Kids and extra curricular activities

For some parents , that is their way to bond with their children. But it also depends on the needs of the children and the parent. Mostly with busy schedules at work and in school they dont have time to bond the natural way , meaning it can be done in the house with family. Originally , schools are making time for extra curricular activities for kids to develop other hidden skills aside from academics, and since parents are invited in this activities at school some parents create their own too . Usually if bonding with relatives it is done in reunions, gatherings etc but its on a larger scale not just with mom and dad and siblings, but with aunts, uncles and cousins. Its fun doing it too , and I suggest if given the time and money families should make time doing it too to strengthen the bond in the clan this time.

I remember that I read that adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement. I am not sure that pushing children and adolescents to do more is a good idea.

Mixed feelings really. Yes family life involves more rushing about than it used to, but my children have more opportunities than I had (partly because of where we live). As a child I went to Brownies (for a year or so) and had weekly piano lessons. Otherwise I mostly spent time reading at home or playing out with a couple of local friends or on my own. As a teenager I played school sports after school sometimes, or went swimming with friends. My mother would have been glad to have me out of the house more! My girls each learn two musical instruments and at various times one or other of them have had classes in art, dance, ice-skating, judo... they have both been involved with the local amateur dramatics group. They both are /have been Guides and are both involved in Morris dancing (folk dance) with Dad and both are/ have been in the national youth folk troupe (which involves several weekends away over the summer as a family). They seem more accomplished, outgoing and confident than I ever was.

Free time is good for kids.

To an extent true. Parents are running around with their job and other ventures to be financially independent or to be stress free. Meantime , some parents wants to compensate for their lack of time with children by sending them to extra curricular activities . They feel children would have a better time there although they are guilty of not spending time with them. Then there are also parents who does not want to spend time with children because their priorities are else where. Parents who are responsible are also already making sure they are spending time with children and having a bond with them. But then kids do deserve bonding time with parents. But it is fate whether they get them or get less or none.