The start of the year at your child’s Orlando private school is the perfect time to get them involved in new extracurricular activities. They’ll have fun, learn new skills, and build a strong, varied social circle with classmates they may not otherwise interact with. However, as a parent, it’s important that you decide which activities they get involved in. Striking a balance between schoolwork and fun can be tricky, and at Lake Forrest Prep, we want to help! Here’s a guide to helping your child succeed in and enjoy their after-school activities.

Consider Their Preferences

If your child has never expressed an interest in learning a musical instrument, enrolling them in after-school music lessons could add stress to an already busy day.. Instead of picking activities that you find interesting, take the time to figure out what they’re passionate about! If your child loves reading, let them join the Book Club and learn outside the classroom. If they’ve always wanted to learn to martial arts, enroll them in classes. By getting them involved in something they’re already interested in, they’ll be more likely to want to practice or participate over time.

Make Sure Schoolwork Is Always a Priority

While extracurricular activities are always fun, they should never become your child’s priority over schoolwork. If they’re struggling with a subject and need to attend tutoring sessions that interfere with an activity, tutoring should always come first. The last thing any parent wants is for their child’s education to suffer in favor of devoting more time to an afterschool activity.

Be Aware of Challenges and Your Child’s Weaknesses

Extracurricular activities are supposed to be fun, even if they’re challenging. However, if the activity is so challenging that your child feels like they’re constantly struggling to keep up, it may not be the best fit for them. When selecting activities, pay attention to those that will develop your child’s skills and talents. It’s okay if the activities challenge them, but they shouldn’t become a point of frustration.

At Lake Forrest Prep, an Orlando private school, we believe that every student deserves the chance to express themselves, discover new talents, and meet new friends. Check out some of our extracurricular activities and contact us to get your child signed up today.