Are Extracurricular Activities Important?

Rochester, MN Fencing Club holds up their first place trophy at the May 2024 fencing tournament.

Extracurricular Activities Make Kids Happier

A chessboard followed by an equals sign, then a happy child. Chess = happy child. Chess is an excellent extracurricular activity.

I loved extracurricular activities like football and basketball practices and anything with my friends after school. I was excited to get on the bus in the morning, got pumped for the practice or game throughout the day, and got to participate in something awesome with my friends.

This led to better grades, more friends, and shared memories that have stayed with me and my friends throughout our lives.  These extracurricular activities meant so much to me, it’s been of prime importance to raising our children.  

I say all of this anecdotally, but numerous studies confirm exactly what I am feeling. Students who participate in quality after-school activities do better in school. They look forward to getting on the bus in the morning and get excited when they have something to do with their school friends.

A study conducted by Dr. Mark Furda and Michael Shuleski, M.S.Ed states, “The National Center for Educational Statistics (1999) reported that students who participated in extracurricular activities faired significantly better than those who did not. Students had fewer absences, higher grade-point averages and higher math and reading assessments among other indicators.”

Their study is thorough but easy to comprehend. Basically, if your child is happy to go to school, they will enjoy the school day more, be more engaged, and get more out of it.

Extracurricular activities build relationships.

How about you?  Do you remember your extracurricular activities fondly?  Did you start or nurture friendships in after-school activities?  My son is a junior in college, and his best friends are still the ones he built a super-mileage car with during his high school seniorThe Super mileage car competition was one of my son's favorite extracurricular activities. year. Their coach made an incredible impression on them, and five out of six of that team’s seniors are currently pursuing degrees in engineering and computer science.

We are in this together

I didn’t get along with everyone on my high school football team, and sometimes, the coaches drove me crazy with the running of laps, engaging in drill after drill after drill, and always expecting more out of me.  But you know what, we were in it together – my teammates and our coaches.  We were there for the love of sport, for the camaraderie with our teammates – whether we agreed on everything or not – and to get better and win!  We were all working towards the same result…the next win.  I now remember my coaches, teammates, and those experiences fondly.

Opening night.  The curtain goes up. 

Most extracurricular activities have flashpoints, milestones, and/or hard timelines.  When your child is in a high school musical, there is an immovable opening night.  You can’t change it.  The show must go on.  If you are on a chess team, maybe there is a local tournament that your team has decided to participate in.  The whole chess team has to show up otherwise, the odds of winning decrease with Three cartoon people high-fiving above the text, each absence.  

These examples teach players and performers the importance of preparation, teamwork, and meeting deadlines.  They are all in this together.  And that all-for-one and one-for-all feeling is camaraderie, friendships, and lifelong memories.

The answer is “Yes!”The word

The question is: Are extracurricular activities important?  The answer is “Yes!” 

  • Extracurricular activities create excitement for the school day.
  • This excitement leads to better engagement and better grades throughout the school day.
  • Extracurriculars also lead to better relationships.
  • Kids are on teams together, or in plays together.  They share a common goal seeking another win or getting ready for opening night.
  • These shared goals enhance a young person’s experience with friends, coaches/directors, and community.

Where do I start? A cartoon boy with a word bubble saying,

At {YEL!} (Youth Enrichment League), we pride ourselves on giving kids their start.  {YEL!} boasts two national champion chess players, multiple state champion fencers, collegiate engineers, seamstresses, young woodsmiths, and computer programmers who got their start in {YEL!} after-school and summer camp activities.  We can’t take credit for getting all of those students to such high levels, but we take pride that they got their start in a {YEL!} program.

Whether it’s chess, coding, video game design, brick-building engineering classes, woodworking, sewing classes, or fencing, we craft our classes to have rich content, we hire teachers and train them to be dynamic and engaging, and we pride ourselves on giving five-star service to our students, parents, and communities.

Visit our programs page to find more of our offerings, or click on the “Find a Class” button below.  Can’t find what you are looking for, or do you have more questions?  Use the form below to send us a note, and we’ll respond promptly.

Learn More

Are you looking for a unique class for your child? Are you interested in extracurricular activities that are outside the mainstream? CLICK HERE to find classes near you, email us at info@yelkids.com, or fill out the form below to learn more.