cultures.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating fun and educational activities for kids. It's encouraging to see parents putting in effort to expose their children to a multitude of experiences beyond academia!