Football, volleyball, music, debate, 4-H—those are just a few of the extracurricular activities available to children. How can a family make it all work, and still have time for themselves? K-State Research and Extension reporter Randall Kowalik has some advice on shaping this year’s schedule.
(Randall Kowalik)
At Junction City Middle School, students can choose from a wide variety of activities, outside traditional class times:
(Mary Wright)
We have sports, we have clubs, and we also have intramural activities, and things like band and choir that kids can be a part of.
(Randall Kowalik)
While parents and siblings may not be joining the band themselves, K-State Research and Extension family systems specialist Charlotte Shoup Olsen says activities require commitments from the entire family:
(Charlotte Shoup Olsen)
The scheduling’s a big one… the expense put out in the equipment or other resources that are needed for the activity. If parents aren’t living together there’s other things they need to talk about. Who is going to be responsible for getting a child “here” and “there"?
(Randall Kowalik)
Before making a commitment, sit down and discuss options with your child. First and foremost, consider their interests:
(Charlotte Shoup Olsen)
Think about the activity, when a child is showing an interest, but also, being cautioned that… Is the parent pushing them, the child, for their own interest?”
(Randall Kowalik)
Traditional family activities, like the evening meal, may have to give way to new traditions, or new approaches to old favorites:
(Charlotte Shoup Olsen)
Say, for instance, meal time has always been a certain custom, or… they may need to alter it a bit. Take those sandwiches, that beverage with them, and sit down together after a sports event."
(Randall Kowalik)
With a little flexibility and creativity, a child’s involvement in a new activity could blossom into more time together, as a family—rather than less.
For K-State Research and Extension, I'm Randall Kowalik.