Importance of Extracurricular Activities

By Eniola Olatunji

Extracurricular activities are a set of activities that fall outside the scope of the ordinary academic curriculum of a school. These activities are usually social, voluntary, philanthropic, and involve peers/age groups. These include sports, politics, social clubs, etc. Sometimes, students get advised to desist from extracurricular activities and focus solely on curricular activities. This is because these activities are perceived as a waste of time and a distraction. Is this claim correct? No, it is erroneous. Extracurricular activities play a major role in the development of a child beyond what we can fathom. A school is designed to develop a child in every wise – academically, socially, psychologically, and even emotionally. Curricular activities tend to play a part in this development while extracurricular activities complete the rest.
Some of the important reasons students should take part in extracurricular activities include:

Talent Discovery
Participating in extracurricular activities can help a child discover his/her unique talents. For instance, talents like swimming, drawing, football playing, etc., are usually discovered while participating in extracurricular activities. Once these talents are unearthed, such students can begin to represent the school in numerous competitions. It is from there they are noticed and get national call-ups. Popular basketball stars like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were drafted from high school into the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Physical Fitness
Students, especially those who are not in tertiary institutions, spend the majority of their time at school with little or no opportunity to exercise. Unlike adults who have the privilege of setting a gym schedule, these students usually do not have the time and freedom to. To make up for this, schools introduced an array of sports to help students keep fit. The regular Inter-House Sports event is a testament to this fact. Sports like running, high jump, tennis, basketball, and football, are all modes of exercising. Doing them regularly keeps the body fit and muscles active.

Academic Benefits
It is pertinent to point out that some extracurricular activities are academic-inclined and can help in studying. For instance, being part of a science club will help your mathematics skills while being part of a literature society will help your writing skills. Knowledge gained in these clubs/societies can be imported into the classroom and help you stand out.

Social skills/Interpersonal Relations
A major advantage of extracurricular activities is that it builds a child’s interpersonal and social skills. Some kids do not know how to relate and are shy amongst their peers. This is not a proud trait but participating in activities with your peers regularly can help overcome it. For instance, the debating society will help you conquer your fear of talking with people. You would become bolder and learn how to speak articulately.

Leadership Skills
Student politics like the Student Union (SU) is an area for students to gain political experience early in life and learn how to manage people.

School is a place meant to develop a child all-round. Restricting a child to participate only in curricular activities to the exclusion of extracurricular activities will only pose disadvantages to such a child. It is necessary that a child not only pass through school but for school to pass through them too.