Earlier, the structure of education of the Indian schools was developed in such a way that students had to invest almost 80% of their time in curricular activities.
Coming to the present, the structure of our education system is modified. Now students invest equal proportions of their time in both curricular and extra-curricular activities. Apart from academic activities, the New Education Policy 2020 has focussed equally on certain non-academic aspects of development.
India, being a rapidly developing country is unlocking numerous career opportunities that do not require educational qualifications as a necessity in the eligibility. Therefore, the education system is introducing various interesting fields in the course syllabi as extra-curricular activities. Students get detailed exposure to different important aspects other than the mainstream lessons of the syllabus.
What are Extracurricular Activities?
Activities that are not a part of the main curriculum of the schools are generally knowns as ‘Extracurricular Activities’.
These activities play the utmost role in high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and preschools. Students that are more active in extracurricular activities in schools are generally more confident and communicative than the less active students.
Why do students need them in their academic programs?
Extra-curricular activities play a very vital role in the overall educational growth and development of the students. The foremost motive of these activities is to connect with the conclusions of various lessons that have been learned in the classes. They also let students understand the concepts, laws, and highlights of the topic correctly.
A List of Easy Extracurricular Activities for Kids to Start With
Students that are homeschooling or not enrolled in any offline or online school may miss considering extra-curricular activities as a part of their academic program. Here we share some co-curricular activities that students can perform at their homes.
1. Dance, Zumba, and Aerobics:
Students while taking good care of their intelligence and knowledge may miss taking care of their bodies. It is believed that activities like dance, zumba, and aerobics are the best stress-busters and should be performed every alternate day.
2. Crafts, Pottery, and Art:
We must not hide our creative side. According to some theorists, there are certain thoughts and feelings stored in our subconscious that words cannot express. We believe giving this a try is worth it!
3. Martial Arts, Judo, and Karate:
Self-defense techniques have become quite famous after their representation in Hollywood by great actors. Not only it makes you well-equipped with self-defense skills but is also a great physical activity to practice regularly.
4. Cooking & Baking:
Cooking and baking is a great combination that teaches students about important concepts like portions, temperature, volume, quantity, and of course taste. A lot of students all over the globe show their creativity in their kitchens.
5. Singing, Speaking Skills, and Voice Modulation:
It is very important to keep your throat healthy and sound. Life gives us uncountable situations where we need to step up and speak in front of everyone. Students practicing their speaking skills from an early age are generally more confident.
Benefits of Extra-Curricular Activities
Apart from good communication and confidence, the series of such activities also work on the overall skill set of the students. Coming to the long-term advantage, activities also play a major role in career development as they focus on improving the social skills of the students. We will now be discussing how students are benefited from extracurricular activities.
- Firstly, students learn to manage their schedules and timetables more efficiently and effectively. Because they have to maintain an equilibrium between both curricular and extracurricular activities, equal proportions of time are distributed among both.
- As mentioned earlier, a student that is actively participating in such programs gain confidence and improve their communication skills irrespective of the field of the competition. After all, it doesn’t matter whether one wins or not, it is all about giving it the best shot.
- One can also term these as stress-reliever during examinations and assessments. During vital examinations, students go through mental pressure that even they cannot judge right. Therefore, investing a couple of minutes daily in such activities helps them to relieve stress.
- Despite numerous known merits, some teachers and students believe that extracurricular activities distract the students from academics and the curriculum. Co-curricular activities are equally necessary as they work on a student’s overall development.
Why are these Important?
The benefits of the activities have made it quite clear how important they are for students. Children during the span of mental development require numerous opportunities for exposure. Extra-curricular activities help students to gain exposure to different kinds of situations and settings. There are several aspects that make these activities a very important part of a student’s school life.
- Personality Development: Activities support students in the dynamic construction of their personalities. Personality is a combination of uncountable traits that a human being carries. Practicing these activities at school help children to develop positive traits.
- Out-of-the-box thinking: The regular curriculum limits students to think within the boundaries of their syllabus. Co-curricular activities evoke students to think beyond the boundaries, go out of the box, and be more imaginative.
- Priority Management Skills: Less amount of students know correctly about priority management skills. Our daily schedule brings us into numerous decision-making situations where the skill is needed. These activities teach students about the same.
- Performance Anxiety: Some students have a sense of nervousness or fear during performances in school (especially in front of a considerable crowd or audience). Because performing these activities brings more confidence, it also helps in removing performance fright.
- Concepts of Goal Orientation: Students require to stay motivated towards one single goal and work for it. The concepts of goal orientation become more clear and understandable due to regular engagement with co-curricular activities.
