Schedule and Extracurricular Activities Article Archive

• 5 Meaningful Community Service Ideas for StudentsCommunity service for teens is becoming a graduation requirement in most high schools. Here’s how to make that volunteer time really mean something to your child.
• 10 Questions Parents Should Ask About Concussion Management in Youth SportsAs more becomes known about the short- and long-term damaging effects of traumatic brain injury due to concussion, parents of student athletes need to educate themselves about potential risks facing their young players. Our information helps parent know where to begin.
• Should Kids Be Forced To Finish Activities They've Started?It’s a familiar story: Your child begs to sign up for an activity, then weeks later refuses to go and begs you to let him quit. Our experts offer help in handling this frustrating scenario, as well as tips for preventing it in the future.
• 15 Tips for Managing the After-School Activities JuggleKeeping kids busy after school is a good thing, but participating in many activities without advance planning is inviting miscommunication, forgotten homework, and cranky families. Instead, enlist your kids’ efforts each week in planning their time.
• Concussions in Youth Sports: When in Doubt, Sit It OutThe incidence of concussion among student athletes is on the rise, as is knowledge about trauma the brain sustains during and after a concussion. Many states have passed legislation requiring school concussion management plans, but awareness of concussion symptoms begins with parents—and student athletes themselves.
• 10 Easy Ways Families Can Exercise TogetherTelling kids to “go out and play” doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get the exercise they need. Pursuing fitness and an active lifestyle as a family, however, shows your child how much you value exercise and fitness, as well as learning new things.
• 7 Tips for Easy and Painless Meal PlanningSpending a few minutes planning meals for a week eliminates last-minute “What’s for dinner tonight?” woes.
• Activities Can Help Keep At-Risk Students in SchoolParents whose teens are having trouble in school should try to get their kids involved in student activities.
• These Tips Help Older Children Get OrganizedIt hardly seems possible, but kids actually get less organized as they get older.
• Find Out Why Your Preteen Is Procrastinating, Find a SolutionPutting things off until the last minute is an easy habit to fall into.
• Encourage Middle Schoolers to Stick With Favorite ActivitiesSometime in middle school, your child may tell you he wants to quit an activity you thought he loved.
• Extracurricular Activities Are Fun, But Set Limits, PrioritiesA whole new world of activities, sports and clubs often opens up once a child reaches middle school.
• Help Your Teen When There is ‘Nothing to Do’ This SummerFor many teens, the lazy days of summer are just that.
• Help Your Teenager Schedule Activities Wisely This YearThe second half of the high school year is especially busy.
• Start an After-School Club to Meet Your Teen’s InterestsYour teen spends hours on the computer, but there’s no computer club at school.
• Attendance Is Directly Linked to AchievementParents who let their kids miss a lot of school are setting them up for school failure.
• Avoid Overscheduling During the Final Weeks of SchoolAt the end of the school year, children can often become overscheduled.
• Help Children Finish Activities They StartWhen children want to quit taking piano lessons, playing soccer, or participating in some other activity, parents have a fine line to walk.
• A Little Boredom Can Spark Your Child’s ImaginationYour child is scheduled nearly every minute. And you’re worn to a frazzle trying to get him to all those practices, lessons and meetings. “But at least he’s not bored,” you say to yourself.
• Eating Meals Together Can Increase Success in SchoolA recent study of more than 270,000 children showed that sharing meals as a family increases success in school—and decreases troublesome behavior.
• Be Sure to Set Summer Limits On TV ViewingUnless you set careful limits, your child may spend all his extra time this summer plopped in front of the television.
• As a Parent or on the Field, It's How You Play the GameChildren learn important lessons on the athletic field.
• Let Your Child’s Schedule Include Time To DaydreamMany kids today are overscheduled.
• Help Your Child Be a Good Sport and Develop CharacterNot long ago, sports and sportsmanship went hand in hand.
• Outside Learning Important in Elementary School YearsSome of the most valuable learning your child may do this year could take place outside of school.
• Choosing After-School ActivitiesHow to make smart choices, judge how much is too much, and deal with lack of commitment once an activity is chosen.
• Sneak Learning Into Summer FunTeachers offer their favorite ideas to combine education and fun.
• Finding Balance for Busy FamiliesKids have lots of options for activities these days, but an overscheduled child can go from busy to burned out in no time.
• Summer Amnesia: Avoid the Brain DrainKids lose academic ground in the summer. Use these tips to keep them from falling behind.
• Better Grades—10 Ways You Can Help!Make sure your child is ready to learn and achieve at school with these 10 smart tips on what you can do at home to prepare her for success.