Posted on by Beckworth & Co

5 Outdoor Extracurricular Activities Your Kids Can Do After School

Every child should participate in at least one extracurricular activity because academic activities usually do not focus on overall development. Children frequently pick up other crucial life lessons here, too, like how to work in a team, how to solve problems, and other things they'll need to become balanced adults.

You might be unsure about the value of extracurricular activities if your family already has a busy schedule. But there is a ton of evidence to support the claim that extracurricular enrichment activities improve students' social and academic abilities. And fortunately, there are a lot more options than ever for kids to discover a hobby that can spark genuine enthusiasm.

Below are 5 amazing outdoor extracurricular activities that your kids might be interested in. Outdoor activities increase children's attention span in the long run. Exercise and physical activity have consistently been proven to improve mental well-being and set up your kids for an active lifestyle, helping them maintain a healthy weight and habit. Additionally, sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D, which is important for heart and bone health.

 

 

kids playing soccer
girl's baseball team

Athletic Programs

For a long time, sports have been viewed as a way to stay healthy and in shape, but their importance goes much further. As a matter of fact, playing sports teaches life lessons like discipline, responsibility, self-confidence, accountability, and teamwork.

The majority of outdoor sports that will be available to your child will likely be team sports. In team sports, participants must organize and work together to accomplish a common goal, such as scoring a goal. These similar abilities—assigning responsibilities and devising plans of action—are very beneficial in leading group projects at school. Learning how to collaborate with others is extremely helpful for a student's academic experience because group projects and presentations are a component of the academic environment even at the college level.

Top 3 youth sports in the US

Baseball - Youth baseball teaches good sportsmanship. It will teach your kids to play fairly and to recognize a better team's play when you lose to them. Kids will learn from it that the best response to failure is to learn from it.

American Football - Football transcends the field and teaches youngsters two crucial life lessons that will benefit them in the long run: discipline and collaboration. Football is essentially a team sport. Kids benefit from learning how to play in a team because it instills in them the value of cooperating to achieve a common objective. teaching the value of focusing on a certain task or duty while also having faith in what your teammates are doing. A similar life skill that kids can learn while playing football is discipline.

Soccer - Soccer may play a significant role in your child's physical and social development because it fosters agility, speed, and stamina in addition to teaching them the value of teamwork. Soccer leagues for a range of ages and skill levels are available in many towns.

 

 

scouts
scouts reading a map

Scouting

While many extracurricular activities and youth organizations promote teamwork and teach fundamental skills, Scouting goes above and beyond to inspire young people to develop a deeper appreciation for community service.

Children learn how to adapt to new environments through scouting. It encourages children to find out more about their surroundings and friends. It fosters deeper relationships with individuals, particularly when they are thrust into new situations that call for swift decision-making or on-the-spot problem-solving.

Children are encouraged to learn new skills and develop tools through scouting that will enable them to stay safe. Over 80% of our young scouts reported that scouting gave them crucial life skills.

 

 

planting trees
kids picking up trash

Community Service

According to studies, students who take part in service-learning activities that give them the chance to interact with the community and provide them time for reflection are more likely to perform better on tests and have a greater desire to succeed in school.

Participating in community service cultivates compassion and makes a person more caring. The best "doing good" comes from the heart, but if your child is reluctant to volunteer, you can give her a little push so she can experience the pleasures of doing good.

In community service, teenagers can interact with like-minded peers and positive adult role models outside of their parents by participating in community activities. Teenagers are encouraged to view the world in a variety of ways by engaging and collaborating with peers and other adults in community organizations. Additionally, it aids in their understanding of how to use principles or beliefs for the benefit of others.

Helping others gives your kids the chance to learn about other people's lives and to appreciate what they now have. Examples of this include helping in soup kitchens, stocking shelves at food banks, providing tutoring at schools, and constructing homes for the poor. Kids learn that any differences they have pale in comparison to all things they have in common.

 

 

kids on bikes
family mountain biking

Mountain Biking

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 8 teenagers is diagnosed with major depression. Rates are higher among high school juniors and seniors, and climb even further as our young adults gain independence as they enter college. When you couple these data with the harmful effects of bullying, the stresses of peer pressure, and other external factors, the result may be a recipe for self-esteem disaster. 

This is where mountain biking can be preventative. Besides the plethora of heart-healthy benefits gained from pedaling on a trail, it allows for a healthy way to relieve stress, bond with and make new friends, as well as stay out of trouble

Feeling good about yourself contributes to higher self-worth and self-esteem. Since a lot of kids getting involved with a mountain biking program usually don’t have much experience with mountain biking and or have great handling skills. So as soon as they begin to learn new skills and feel the improvement in their performance they gain more confidence in themselves and in the sport.

And like in most team sports, the other children that are in the same program are people your kids won’t likely forget, and they often become lifelong friends. They'll share a lot of experiences together, good and bad.

 

 

kids discover nature
kids hiking

Hiking and Nature Studies

Children develop their imagination and a sense of adventure through exploring nature and being outside. Kids are fascinated by the wild's untidy and untidy appearance. The wild inspires confidence and the courage to try new things. Children who spend time outdoors are able to learn about the weather, plants, and animals. They become less fearful of insects, animals, and the unpredictable.

Children who spend time in nature naturally learn respect. They develop empathy while watching baby animals,  bird nests, and wildlife in general. Children that learn to respect wildlife and allow animals to go about their everyday survival activities grow up to be more empathetic individuals. Children that show empathy for animals often exhibit it for humans as well.

Exploring nature also introduces children to the amazing world of science. From studying bugs to observing animals to learning about plant life, exploring a forest, lake, or trail helps kids gain knowledge in various scientific fields. While walking you can talk about ecosystems, how plants grow and what animals live in that area. You can also bring along tools such as magnifying glasses, binoculars, and bug holders to explore nature even more.

Children and nature can interact in a variety of ways to support development. Children learn to infer and form conclusions as they learn to think critically. They get knowledge about wildlife and flora through tasting, feeling, and experiencing it in ways that reading a book cannot.

 

 

kids soccer

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