Enhanced focus
A lot of parents complain about kids and their short attention span. Fact of the matter is that kids and teens are consistently going through dramatic shifts and changes in their personality which makes them more exploratory and curious in nature as compared to older adults. If you feel your kid is having trouble focusing on his/her studies, try complementing their schedule with some extracurricular activities that they have shown interest in or where you feel they have potential in. That way, kids have something of their liking to look forward to which results in them being able to focus on their tasks more. 

Time Management
As non-intuitive as it may seem, with more tasks and activities lined up, kids actually learn the ability to prioritize and get things done quicker rather than procrastinating. Kids who find themselves busy with schoolwork but also tasked with other extracurricular activities to engage in, plan out their day and schedule far better than those with lesser things on their plate.

Enhanced social skills
Signing up for extracurriculars will make sure that your kid gets to meet and interact with like minded individuals which will help them develop a network of acquaintances and friends outside of school who share their common passions and interests. Having peers with the same hobbies not only helps in honing and polishing that area of interest, but also aids in creating enhanced networking opportunities. 

Self confidence
Achieving more than just your scholastic tasks and assignments gives you a boost of self confidence as you have more accomplishments to list on your profile. Kids working on independent projects of their own, gives them a better, more advanced understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and the ability to tackle them. 

Professional skills
The sooner kids learn the art of managing independent, personal projects on their own, the earlier they develop key professional skills. As you advance further in your career, you’re valued and appreciated for how well-rounded you are as an individual. Kids who are self-starters from the beginning find it much easier to segway into professional life and excel at it. 

As the threat of another lockdown looms all around us, it’s critical to invest time and money in finding after-school activities and courses for your children that suit their interests and hobbies in order to not let this unusual situation get in the way of their development and progress.