Developing Skills Outside of the Classroom: 3 Benefits of ExtraCurricular Activities for Students

Written By Annie Belott, M.Ed
 
 

Sports teams…

Band…

School Newspaper...

Student Government…

Drama Club…

Can you guess the common theme?

Extracurriculars! 

Research has shown that students' participation in extracurricular activities has a positive impact on their academic, social and personal development.

But is your student feeling hesitant on whether they want to participate in an extracurricular activity this upcoming school year? Maybe they’re unsure of the value in signing up for a club.

Let’s dive into the positive aspects of extracurricular activities that can be used in conversation with your student as the new school year approaches.

Extracurricular activities:

  • Foster new interests for your student and allows them to explore hobbies and interests they may not typically engage in

    • Your student’s self-esteem and confidence will increase as they are able to follow their passion or discover new areas of talent

  • Provide opportunities for your student to build connections with peers who have similar interests and goals, while improving upon their social skill development

    • Skills such as teamwork, communication, cooperation, relationship building and respect will be practiced and strengthened

  • Increase a student’s mental and physical well-being

    • The participation of clubs and extracurriculars has a direct impact on a student’s sense of belonging, use of healthy habits and satisfaction with their school experience

Now, how can you encourage your student to get involved with an extracurricular or club?

  • Include your student in the conversation and process of finding clubs and extracurriculars for the new school year

  • Make a list of your students areas of interest or new passions they may want to explore

  • Check the school’s website for a list of clubs, organizations or activities that align with your student’s list of interests

  • Reach out to your student’s guidance counselor or academic advisor for support and assistance

  • Look up local organizations that may offer extracurricular opportunities, if your student’s school does not

  • Have your student talk to their peers about what clubs/activities they may be interested in joining

  • Encourage your student to attend the first meeting of a club or extracurricular to get the feel for the experience

And most importantly, talk to your student about all the positive aspects and benefits of joining an extracurricular or club this upcoming school year!

There is an extracurricular activity or club for everyone - and the options are endless!

Annie Belott, M.Ed

With over nine years of experience working in academia, including university settings, Annie has worked with various student populations including individuals with disabilities, first-generation students, and student-athletes. She focuses on strategies to improve upon time management, procrastination, test anxiety, self-testing, learning styles, etc.

From 2016 to 2020, Annie worked as a Learning Skills Specialist at Georgetown University. Here she oversaw the implementation of academic support services to all students on campus, specifically individual consultations with students seeking assistance with their study habits, tutoring for foreign languages, and study skills workshops/webinars.

Annie has worked for Life Solved since the Fall of 2017 and recently transitioned to a full-time position with the company. She continues to work with students from middle school through the collegiate level to improve upon their organizational systems, test-taking and self-testing strategies, and help students create effective study schedules to make workloads manageable.

Annie has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University and a Master’s degree in Multicultural Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

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