Extracurricular activities: a lever of development for children
From sports to music, from theatre to book clubs, extracurricular activities are taking a growing place in Beninese establishments. They are not simple distractions. They participate in the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children. By focusing on these informal learning frameworks, parents and educators discover a powerful lever for development and academic success.
Every Wednesday afternoon, in a private school located in Godomey-Centre, the field resounds with laughter and singing. Some students practice traditional dance while others play a football match. For the director, Estelle KORA, these moments are ”essential to cohesion, confidence and the discovery of unsuspected talents”.
Indeed, extracurricular activities such as sports clubs, artistic workshops, citizen debates, school agriculture and many others are increasingly integrated into the establishment projects. Their objective is to offer a space for expression and learning complementary to the formal framework.
Multiple benefits…
For the educational psychopedan Télesphore KANDJI, “these activities play a major role in the overall development of the child. They strengthen motor skills, concentration, emotion management and collaboration “. According to several studies, children who regularly participate in extracurricular activities exhibit better self-esteem, an increased ability to work as part of a team, resilience in the face of school stress, and greater academic motivation. With the implementation of cultural classes in Benin, the project to promote talents and strengthen capacities in the cultural sector is entering its active phase. In Porto-Novo, a drama teacher testifies that “shy students assert themselves, those who have difficulty expressing themselves find their voice. The theater becomes a tool of liberation “. Contrary to the idea that these activities distracted children, local research shows a positive correlation between their participation and performance. A fulfilled child learns better. Extracurricular activities develop discipline, perseverance, and time management. Transferable qualities at school “, says the educational psychologist. Science clubs, for example, encourage experimentation and intellectual curiosity. In several middle schools, mini-laboratories set up by NGOs allow students to carry out simple experiments, thus strengthening their understanding of science.
The central role of supervisors and parents…
For extracurricular activities to bear fruit, quality supervision is needed. ” Without proper supervision, these spaces can become disorganized or exclusive. It is necessary to train the supervisors in participatory pedagogy and listening “, warns the social worker. Parents also have a key role to play in encouraging participation, valuing achievements and avoiding performance pressures.
However, everything is not rosy. Several public schools lack material and financial resources to structure regular activities. Lack of time, overstaffing and priority given to reviews also limit their implementation. Extracurricular activities are not a luxury. They are a necessity to build balanced, creative and citizen generations.
Giving every child the opportunity to express their talents is an investment in the future of the country. As summarized by a slogan displayed at the school of Godomey, “Learn, play, grow, three verbs for the same future”.