When To Start Educational Activities For Kids

Q. Dear Bracha: I am not artistic or musical, but I have heard that it is important to provide educational activities for kids. At what age should I start sending my children to classes? How do I decide where to put the emphasis and which classes to send them to? How many days a week should I have activities for kids to do?

A. Oh boy, oh boy! Is this a loaded question! Let's just back up here for a moment. You want to know where to put the emphasis in the extra curricular actives you give your children... the answer is: the emphasis should always be in a relaxed and calm home and family. The concept of over-programming does exist, mainly for the parents. Having relaxed parents and a calm atmosphere beats a lot of extra activities, with tense parents always rushing their children from one thing to another.

So, first you should be asking yourself; does this fit into my schedule and the family's routine. (For example, do you have to wake the baby to take your daughter to the class?)

The next thing to consider is what type of activities for kids are best. There are several ways of doing this; I will offer the top two suggestions. First, is your daughter interested and/or gifted in some specific area? This may be a good place to start. Second, bearing your daughter's interests and talents in mind, can you afford, or is it possible to keep up with, these lessons to reach a higher level if desired? Take for example music lessons. It's just fine that your daughter likes music, but do you feel it would be possible for her to take piano lessons until she reaches a senior level? Perhaps owning your own piano is impossible for you. If so, you would think about guiding her into something that she likes and has long term potential.

As to the actual age recommended for educational activities for kids, that is purely individual opinion and circumstances. Much of a child's foundation is set in the home. This includes reading with parents, playing in water, starting to learn to swim, learning to sing, and enjoying arts and crafts. Children have no actual NEED to do more or to do it with professionals; the lessons they learn in the home with their parents are best. However, if you feel that you are not able to do certain activies with your daughter, then turning to educational activities for kids outside of the home is a good option. For instance, teaching reading is on the top of the ''to do'' list as it impacts almost everything a child does and will do. If you feel that you are not able to put in enough time helping your daughter learn how to read, you should consider a group. The next important is swimming, and then music.

Since you have asked specifically about music, I will tell you it is definitely high up there on the list. Music plugs into all sorts of things in the brain and has a tendency to help stimulate the brain for improvements in creativity, memory and better grades in school. BUT, music for kids has to be fun, and not drudgery. This connects with my last point; you should also know that if your daughter shows special interest in anything, is always curious about certain things or topics and can retain and use this information. These are a huge indicator of potential. Why? For a child to truly get something out of an extra-curricular activity, she has to be self-motivated. It is very important that this experience be kept positive. If you have to drag a child to the program or constantly push them to practice, then you are both losing out. They must love what they are doing and act in a way that shows they just can't get enough of it.

Wishing you and your family all the best - Bracha

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