Four Extracurricular Activities That Can Increase Your Child's Emotional Well-Being
If you're like most parents, you want to do everything in your power to ensure that your child gets off to the best possible start in life. However, this often means that parents put a huge emphasis on academics and don't pay enough attention to cultivating healthy emotional development in their children. Naturally, you probably already know that being supportive, kind, and understanding is an important part of helping your child develop good emotional health. Planning regular family and community activities is another good way to help your child feel included and valued, and you probably understand the advantages of participating in team sports, band, and other group activities when it comes to developing the kind of social skills that promote optimal emotional and mental health. However, there are many individual pursuits that can also contribute to a positive self-image and general sense of well-being — following are four of them.
Horseback Riding Lessons
It's long been known that horseback riding, sometimes known as equine therapy, can benefit children who suffer from autism as well as those who've gone through emotionally traumatic experiences, but it can also help average children develop a healthy emotional outlook. Along with building confidence and teaching responsibility, horseback riding also provides the child with the chance to develop a strong emotional bond with another living thing — lessons involve learning how to groom and care for the animal. Some children simply experience a great deal of joy from being on horseback, especially as they become more proficient at it. Many children who are introduced to horseback riding in at elementary school age go on to become lifelong horse aficionados.
Martial Arts Lessons
Martial arts lessons not only offer an excellent physical workout, but they have abundant psychological benefits as well. Your child will develop a great deal of self-discipline, develop a deep sense of responsibility, and learn the value of perseverance. Martial arts training also cultivates personal spiritual awareness without promoting any specific doctrine, allowing students to incorporate their own beliefs into it as they progress in their lessons. Optimism and positivity are core components of all martial arts disciplines, and these have been found to be instrumental in overall happiness levels, reduced risk of substance abuse, and even a better chance of being successful in a career. All martial arts focus on nurturing personal strengths and viewing obstacles as challenges to be overcome instead of roadblocks certain to cause failure. As an added benefit, children who become proficient in martial arts may be better able to defend themselves against those seeking to cause them physical harm than their counterparts who decided on another activity.
Music and Art Lessons
Music and art lessons can improve your child's self-image in a variety of ways. The very act of creating something unique instills a sense of pride, and participation in art lessons and related activities introduces your child to new people and new environments. Positive self-expression is essential to a healthy self-image, and while all types of art can have a positive impact, it's been found that music in particular promotes good communication skills.
Various studies have shown that taking piano lessons and taking part in other musical pursuits results in enhanced social skills and an increase in self-esteem. A study performed by James Hudziak has shown that learning to play an instrument can actually cause changes in the brain that result in enhanced emotional control, lessened anxiety, and decreased feelings of depression.
Please feel free to contact your local piano school for kids to find out more about the benefits of learning to play the piano.
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