Benefits of extra-curricular activities for teens

The benefits of extra-curricular activities for teens include health, social and avoiding peer pressures. This doesn't mean your teen will avoid all trouble but it will encourage them to be more active, involved in their school and be surrounded by other students who won't tolerate drug or alcohol usage.

Having a teenage daughter scares the living daylights out of me each night as I say my prayers. There are so many avenues she could choose to go down including pre-marital sex, drugs, alcohol and inappropriate language. Not to mention bad grades. Watching the news or reading the paper can scare a parent to the point where they don't want their teens to leave the house but as we all know that isn't realistic so the next best thing is to guide them into activities that promote better alternatives.

One of the rules in our house is that our children have to pick an activity each season to be involved in whether that is at school, church or at a local community event. My daughter has chosen debate and dance at her high school. These two activities keep her busy four out of the five school days. They encourage not only academic improvement but also her health. The debate team helps her coordinate her thoughts on a subject through facts and opinions. Her math teacher teaches dance so not only does she want to do well on the dance team but she knows if she does poorly in class she will hear about it after school as well. Having teachers in her life both in class and after school help her avoid many dangers that many teens face while attending high school.

Extra-Curricular activities helped boost self-esteem as well as academic and health issues. Self-Esteem is what our children need to stand up to bullies or saying no to drugs and alcohol. Without self-esteem and people backing them in school they can be left to feel alone and forced to do these things to fit in with a crowd they shouldn't be around in the first place. Having these fellow students as friends lets her know she isn't alone or forced to make friends with people who don't care or want the best for your teen.

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