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There’s a 21st-century buzzword that you will hear very often these days – ‘Holistic Development’. A lot of things are being discussed about how holistic development should be the key attention area when it comes to children. However, before delving into any further details of why holistic development deserves attention, you first need to be sure if the term is merely random fluff and an overexaggeration of new day expectations or goes deeper to touch the sanctity of learning and knowledge dissemination.

From our experience at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, we can say with a 100% certainty that the need of the hour is 360-degree growth and development of children, which cannot be achieved with academics alone. What needs to trail alongside is the contribution of extracurricular activities, which can come to the aid of children in helping them discover their hidden talents. We shall discuss more on this in today’s blog post.

What are extracurricular activities?

To understand the contribution of extracurricular activities in a child’s life, it is first important to know what these activities truly entail.

At the surface level, these have to do with everything other than studies. Right from sports, performing arts, martial arts, music, art and craft, to a lot more come under the umbrella of extracurricular activities. Most educational institutes today, ours included, give students the liberty of choosing activities they enjoy the most.

Role of extracurricular activities in helping children discover their hidden talents:

• Introduction to new activities:

The first step to enjoying a certain activity is exploring it. Only when you are aware of the existence of certain activities and give it a shot will you know if you like it or not, and if you like it, whether you are good at it or not.

For example, you may not be very fond of reading primarily because of your lack of awareness about the niche of books that you truly enjoy. However, with extracurricular activities like the Readers Club, there are bright chances of you not just picking up the right books, aka the ones that hold your interest, but eventually also starting to enjoy the process. At Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, the best school in Gurugram, we are pleased to have helped many of our students discover their true calling.

• Improvement in interpersonal skills:

Engaging in extracurricular activities often leads children to work with groups, coaches, and mentors. This means that in order to absorb and understand everything that is being taught as a part of the session, they need to express themselves, ask questions, and put forward their perspective.

In the process, children learn to speak their mind while also being good listeners. This is nothing but the process that drives children to sharpen their communication skills. It also grooms their interpersonal and soft skills. Most certainly, it imparts children with a talent cum virtue that will be useful to them not just during their school days but beyond that as well.

• Opens up new career opportunities:

At Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, we have observed that extracurricular activities do not merely contribute to making progress at the school level alone. They go further to help children decide their career alternatives as well.

For instance, your child may not have known how good he or she is at music, unless they got a chance to try their hand at this activity. Knowing this is likely to have guided your child towards a career option, which may not even have been a remote possibility in your head.

With today’s day and age being open and accepting towards offbeat careers, it shouldn’t be a surprise if they choose to be a professional musician, a sportsperson, or an artist. Hence, as a parent, remain involved and show interest in your child’s extracurricular activities, as it will help boost their confidence and steer them towards their future career path.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• At what age should children start participating in extracurricular activities?

Children can begin as early as their primary school years. However, at this stage, the focus should be on exploration and enjoyment rather than performance.

• How many extracurricular activities should a child take up at once?

It’s best to start with one or two activities to avoid overwhelming the child. The idea is to maintain a balance so that children enjoy the process without feeling pressured.

• Can extracurricular activities impact academic performance?

Yes, positively. Participation in extracurriculars often improves time management, focus, and discipline, which can enhance academic performance rather than hinder it.

• What role do schools play in promoting extracurricular activities?

  Schools like ours provide structured opportunities, expert guidance, and exposure to a variety of activities, making it easier for children to explore and develop their talents in a supportive environment.

Summing Up:

Extracurricular activities help children grow at multiple levels. It builds their potential and instils in them multiple skills like decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, leadership, and teamwork.

Hence, as far as we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok are concerned, we lay equal emphasis on academics and extracurricular activities alike so that our children are able to taste the best of both worlds and make wise decisions accordingly. For parents, all we would like to tell is that come what may, do not discourage your children from trying their hands at different extracurricular activities. You never know in what ways these can prove helpful.