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When Your Child Wants More – Raising Non Materialistic Kids

I just saw a video where Sudha Murthy talks about how her son wanted to take his friends for birthday party to 5 star hotel and she told him instead, we can pay off our driver’s children’s school bills. How about a Samosa and Frooti birthday party? She went on to talk about how it made them both a better person. It’s all about raising our children to be non materialistic kids in the over all scheme of things.

This reminded me of the time my son said he wanted to take all his friends for a Nerf Gun party as he had recently been to one.

I LOVE celebrating everything. Which means for a good 9 years, I have done my best to make the kids’ days special in the most STRESS FREE way possible but by year 10 in all honesty I am done! I would love nothing more than outsource the celebrations but that wouldn’t be enough for him.

I know when he asked he wanted me to invite ALL his friends. He not unlike me, likes to surround himself with all his friends when he can. I told him, if we go there I can afford only two three of your friends. How about we call all your friends home instead and then he and I spent two weeks planning and prepping for his birthday.

We went from creating a Nerf gun party at home with a whole maze created to a simple Lego/Pokemon party because it ended up being bad weather to have an outdoor party.

HE did everything for his party. From sending invites to deciding food to putting up decor to planning the games and he had a BLAST! All within the budget we had finally decided.

Now there’s nothing wrong with having LAVISH parties. But when your situation does not allow it, a child should also be able to adapt their expectations to having a stressfree and economical party.

I’m glad for those days for that showed my daughter also that it’s okay to have a different kind of party. Which made THIS year’s Corona driven HOME celebrations special in their own way.

We did our first online shopping together, built her a bedazzeld fort as a surprise, pampered her with small presents all day, had a virtual bday party and a few of our closest friends came to visit in the evening for a social distanced 15 min each meet up. And it was still perfect!

That doesn’t mean both of them wouldn’t have LOVED to have a traditional birthday party.

But them willing to adjust and be happy with the little makes for life long personal growth of unexpected surprises. Raising non materialistic kids means being stronger within.

Teaching Kids About Finance is Not Just About Money

Talking to kids about money is so hard but these simple ways go a long way in making them understand the value of how much you end up paying for what.

Reward Kids With Special One-on-One Time – Did your child behave especially well in a demanding situation, or complete a tricky project or tough chore? Instead of rewarding her with the latest branded toy,  treat  her to a shared experience that’s more special than regular playtime, say a visit to a museum or a day hike and picnic in an area you’ve never visited.

Be Careful With What You Say – You can’t expect your kids to put ideals above iPhones and other swag unless you walk the walk. While it may seem harmless to comment enviously on a neighbor’s new Beemer or a friend’s designer shoe collection, try to resist—at least when your children are in earshot.

Teach Kids to Pay It Forward – Your child will start spending more time thinking about what others need and how he or she can help, and less time thinking about his own, often fleeting wants. Raising non materialistic kids depends on gratitude.

Limit how much stuff you give – Abundance is good… up to a point. After a while, your possessions become plain items you toss around with no meaning. Think about whether they need the latest learning tools or the best toys (they usually don’t).

Limit and deconstruct advertisements – If your child sees advertising, deconstruct the message and encourage conversation. Let her know ads are trying to sell items, and discuss the ways they’re doing so. Talk about the smiling kids, the fast toys, bright colors and big text—all techniques advertisers use to get kids to like their stuff.

Encourage gratitude and giving – Gratitude reminds children how much they’re blessed and thwarts the desire for more stuff. If your child has toys and clothes galore, remind her how thankful you are and for how much it took to give her these.

When she receives gifts, focus more on how cool it is that Aunt Jane thought of her when she gave her a new play set. Discuss how loved she is by the people who showered her with presents.

Raising non materialistic humans is an important aspect of living a multicultural life.

Books for Helping Children Build a Growth Mindset

 

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Improve Your Teacher Communication During Virtual Learning

We are in a new world. Everyone is doing the best of a horrible situation. It would be unfair on anyone’s part to expect things to be normal or not give lee way for errors bound to happen. This is why it is more important now than ever to take an inward look and improve your parent teacher communication during virtual learning.

Sujata ma’am (kindergarten)
Prashant Sir (Physics)
Mrs. Gil (English)
Mrs. Galhotra (Hindi)
Guruji (Kathak)
My Masi (Maths)

Over my first 20 years, these are teachers who left a huge impact on me. For a child to succeed, they need to know the teacher believes in them.

And for that to happen the teachers need to know that the parents support them.

These days I see so many parents “trying” varied ONLINE classes like toys in a store. Kids have to be exposed to a million things and different teachers only because of how much exposure we “feel” we need to give them and we want to see what one teacher provides vs another.

The truth is, NOT a single child can do a good take away from ONE class, specially virtual learning. Building a learning relationship takes time.

You need to give the relationship time to build and interview the teachers’ methodology before committing you child to it. Coz HOW they will teach is all that matters ..

You already know your child and what kind of teacher will be a good fit. A chirpy one, strict, understanding or one that gives positive reinforcement constantly etc…

That apart, “questioning everything teachers do” and “getting your child special attention” is another thing. We need to trust teachers and go to them only when there is an issue…

I hope the coming year, you give the teachers a LOT of leeway specially as they try to tread waters they have never been in before and as humans too, need time to adapt.

Ways to help your child better connect to a teacher –

💞 Talk to them about listening ears.
💞 Have them repeat to you right after class what happened during
💞 Have a proper system in place with the teacher where you take feedback and improvement
💞 Talk to kids often about virtual ways to be respectful the home and teacher
💞 Listen in on the class so you can help your child later but do NOT interfere DURING

Help them help our children.

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Here are ways YOU can teacher communication during virtual learning –

  • Let teachers know you respect their boundaries.
  • Ask teachers how they prefer to be contacted.
  • Let teachers know how your child did last spring.
  • Share with teachers what you are seeing at home.
  • Ask for extra support for a child who is struggling.
  • For sensitive conversations, use the phone.
  • Share family circumstances that are affecting your child.
  • Tell teachers what’s working (not just what isn’t).
  • Acknowledge and have empathy for the challenges teachers are facing.
  • Accept that you will have to make up for spaces left by virtual learning.

The pressure on educators this fall will be immense. This is uncharted territory for everyone, but teachers, especially those who will be doing both live and remote teaching, are working hard under a tremendous amount of stress. Let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Something as small as dropping a note, or sending a “thank you for all your hard work!!” text can let teachers know their efforts are noticed and appreciated.

🤔 Do you remember you’re favorite teachers ? What are ways that you can think of to support the teachers in your life?

Go here for more ways to help empower your child’s education.

Asking help kids

Have You Taught Your Kids How to Ask for Help?

This is the hardest truth.  Asking for help is NOT a weakness but it is hard. For many many reasons. I had very few people step up to help me or be kind, growing up and a lot of people who “help” always EXPECT. This made asking for help a liability.

Used to be a time when I used to say no to even offered help (still do) because there are always stings attached BUT even now asking for a “favor” is just not possible!

The many reasons why someone would hate asking for help is –

  • Hearing NO when asking for help.
  • Feeling let down when help is not offered.
  • Dealing with the expectation of helping in return.
  • Losing the right to say No when asked for help.
  • Getting a job done not to our satisfaction.

Over time I had to unlearn and start asking for help. For the simple reason that everyone asks for help anyway. By me not asking for help, I was setting a precedence of being better than others because I was never obliged to them. More than that, it’s just exhausting doing everything.

As for things not being done to my satisfaction, I ask my kids to help around the house all the  time. Do they do anything right the first time? Absolutely not. Do I make them help anyway. Yes. Someday they will learn.

As for older people not doing things the way I like. Well! It’s a life we are all living with our own experiences. Of course everyone’s help is going to look different.

Asking for help is possibly the biggest kindness you can do to yourself. Yes, people might say no but if they say yes , the weight lifted off your shoulders is incredible …

And here’s why we need to teach our kids this early.

Because they need to know that asking for help doesn’t mean a relationship depends on the favor being offered or taken. That saying or hearing NO is not a big deal. Because, sometimes, many times, things don’t go our way and THAT is okay.

How does one teach kids early to ask for help?

💞 Offer it when you see them struggling and insist that they take it.
💞 Teach them to be okay with asking and hearing no.
💞 All help given or taken doesn’t HAVE to have a a return help.

Beyond self care, knowing how to do this practically enables children to be emotionally stable.

To grow into humans that can take the emotional hit of a no or a job not done exactly how we want. Let your kindness be karma. It will come back to you.

It is a behavior they need to develop early. 💪💞 Let them know how to ask for help before they drown in a world that is hard, really hard. Harder than doing the simple thing of asking for help.

Here are more ways you can empower your kids daily.

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Support Your Friends Who Have Allergy Struggles

Does anyone in your family have severe allergies? Do they have a chronic illness? Are they very young or very old? Are they currently in the hospital? Living a life at high risk at this time is difficult, even worse is if you live daily with allergy struggles.

Chances are then that you will be fairly familiar with most of the safety precautions in place for avoiding compromising the respiratory system of all, but particularly those in the high-risk category.  With the exception of mask-wearing, except in hospital situations, this is an everyday experience and necessity for all who experience chronic illness daily.

My children have regularly played our made-up game “When do we wash our hands?”:

  1. When we enter the house
  2. Before we eat
  3. After we finish eating
  4. After we finish in the bathroom
  5. After playing with our pets
  6. After playing outside or inside
  7. If we rub our eyes
  8. If we touch our face
  9. If we have not washed our hands in the last 2 hours.
  10. …. oops, I will stop now!

At our house, we display signs to remind everyone of the most important times to wash our hands. To make it easier for our children we regularly find new and fun ways to wash our hands and keep kids’ hands under the water until they are actually washed not put under the water to claim “clean”.

Our most recent ideas are:

  1. Sing the song to wash your hands in Mandarin (https://playful-chinese.simplecast.com/episodes/wash-hands-in-chinese-with-miss-panda-X6Cz1UV0 ),
  2. Sing the song to wash your hands in Arabic (https://youtu.be/fNTRH-7_ZxI  ) ,
  3. Say any alphabet through twice (English then Arabic works well), or
  4. count backwards in any language from 100.

Even visitors are asked to please remove their shoes and wash their hands before entering our house, partly Arab tradition and partly an attempt at ensuring no allergens enter our home.  Many people find it difficult to comprehend just how much strain living with this level of safety precautions really is. And… we have not even left the safety of our home yet.

 

Leaving home requires ensuring that the emergency first aid kit is packed and anaphylaxis/allergy bracelets are attached to the relevant children. A clearly labelled letter from their doctor is in their pocket or backpack indicating the procedures required to face an emergency and the medication on them that is required if by some chance of fate they are separated from me.


Our allergies ensure that we question and re-question if we really need to go to the hospital or can we go to the doctor?” Or “Do we need to go to the doctors’ surgery or could we ring and get them to prepare the script for the current medication refill and send someone else to collect it and take it to the pharmacy.” Sick people are in hospital and doctor surgery waiting rooms! We do not want to take a child with a compromised respiratory system anywhere near sick people if we can avoid it. A trip to doctors always involves a call ahead and an appointment to minimize the extent of time we need to be sitting near sick people. Most times we are called from a seat outside to come and see the doctor.
 

I am aware that this is not the normal situation that everyone else negotiates – and it is a struggle! It is very scary, all the things you have to remember even before you get to “Wear your Mask and gloves if you need to make essential trips outside”.

Every person with a chronically ill family member, friend, or neighbour is very grateful for your kindness. We are very grateful that even though you are not in an at-risk category you choose to keep wearing your mask, and to only leave the house for essential trips.

 

Thank you…

  • Thank you for washing your hands

  • Thank you for wearing your mask

  • Thank you for staying inside and making only essential trips

 But mostly, Thank you for caring for your neighbors.

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Unusual Times Call for More Mental Health Awareness

In these unusual times most of us are learning to maintain friendships from a distance, creating new ways to feel connected, and developing new skills to create new connections.  Many new online book clubs, online recipe exchange clubs, and places to share patterns and crafting projects have begun. Our mental health awareness needs to go above and beyond.

“True friends are always together in spirit.”
– Anne of Green Gables, L M Montgomery.

Let’s be honest we are mostly creatures of habit and our favorite things to discuss, and do, bring us comfort when we have no control over the world around us. My this week’s excitement is finding friends to share my love of crochet and languages.  Outside of my obsession with books, my favorite pastime and entertainment is, well, discovering new languages and crochet. Sometimes both work together when the patterns are written in Japanese for amigurumi toys (Japanese cartoon characters recreated as crocheted toys).

Unfortunately, for some people this situation, pandemic, we are thrust into the midst of – without notice, with no warning, brings forth a far darker challenge. With this forced isolation, cutoff from their usual routines, attempting to fight off “the depths of despair”, they are faced with loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Daily life as we know it has become chaos for the largest part, but most of us can readjust reasonably well – finding a new order and adding in the new routines for safety and hygiene (wearing masks and washing hands).

However, if you need a fixed, unchanging routine to keep you grounded in reality and hold order to reduce the stress and potential panic a major disruption causes, this does not bode well for you. (I don’t ever do well without my morning schedule).

Mental Health Awareness is much more …

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If you are used to getting to the gym or swimming for morning exercise, I was advised walking in the sunshine is a great alternative. This can actually be done as a walk around your kitchen table for 30minutes with the sun streaming in the window, walking around your balcony or down the hallway.

It will give you the same boost to your morning with an adjustment to your routine not a major change or needing to drop it totally. Have you got some favorite music you always wanted to blast out while you were exercising but were never quite game? Today’s the day to make this walking game fun!

Statistics in Australia as discussed by Beyond Blue (www.beyondblue.org.au) show that 1 in 16 people are experiencing depression right now.  Have you checked in with your friends you have not heard from much lately?

Did you call your neighbors and ask, “how are you doing?”.

 

10th September: is Suicide Awareness and “R U Ok?” Day!

In their lifetime approximately 1 in 7 people will experience an episode of Depression, and 1 in 4 Australians will experience Anxiety.  The statistics given by Beyond Blue show that in 2018, 3000 Australians lost their lives to suicide.

That is approximately 8 deaths a day. Fortunately, figures are also beginning to indicate that many more people are seeking assistance when they have Mental Health troubles, be it with Depression, Anxiety or something else. Approximately half of these people will continue on to formal treatments.

October 2020 – Mental Health Awareness Month

In Australia, October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Day occurs on 10 October this year. Across Australia various Mental Health Awareness Campaigns are being run on the theme of “Tune In”. The focus is on being present, being aware.  “Strengthening our Community” #strongertogether.

How do we show our support?

  1. Talk about Mental Health
  2. Make the time to ask how the person is
  3. Find out if they need more assistance than you can provide and would like help contacting a professional.
  4. In Australia, if they are in immediate danger call 000 for Emergency Services. (In the USA call 911)

Here are 20 ways that you can take better care of yourself every single day.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Acne and Hygiene

How to Talk to Teens About Acne and Hygiene

Teens’ acne can be devastating for a child’s self-esteem. While there are many products on the market, it is important to find the right strategies that target the underlying causes of your teen’s acne. Since this is a sensitive subject, you might be wondering about how to even bring this up without hurting your child’s feelings. These tips will get you started on opening up a dialogue with your teen about how they can get clearer skin.

Choose a Comfortable Time to Talk

Talking to a teenager can sometimes be challenging, especially when it pertains to something that makes them uncomfortable. Start by making sure that you have your teen’s full attention. Turn off the television, and try to talk to them away from their siblings just in case this is a sore subject. Then, start off by asking open-ended questions to see how your teen feels about their acne. Let them know that they have your support and understanding to find ways to end the cycle of new pimples appearing.

Have an Action Plan in Mind

Your teenager probably has no idea of what they can do to get their skin clearer. In fact, they may even be doing some things that make the problem worse such as scrubbing too hard or using the wrong products. Suggest visiting a dermatology clinic with your teen. There, they can learn about what is causing their acne. They can also get treatments that help to clear their pores and end blemishes on their skin.

Set Them Up for Success

Your teenager’s treatment plan will likely consist of in-office care along with things that they can do at home. If your teen is prescribed medication, then help them set up an alarm system that reminds them to take it on time. Teens may also need you to set their bathroom up with the hygiene supplies that they need to keep their skin clean. Stock up on anything that your teen needs and store it in a place that your child can access it as needed.

Help Them See Their Progress

Once your teen is working on a treatment plan, it helps to provide them with some encouragement. Take before and after pictures that you can use to see what works. Your teen can also keep a journal to track how they feel emotionally as their skin clears. Keeping the conversation going helps you adjust your teens’ acne treatment plan as you learn what works the best.

Watching your teen struggle with skin problems is upsetting. You might even remember when you had your own problems with acne. Remembering what it was like as a teen helps you approach this subject with sensitivity so that you can guide your child to solutions that work.

As a parent, you need to lead by example. Here are ways to take 5 mins of daily self care.

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Decorate Your Child’s Room for a Strong Identity

Every kid wants a room with personality. White walls, beige carpet, and a gray bedspread just won’t cut it. Your kids want a room that is fun, functional, and uniquely theirs. Setting up your kid’s bedroom decor with culture and their favorites can be a great way to bond with him or her (or them!)

Think about these ideas for making your kids’ rooms something that they’ll enjoy and love. It also helps a child build a stronger sense of identity and take ownership of their likes, dislikes, culture and more.

Go with a theme or use the below elements in the room to build empowerment.

Set up the bedroom decor by culture or likes.

Sports Central

If you’ve got a kid who loves everything with a ball, bat, or field, it’s easy to make a great bedroom that brings out that interest. If basketball tops your player’s list, it’s easy to find affordable laminate flooring to give the room a great court side look. Carpet in shades of brown and green will replicate outdoor playing surfaces.

Some pieces of PVC pipe painted yellow and cut lengthwise can be mounted to the wall to make goalposts. It’s also easy to create a putting green with a small elevated space made of plywood. A bench-style folding chair at the desk might make homework more enjoyable than it’s ever been.

Hollywood Glam

If you’re raising an aspiring actor, you can turn his or her room into a glitzy place to rest and play. A red carpet from the door to the bed is a must. You might even be able to simulate the Walk of Fame with gray hardwood and print stars with the names of family members, friends, and pets to scatter around for “tourists”.

Of course, no ordinary vanity will do. Classic big bulbs around it are the only way to get dressed in such a room, and your star also needs a nameplate on the door so that the little people know who they’re dropping in on.

The Rock n’ Roll Dream

Or maybe the pop dream, the country dream, or even the heavy metal dream. Musical kids love to immerse themselves in their chosen sound, whether they perform it themselves or just love being a fan. Any yard sale probably features old vinyl that can be used to decorate the walls. Foam egg carton soundproofing will make a great studio look for the kid who needs a little more cowbell.

No stage is lit up like an office, of course. You need a rainbow of colors, preferably one with full control for changing moods, so that the room can look like a stage. Just leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals.

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Cultural Heritage Room

A great way to not only decorate your child’s bedroom but also show off your cultural heritage would be to decorate with patterns and colors that match where you are from. For example, if your family is from India you might decorate with a beautiful Mandala painting and fun bright fabrics. There are many ways to add this into your child’s bedroom decor whether they be small decorations or big ones. Decorating to celebrate their heritage is a great way for them to feel connected to their ancestors and their cultural history.

The Upstairs Library

Books are such an important part of learning. If your child loves to read, it’s easy to make a bedroom that fosters that educational effort. Built-in shelves up to the ceiling can provide lots of storage, and you can make a simple rolling ladder or stepstool (whichever is safer) to allow access to those highest selections.

It’s not enough just to store all those books, of course. Books are meant to be read, so a bedroom made for reading just makes sense. Make it an environment of imagination, with big canvas prints to inspire readers. You can find places to print large canvases in your area, for instance, if you live in Canada you can look for big canvas prints in Canada. Create several reading spots in the room–maybe a comfortable armchair here, a beanbag there. Make sure there’s plenty of lighting and that the furniture you choose encourages proper posture.

The Construction Zone

Some kids just love to build. Plastic, wood, or any other material, they don’t care. They’re constantly creating cityscapes, space stations, fantasy worlds, and frontier homesteads. This type of hobby is great for learning problem solving and motor skills, and what better way to feed that education than to support it with the room’s decor?

Construction toys usually take a good bit of room, so organize the furniture for maximum available floor space. Consider drawers located under the bed. A hard surface will also be necessary for all those buildings and vehicles. Walls can be painted to match different scenarios–sky blue for earthly buildings, a starry backdrop for space, and woodsy settings for adventure toys.

A child who is happy with his or her room will take better care of it, learn more, and feel involved in what happens in the home environment. These five themes are just the beginning. It’s easy to take stock of your child’s interests and launch a project to create a room that won’t just be for dreaming but also for making dreams come true.

More ways to help your child develop a strong sense of identity.

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Virtual Learning Tips to Empower Children to Succeed

It was not long ago I was homeschooling my middle son for tennis. He struggled at first with homeschooling but we eventually found a groove that worked for both of us. The following tips are from two years of virtual learning with EPIC. And while I believe home-schooling and crisis online schooling are entirely different, they share many of the same foundational tenets.

It wasn’t until I empowered Kobe with the resources to succeed that he began the confidence building activities that will serve him for, I believe, life. Children naturally want to please and succeed, but they may not always know how. Giving them the freedom to take control of their day allows them to make mistakes and learn from them and eventually achieve success.

From my experience with Kobe, who loses focus quite a bit, I created the 3 Ps method – Prepared, Polite, Positive. All of the items listed below each tenet can be done by children ages 5 and up, with the exception of emailing.

Be Prepared

Charge my device.

Prepare Supplies and quiet workspace.

Dress properly.

Eat and use restroom prior to class.

Be early/Mute mic/Turn on camera

Be Polite

Eliminate distractions – iPhone, tablet, toys, food, drinks.

Turn off TV/radio

Move animals to another room.

Focus and listen

Raise my hand and wait my turn.

Be Positive.

Stay positive.

Use checklists or schedules to feel accomplished

Since older children may be required to attend online school for longer periods of time, special attention should be paid to eye health. For all ages, physical and mental states are very important to attend to, as well. Some advanced learning tips for older children include:

1.) Remember the 20-20-20 rule created by eye doctors for your eye health: Every 20 minutes, look up for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away.

2.) Make time for friends, even if it means seeing them virtually.

3.) Exercising daily will keep you very positive.

4.) Revisit your schedule. How did it work for you? Do you need to revise your plan?

5.) Self reflect on the experience learning from a distance. Look in the mirror; smile; say you are proud of yourself and pat yourself on the back.

6.) Share your learning with someone at home!

And I saved the best for last – online etiquette. Being polite involves focusing on the speaker as he or she is speaking. This involves 6 body parts and can be broken down to:

  • Ears are listening.
  • Eyes are looking.
  • Mouth is quiet.
  • Hands are still.
  • Body is facing the screen.
  • Brain is thinking

Online school may seem daunting at first, but remember that change is inevitable and adaptability is key to success. 

For more information on Mary Nhin’s books, please visit eNinja or download the free Virtual School Success Cheat Sheet or Online Etiquette pdf.

Mary Nhin loves being the guinea pig for all her husband’s kitchen creations. She is a mom of 3 boys, life coach, and author of multiple best selling books. For 20 years, she has been serving families through her companies, Nhinja Sushi and Grow Grit. She has been awarded the Forty under 40 and Inc 5000. Visit marynhin.com for freebies, follow @marynhin on IG/FB, and email her your feedback at growgritpress@gmail.com

DOWNLOAD MARY’S LATEST BOOK e ninja TO HELP YOUR KIDS SEE FOR  THEMSELVES THESE AMAZINGLY SIMPLE TIPS TO FOLLOW EVERY DAY!

 

Click here to access a complete list of comprehensive websites and educational resources to supplement virtual learning.

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Extracurricular Activities That Impart Valuable Life Skills

Extracurricular activities are the activities done outside of class. They are essential because not all academic activities aim for all-round development. Through these activities, kids learn necessary life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork.

The following are examples of extracurricular activities you should teach your kids.

Sports

Kids must involve themselves in sports because these activities teach them the importance of teamwork. Some sports teach kids how to strategize and how to be competitive. These types of games include tennis, football, rugby, etc.

Music

This involves singing and playing instruments. Kids may choose to specialize in one or both. Music plays a significant role when it comes to psychological and emotional development. It is also important because through music, kids learn more about culture and history.

Swimming

Letting your kids take swimming classes helps them be aware of personal safety and handle emergencies, which are essential life skills. This activity is also a great exercise that helps refine your kids’ movement skills.

Martial arts

Martial arts help your kids attain high self-confidence, discipline, and self-respect. They also learn how to protect themselves in dangerous situations as a way of self-defence.

Horseback riding

Horseback riding can be done for fun or as a sport in which you can compete. Letting your kids learn the art of horseback riding is vital because it boosts their memory and improves their problem-solving skills. German dressage horses or horses that are well trained for riding are best when your child is beginning horseback riding because such horses have balance and they are obedient.

Dance

Dance is an essential activity because it is an excellent way of expressing feelings. It builds confidence in such a way that children make mistakes, and they keep trying until they get it right. Dance requires a certain level of discipline, which helps your child developmentally and physically.

Cooking

Cooking is a crucial life skill. At some point in life, kids will become independent, and so they need this skill. Through the following of recipes, kids learn the importance of communication and togetherness.

Sewing

It is crucial that kids learn how to sew when growing up because some of them want to be fashion designers when they grow up, and this is the first step of achieving their dreams. Sewing builds your child’s confidence and self-esteem and helps improve their creative abilities.

In conclusion, all work with no play makes children dull. Children’s extracurricular activities help improve what your kids have already learned in class. Extracurricular activities also contribute greatly when it comes to your child’s decision making because it helps in advancing children’s minds.