Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular Activities
In some of my phycology classes my professor would always
bring up the subject on what provides children with positive influences or
helps children stay positive. Having positive influences around children could
be sometimes tough because children are subjected to bad guidance based on so
many factors for example: culture, friendships, and environment. Negative
influences could be involved everywhere for example online, televisions and
videogames. One thing parents and guardians can do to eliminate bad
influence and increase their children’s interest in sports, volunteering,
clubs, and academics is by providing support in extracurricular activities to
help children distract their mind from any negative behavior.
Many parents, teachers, and student ask
themselves the question, “does involvement in extracurricular activities
actually improve outcomes for individual students, or do better students simply
tend to get involved in more extracurricular activities?” One high school's
experience suggests that a concerted effort to increase extracurricular
offerings and participation can contribute to school wide academic improvement.
People that have always participated in activities know that participation in
activities can improve ones overall behavior in school. I know it does because
when I was younger I was involved in extracurricular activities and that always
motivated me to stay focused in school and not give up. (Reeves)
Extracurricular
activities are a good way to get students motivated to go to school. Being
involved in some kind of activity could turn into a hobby and become something one
loves to do. When students wake up instead of thinking negative thoughts about school
they will be excited for their performance, game, competition, etc. some
parents and family may think that being involved in some kind of after school
activity could allow students to lack on their homework. They think that
because they will have less time on their hands they will loose their focus on
schoolwork. In the article,
“Extracurricular Advantages”, the writer Reeves Douglas who is a doctor that
has written thirty books and many articles about leadership states, that the
data from Woodstock suggest the opposite. When the school analyzed the numbers,
it found that students who participated in three of four extracurricular
activities during the year had dramatically better grades then those who
participated in no extracurricular activities.
In the article “Physical Activity
and the Achievement Gap Among Urban Minority Youth”, by Charles Basch states
that; there is less of an attempt to do any type of physical activity in minority
groups. By running test they also notice that the scores of the students with
no school involvement were lower than the people that have some physical
activity or is involved in any extracurricular activity. Not only do activities
help you get rid of some stress, but also they help you learn how to manage
life with school, work, and other activities one enjoys.
In the article “Young school-aged children's behavior and their
participation in extra-curricular activities” by Simoncini Kym focuses
on child behavior. Children's behavior is an
important predictor of their future successes or failures. This study
investigated the relationship between behavior and participation in
extra-curricular activities in children aged between five and eight years. In
the article they state that, “Children who participated in extra-curricular
activities had lower behavior scores than those who did not. The results
suggest that children benefit from participating in two or more activities for
80-90 minutes per week.” In my opinion I don’t think how much time you spend on
your activity is important as long as one tries and enjoys it. For me
even thirty minutes a day is enough and I think that should be enough for
students especially if they have other things to do for example homework and
studying.
Having a physical activity every day helps
stay to active, healthy, feel better and also helps one with emotions and their
mind. In the article by Simmoncnin Kym she explains how physical activity could
effect the learning environment of an individual. Students have plenty of time
to start getting involved in activities instead of watching television. There
are different types of activities to choose from and physical activity is
probably one of the most important one. The reason I think physical activity is
important is because it affects the metabolism and all major body system,
exerting powerful positive influences on the brain and spinal cord.
Physical
inactivity is highly and disproportionately prevalent among school aged
minority youth; negative impact on academic achievement through its effects on
cognition, and effective practices are available for schools to address this
problem. Increasing students physical activity and physical fitness can best be
archived through a comprehensive approach that includes physical education,
wise use of recess and after school times, co-curricular physical activity
opportunities, and bicycling or walking to and from school.
Some parents don’t know what to do to help
students focus in school. In the video, “Real Life Teens: Staying Focused”,
they give real live scenarios on how students have done to keep themselves
motivated. The humanities and sciences firm recorded this film. In the film they
give examples on what students can do to build new positive habits, stop
procrastination, and stay focused. One of the main topics they mention that
help students a lot through out school is getting involved. Not only does it
look in school application and resumes but also it prepares one for real world
skills like, time management and responsibilities. Some of the students that
got interviewed said that their teachers don’t really catch their attention in
class; the lecture starts getting boring so they stop paying attention. An
extracurricular activity helps one understand why it’s important to pay
attention. In volunteering, sports, and clubs it requires paying attention and
following the rules because if one doesn’t there is consequences, one of the consequences
is failing the class.
All the research and test I did show that an
extracurricular activity is a good thing for students. It helps kids develop
positive skills and keeps them motivated. Waking up every Moring excited to go
to school because of a game, performance, or competition is a good thing.
Staying focused in classes and following the rules will just make ones
academics life more achievable because they are doing the right thing. Instead
of getting in trouble they are more focused on their school goals. This is how
I stayed focused in school and reached my goals if I achieved them anyone can
and parents can help with that as well by always supporting their children.
citations
Fredricks, Jenifer A. “Taking a Closer Look at
Participation of
Ethnic Minority Youth. “Child Development
Perspectives,
vol. 6(2012): 280-287. Print.
Reeves, Douglas B. “Extracurricular Activities
Advantages.”
Educational
Leadership 66 (2008): 86-87. Print.
Simoncini, Kym. “Young School Aged Children
Behavior and
Their Participation” Austalasion Journal of Early
Childhood 37 (2012): 35-42. Print. Elkins, Daniel
J.
“Students Perceived Sense Of Campus Community”
College Student Journal 45 (2011):
105-121.Print.
Film Media Group “ Real Life- Teens Staying Focused
“ Rev. of
EducationalPsychology.
Films Media Group, 2003. Films On
Demand.
Web. 12 March 2013.
