How much is too much

Should your child go for the football practice 5 days a week?  Are 3 days enough? It is common for parents to be a little confused when it comes to  deciding how much is too much with reference to after school activities. 

They argue that since most of the activities are fun (as different from  studies), children will simply lap up these classes. But, too much of fun  can also make a child sick.
 Here is a simple guide that will help you  decide how much is too much for your child.

Kindergarten:

Your child is just beginning to learn to interact and get used to  discipline. His or her after-school life should be simple and carefree.  One or two classes per week are enough at the beginning. Once the child  settles down, look for more challenging activities like a music program.

Grade 1:

One or two activities per week, play dates and playground visits are recommended. Avoid competitive sports activities. The child is still too  young to have to worry about winning and losing. After the rigors of a  full day at school, he or she needs a healthy outlet for pent up energy.  Physical activities and noncompetitive sports are best for this age.

Grade 2:

Your child is old enough to voice opinions on what activities he or she wants. Sports, skating, swimming or computers - steer him towards things he likes. Many children begin lessons on a musical instrument around this age. But, allow your child some 'alone time' during which he can unwind and just do whatever he wishes.

Grade 3:

Socialization begins to take center stage. Team sports are a good choice. Developing motor skills, painting, drawing etc are good too. Let the child explore areas of interests. But leave aside enough time for the family and for fun activities. 

Grade 4:

At this age, the child will tell you what he likes. He needs to get involved in activities that will boost his confidence. This will also help him manage stress as this is the time when social pressure is beginning to build. But, beware of the homework demon. Your child needs more time with his studies. Balancing his schoolwork with other activities is very important. 

Grade 5:
The fifth grader is bubbling with energy and will want to do just about everything. But she or he may conveniently push studies to the background. So, close supervision is needed. Keep one or two days free for family time and other activities. Now is a great time to get your child interested in community service. 

Middle school:

Steer him away from TV. Get him engaged in activities that reinforce learning. Academic performance can be improved by encouraging your preteen to join clubs like the Girl/Boy Scouts program, language clubs, chess clubs etc. As a thumb rule, 16-20 hours a week of extra activity should be more than enough. But look out for signs of burnout.

What you select for your child and how long he should work at it is basically decided by the child's temperament. As a parent, you should closely observe your child and base your decisions on feedback from the child himself. 

The Learning Environment

It is often a trap "after school activities". One can easy to think that because these activities are after school, they are not of great importance. But it could be worse. Research suggests that children pick up some of the most important skills after The syllabus. 

Thus, children who do not participate in further school programs are generally slower and less dynamic.

The learning environment that promotes extracurricular activities must be as disciplined and as functional as that found in the school. This is especially true educational programs after school. It is better to place to teach children important skills such as time management and goal setting. 

Time management is an essential skill, but it is not easy. Children need to feel that discipline is necessary to accomplish a task happiness completion of the work assigned within a specified period.

Children looking for different things in a program after the course. Learning environment should be attractive, colorful and informative. Use tables, pictures, posters and drawings to liven up a class. Additional Resources (Resources that are not readily available at school), will interesting courses. For example, when a biology course, allow Baby see through a microscope or see slides of bacteria. This

will add his knowledge and also make the most enthusiastic about his after school.

Discipline is a must in extracurricular activities. Base-sport or pleasure activities, it is easy for children to get out of line and havoc. While children should be allowed to have fun, they have to be reduced unacceptable behavior. The best way to enforce discipline is to establish rules from the start. Let the children know what is unacceptable from the beginning.

Rewards are an important part of any learning process. The reward can be a simple pat on the back or a token of appreciation. Motivating children to aspire to higher things by rewarding their achievements. Exploitation contests or sporting activities where children can show their jurisdiction is a reward in itself.

Children can get bored easily, especially when educational program. The main objective of the curriculum is to repeat what was taught in the classroom and allow the child to learn quickly. This is difficult to interest the child a second time, especially when child is already tired of a dose of the same lesson. It's better to counter boredom by using creative techniques like an impromptu ad hoc a subject, a test program or slideshow.

After school activities are becoming more popular every day. Parents want their children to learn more. Children also have an insatiable search knowledge. In an after-school program, it is possible to pay individual Carefully appease using various effective techniques.