How to Choose the Best Extra-Curricular for Your Child
We see you out here wanting nothing but the very best for your little one👀
An extra-curricular activity, such as arts, music, or sports is not just a way to fill time. It’s an introduction to a particular social circle, set of skills, and a certain way your child will develop.
Picking the right preschool or after school activity can encourage the development of physical, cognitive, and creative skills in your child. Let’s get into how you can make sure you pick the right one.👇
Extra-Curricular Activities Can Boost Kids' Personal Development
Your city probably offers opportunities for children to get involved in everything from soccer, to community theatre, to painting classes, basketball, biking clubs…. the list could go on forever.
What should you look for when trying to find the best fit for your child?
Building Essential Motor Skills for Preschoolers
Under the age of 5, children are at a critical stage for developing fine motor skills. This can include coordination, holding and manipulating objects, jumping, and balancing, among other things.
Seek activities that offer a wide range of movement opportunities. Kids crave (and need!) diversity in their movement.
Opportunities to Make Friends and Socialise
Team sports and classroom environments are an excellent socialisation opportunity. Kids can meet others their own age, make friends, and learn valuable social skills like teamwork, cooperation, and collaboration.
Individual activities, such as learning to play an instrument, can still be great for kids. But balancing out that independent focus with something fun and social is a big boost!
Ways to Reduce Screen Time for Kids
In today’s world, parents are constantly seeking ways to minimise kids’ screen time – and who can blame them? Spending a lot of time on screens has been linked to sleep issues, anxiety, decreased attention span, and behaviour problems.
An extra-curricular activity is a fantastic solution for two reasons:
- First, it’s an opportunity at least once per week to get out of the house and engage with the real world.
- Second, because it provides a reason to be off your screen at home throughout the week as well. If your child takes an hour of piano lessons each week, they’ll need to spend a few hours practicing at home as well!
The Right Activity Encourages Holistic Development
High-quality organisations and businesses that offer activities for kids should not only focus on literal outcomes (i.e.: you sign your kid up for skating and they end up learning to skate) but also on creating a well-rounded individual. Let’s explain what we mean by that.
Maybe you send your kid to dance class and hope that by the end of the year, they’ve learned a few positions, some steps, and can do some little dances with the music on. Cute! Who doesn’t love that?
What you don’t expect though, is that they come away from a year of dance classes having gained:
- Confidence in their ability to learn new things, which shines through at school.
- Improved cognitive skills understanding patterns and musicality.
- A newfound sense of confidence to perform in front of others.
- A few friends their age who they can relate to and laugh with.
Dance fosters well-rounded development in toddlers, preschoolers, and kids
Highland dance is the ultimate example of a holistic activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids of all ages.
Investing in a dance education is about so much more than learning steps and routines. It’s an investment in your child’s:
- Confidence
- Discipline
- Creativity
- Physical fitness
- Lifelong friendships
(we’re probably missing some, but you get the point).
What makes highland dance different from other styles of dance and other extra-curricular activities?
The biggest factor we’ve noticed distinguishing highland from other activities is that it consistently turns out confident young people.
Here’s how:
- It’s an individual sport (most of the time), so even the shyest of children are able to ease their way in. Then, once they start to get comfortable, there are opportunities for friendship and cooperation in class.
- We offer low-stakes performance opportunities around our community, so children get opportunities to get on stage and find their self-assurance!
- Instructors are exceptionally supportive.
- Each new skill mastered creates a feeling of accomplishment that dancers can turn into confidence in themselves. This carries through to all areas of life, such as academics!
Competitive and recreational dance in Fredericton
2025 Activities for kids in Fredericton
We have new highland dance programs for ages 1+ starting in April 2025!
View Classes
View the Schedule
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Registration for all Saorsa programs is open year-round. Contact us for more information on your options!
