CONNECTOR.AE 24 CONNECTOR.AE 25 KIDS AND EDUCATION KIDS AND EDUCATION ‘‘The value of ECAs lies in their ability to nurture multiple dimensions of a child’s growth simultaneously.’’ (STEM) based clubs, ECAs provide opportunities for children to explore their interests, discover hidden talents, and build essential life skills. However with so many options available, how can parents guide their children towards the right activity? When chosen thoughtfully, ECAs can play a powerful role in shaping a child’s character, interests, and even academic success. Among the many questions parents ask at this time of year, one comes up again and again: “Which extra-curricular activity is right for my child?” Extra-Curricular Activities, or ECAs, are much more than a way to fill afternoons after lessons end. They are an essential part of a child’s growth, offering avenues for creativity, physical development, social connection and problemsolving. Fromartsandcraftsandsports toScience, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Benefits Of ECAs And How To Help Your Child Choose The Right One As schools across the UAE settle into the rhythm of the new academic year, families are adjusting to new timetables, teachers and routines, and also looking for opportunities to enrich their children’s experiences. Connector spoke to experts to better understand the benefits of ECAs and how parents can support their children in making the right choice. Why Extra-Curricular Activities Matter ECAs are integral to a child’s overall development. They are not simply add-ons to the school timetable. They play an important role in developing the ‘whole child’ and can have a direct impact on their academic growth and future success. “Extra-curricular activities play a vital role in shaping the whole child for long-term fulfilment, meaning and success”, explains Steve Arnold, Principal of Ranches Primary School. “At the primary level in particular, broad exposurematters most. Passions and lifelong pathways often start here, but so too does the scaffolding for higherorder thinking”. Steve Arnold from Ranches Primary School also emphasises that ECAs contribute directly to learning outcomes, not just personal enjoyment, and says, “What is often overlooked is that these activities are not simply ‘extras’. They directly contribute to cognitive, and therefore academic, development. By engaging different modes of thinking, children strengthen neural pathways, deepen their capacity tomake connections across domains, and ultimately enhance academic outcomes”. Stephen Quinn, Principal of Horizon International School, notes that the value of ECAs lies in their ability to nurture multiple dimensions of a child’s growth simultaneously, and adds that the skills developed in these activities extend far beyond the classrooms. The Three Major Types Of ECAs While schools in the UAE now offer a vast array of after-school clubs and activities, most fall under three broad categories: arts and crafts, sports and STEM. Understanding the unique benefits of each can help parents match activities to their child’s personality and interests. 1. Arts And Crafts This category is broad and includes visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpture, as well as ‘‘At the primary level in particular, broad exposure matters most. Passions and lifelong pathways often start here, but so too does the scaffolding for higher-order thinking”.
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