For a child to develop socially and intellectually, the learning that takes place in classrooms is essential. Though equally significant is what students learn outside of the classroom. Co-curricular activities are a crucial component of a student’s education since they support the academic program, by giving a youngster a stage to display their abilities, they aid in their overall growth.
Curricular activities are academic pursuits that normally take place inside a classroom and are a part of a school’s curriculum. They aim to enhance a student’s primary-level language and numeracy skills and incorporate subject-specific learning as well as various evaluation methods. The next step is a greater comprehension of the fundamental concepts. But what are co-curricular activities if all subjects can be taught in a safe environment inside of classrooms? Co-curricular or extracurricular activities with an emphasis on physical and physiological development are activities and programs that happen outside of the typical classroom.
“A co-curricular activity is crucial to a child’s overall development. They can boost academic achievement by igniting curiosity, promoting learning, and fostering a love of a certain subject. Students’ social skills can be developed through interactions in these settings, abilities that will be useful throughout their lives. These activities also help students manage their stress levels while enjoying something new and useful,” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun.
Students should be encouraged by teachers to participate in activities that may be outside of their comfort zone. Students may venture outside their comfort zone to meet others who may share their interests, such as a pianist who decides to take up wrestling, a wrestler who decides to pursue social work, or a social worker who decides to pursue theatre. Additionally, it guarantees a balanced and comprehensive development of abilities and strengths that might not show if they stay in a bubble of familiar activities. “For a child to understand their interests and leanings, and to pursue them, they must first be made aware of their skills and strengths, and the potential benefits of the various forms of co-curricular activities to which they have access. For example, a student who enjoys athletics might want to think about enrolling in dance or aerobics lessons to encourage their physical growth through pursuits other than the sports they usually do; teachers can and must help with that,” adds Anoop.
Today’s children are less interested in hobbies and other enrichment activities because of the increasing pressure to demonstrate academic brilliance and the dominance of technology in leisure time. Rarely do we witness parents or teachers encourage the younger generation to follow their passions and goals. Instead, achieving excellent grades is the main goal in order to gain admission to selective universities, which is a surefire way to guarantee a child’s future, at least professionally. It’s constantly about what profession is best for the child: management or finance, engineering or medicine? But this is a topic we seldom ever ask: Should my child play football or sing?
Academics and extracurricular activities work together to develop well-rounded people who can learn independently. It is crucial that we give our kids a setting that promotes their complete personality as well as their academic development.
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