The extent to which you direct your child to a particular activity will depend on the age of your child. If you have a younger child, you may have to give a lot of guidance to find the right activity. For an older child, you can simply offer a few different opportunities and let him or her find an activity that seems interesting or fun.
If your high school age school does not have certain extracurricular activities, check with the school administration to find out what it takes to start a club . With enough student interest and at least one adult who can volunteer to help supervise, your child can be a trailblazer for other kids who share their passion.
You can also look for activities sponsored by local organizations. Local newspapers, bulletin boards, and social or online media often advertise programs for school-age children and teens. To find out about inexpensive or free extracurricular activities, contact your city’s recreation department or public library.
Just be careful not to overwhelm your child with extracurricular activities. Many child health experts recommend that parents make sure children have at least one day a week without organized extracurricular activities so they have free time to relax and recuperate.