For many of us Extracurricular Activities fall outside the scope of regular School Curriculum but the fact is, the impact of extracurricular activity on student academic performance cannot be out rated. These days it seems to be part of every school environment, whereas some fraternity believe that these activities affect student performance in a negative manner as they conflict with time requirements and affects the schedule of syllabus completion.

However, simply playing football or other games with your friends on weekdays or holidays for fun is not actually an extracurricular activity, but engaging in school sports activities, musical band performance and talent shows, debate competition or taking out extra time for robotics and science or technology learning is what is considered putting an extra effort to improve skills in specified areas.

Moreover, recent studies and survey declares that it has a positive impact on overall students’ performance and grooming. As evidence of different tests conducted among different set of students proves that students who actively participated in extracurricular activities performed quite well as compared to those students who only focus on classroom studies and mainly academics. Recently in summers, many best schools in Karachi organizes the summer camp for extracurricular activities which are the best for children their vacations it does not only increase academic performance but also students get away extra miles in their daily routine and participation in other social network. They are more friendly and confident and easily make friends with their peers and people whom they interact with.

There are many Benefits of Extracurricular Activities

1. Enhance Academic Performance

Some students believe and in fact worry that their participation in extracurricular activities may hinder their academic performance and it can hurt their grades and they won’t be able to balance their classroom performance.

Whereas research has proved that students who participate in such activities are more likely smart and scientifically it increases your brain functioning. Such participation helps them to concentrate more wisely and manage their time better. Most likely they benefit towards achieving better grades and develop more positive attitudes in managing their daily tasks in school and also higher academic aspirations.

2. Create Broader Perspectives

When students participate in different activities, they get the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests and thus get better insights of many hidden traits within them. They get a diversified range of opportunities to better evaluate their interest and objective to achieve higher goals.

3. Improves Confidence and Impacts Self-esteem

The achievement factor leads to self-confidence and higher self-esteem among students.

For example, if you are good at math and your teacher encourages you to participate in competitions. You tend to join the training and practice sessions firstly for in house school competitions, later practice for inter school Maths Olympiad and further you are motivated and confident that you should enroll for international competitions. During the whole process you anticipate your likings for the subject and evaluate your talent as well. You well understand how math boosts your morals and you start liking the subject and now enjoy math actually.

Working hard for the improvement of certain skills is fun and relaxing and sometimes competitive as it helps kids to grow and groom their aspirations towards getting better results.They also gain confidence which helps them in all walks of life.

4. Social interactions and Opportunities

 In certain cases it’s seen some kids are reluctant in making friends and not so easy for them. Extracurricular activities helps kids to interact with peers and other participants and they make friends easily. Students thus expand their social network and it provides an opportunity for future goals.

5. Rich - Productive Breaks

Mostly it’s seen student’s life is a hack and simply tiresome. Classwork, homework and tuitions and sleep. That’s the routine they likely follow. It’s really annoying to follow the same routine daily. Luckily these days’ schools help students and encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities apart from daily curriculum follow-ups.

 We all need break and so does our children. They need it!

6. Important Life Skills

Apart from all the benefits discussed earlier, extracurricular activities also develop many skills in students likely; Goal settings and analytical thinking, they develop teamwork and time management thereby understanding the importance and prioritization of work. They develop good problem solving skills and are able to attain their targets on time. Never the less they are confident and good public

Thus extracurricular endeavors help children develop these skills at early school age and with their phases of growth and development, these children grow up to face all consequences and issues very brightly and confidently specially when they enter their professional level or business level.