With the start of classes comes the time to organize and select the extracurricular activities that will be practiced during the course, a task that is sometimes very complicated.
In the month of September, with the start of the school year, the time comes for many families to select the extracurricular activities that their daughter or son wants to practice.
In some cases, it is simple because they continue with the activity they carried out last year. The complication comes when you have to choose for the first time and balance preferences, finances, and schedules. A complicated puzzle to fit.
The most important thing is that our children have fun, enjoy them, and take advantage of them. Many of them will also teach them to know themselves, to feel proud of what they are learning, to develop skills different from those they develop in the classroom, and to feel useful.
Without saturating them and leaving time in the day for them to get bored at some point, some of the extracurricular activities that can improve their self-esteem are these.
1.- A team sport
From traditional soccer to basketball, volleyball, or handball. There are numerous options to choose from and they are very interesting because they will teach children the importance of teamwork, the value of camaraderie, empathy, and discipline.
It is a way of knowing oneself in one's relationship with others and of valuing both one's own efforts and those of other colleagues in pursuit of a common good.
2.- An individual sport
For children who need to work more on self-confidence, perhaps an individual sport such as swimming or any of the most well-known and practiced martial arts can be a good option as an extracurricular activity that will also teach them discipline, respect, and perseverance. , they learn to overcome challenges and reinforce their sense of personal worth.
If we take into account that according to the World Health Organization, 80% of children between 11 and 17 years old do not do the recommended physical exercise to take care of their health, either of the two options (team sport or individual sport) already It will bring our son an important benefit in the short and medium term.
3.- Ballet, Dance, Dance or Rhythmic Gymnastics
We continue with physical activities that involve movement so that our children abandon the traditional sedentary lifestyle of school hours.
These activities also have an added benefit which is to improve your coordination, flexibility, and proprioception.
With this type of activity, their self-esteem improves by gaining both strength and coordination, and they also learn to manage pressure and stress in a positive way.
4.- The performing arts: theater
It is an extracurricular activity in which play and learning are continuously intertwined. Children enjoy it, have fun, get to know themselves better, learn to let themselves go, manage emotions, and, in addition, by having to learn a script they exercise their memory and may even awaken their love for reading. They are all benefits.
5.- Music: learn to make music
From the most traditional piano to the complicated violin, drums, or electric guitar, learning to draw musical chords from an instrument is something very motivating and attractive for many children.
Furthermore, the benefits of introducing music into our children's routines are more than proven. From developing your hearing to enhancing your sensitivity or learning to relax.
Daniel Sanabria is a researcher in cognitive neuroscience and agrees that there is scientific evidence that shows that learning to play an instrument can improve some cognitive skills not so directly related to music.
6.- The plastic arts: painting, ceramics or sculpture
The plastic arts allow them to let their imagination fly when it comes to expressing themselves in a creative way. They can develop artistic skills, and the appreciation that their works receive can be a way to improve their self-confidence, especially if we value the effort and dedication they have put into their work.
They are a tool with which they learn to express their emotions and thoughts in a visual way, while still being themselves.
7.- Languages
Learning a second or third language encourages mental flexibility; it is a challenge that must always be posed in a fun way, without pressure, and in a motivating way.
It is also something that you can take into your life outside the classroom, you can play with friends from other countries or communicate with people in that language when you travel with your family, something that will always be positive for your self-esteem.
8.- Programming and robotics
It is almost like learning another language, that of Artificial Intelligence and the new possibilities that technology offers.
It is an activity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors that teaches them to think differently, to develop lateral thinking, to work on logical thinking and critical thinking, and to solve common problems in a different, more intuitive way.
9.- Chess
A classic that is always on all lists of recommended extracurricular activities on its own merits. Chess teaches planning, making decisions, and developing strategies.
As the girl or boy learns and improves, they gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, which increases and strengthens their self-esteem.
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