Boring after school activities

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons?

How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these

children were very enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.

What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing and often

incongruous signals they receive from their children. One day the kids are

excited about the new theatre class and in just a few short weeks they

wail and moan when it's time to go.

The first thing a family should do when a child begins resisting a

previously loved activity is to listen and investigate. Do not jump into

conclusions. A little bit of intelligent sleuthing is required. Ask your

child what he or she does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause

of the problem. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.

You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an

activity thinking it's all fun. But when they realize that they cannot

just hang out and that they need to follow rules etc, they begin to

resist. Your child may feel stifled if the program is too structured. If

the discipline is too rigorous or the activity too painful (like a karate

class) some children balk. Use your own instincts. Does the program feel

like fun? Would you want to attend it yourself? Are they offering enough

motivation to keep the child interested?

The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children need

attention. If the number of teachers is just enough to handle a class, it

is possible that your child is not receiving enough attention. State

recommendations usually specify that there must be 1 teacher for 15

children.

Children try to avoid problems they cannot solve. If there are no

perceivable problems with the class and the teachers, perhaps you need to

have a chat with your child. If your judgment says that the place is good

and the activity engaging enough, then it's time to work with your child.

More often than not, social pressures may be at work here. Does your child

have friends there? If she is lonely or miserable because of the lack of

friends, help her find a friend. If she finds a friend, she will get more

involved in the activities

If your best efforts do not pay off, and your child still resists that

fantastic guitar classes, then it's time to let go. Shift your child to

some other program. If he or she still retains interest in guitars, you

can take it up after a few months. Never force the child, especially when

it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must

bring in extra happiness and extra enthusiasm too.