The Importance of Extracurriculars

Extracurricular Activities are something that schools, parents, and other organizations talk about a lot.   What does extracurricular mean, anyway? According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition states – “not falling within the scope of a regular curriculum; specifically: of or relating to officially or semi officially approved and usually organized student activities (such as athletics) connected with school and usually carrying no academic credit.”  While there are more opportunities for extracurricular activities the older a student gets, there are still many opportunities for younger students as well. 

Each person in this world, including children, have been given many different gifts. Growing those gifts as a child matures gives them tools to become active citizens. We can all remember the person who guided us along the way, whether it be a piano teacher, art enthusiast, coach, business leader, mentor, regular education teacher, church leader or a specialized instructor in farming, automotive, welding, computer science, carpentry, marketing, business, health sciences, or community service, who taught us more than what was specifically in the curriculum.

When we encourage our children and students to get involved, we are improving their chance at success. It has been scientifically proven that students who are involved in extracurricular activities have better attendance, grades, reduce drug and criminal behavior, foster positive classroom behavior, contribute to healthy eating and regular exercise, as well as feel connected to their school environment.

How can you help the children in your life learn new and useful skills and meet new friends while learning a sense of responsibility? Think about the interest of the child. What do they like? What are they good at? You don’t want to force a child to participate in an activity they don’t like.  Sports are not for everyone and luckily, we live in a community that supports many other areas of interest. Finding a child’s niche helps them be on board for participating while giving everyone a sense of pride when they do well. 

Once you have an area of interest, you can find out what is offered.  Listen closely to what is going on at your child’s school. There are many activities offered throughout the school year and summer. Check with local organizations to see what they have going on. If they are interested in cooking, sewing, farming, gardening, or growing livestock, the University of Kentucky Extension office 4-H has many opportunities.  If nature is the child’s interest, we have John James Audubon Park that is always doing activities to engage the community. If a child is interested in music, arts or theater, there are many opportunities to get involved. The Preston Arts Center and local groups have opportunities that provide art classes and to be a part of plays and events.  When it comes to sports, we have it all in Henderson. You can contact any of the youth organizations of any sport to get involved and be a part of recreational leagues. If reading is the love of the child, the public library has many activities throughout the year to get them involved.  I truly believe if a child has an interest, Henderson County has a place for them to grow in that interest. 

I encourage our families, children, students, and community members to all get involved.  Look at what is out there and how we can contribute in this wonderful small town of Henderson.  Leaving you with a Maya Angelou quote: “When you do nothing you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”

Shawna Evans is the Family Resource & Youth Service Center Coordinator at Henderson County High School