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Extending learning beyond academics: active clubs keep children growing
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After-school clubs and activities allow students to explore creative, cultural, athletic, and technical programs, nurturing the whole child.
Broadcasting Club. Peace Club. Chinese Modern Drama Club. Model United Nations. Children today have a vast array of after-school clubs from which to choose, and each club provides functional benefits that round out the education they receive during the school day.
Participating in clubs allows children to develop a spectrum of talents that may not be revealed in the academic context, and in some cases, club activities lead children to explore a career path they may not have considered before — namely in the arts, music, or diplomacy. Many of these activities teach children skills that can be applied not only to academics, but to their time at university, and their adult working life, as well: discipline, commitment and persistence.
Furthermore, studies have shown that participation in after-school clubs improves academic performance: “Adolescents who participate in extra-curricular activities reported higher grades, and higher academic aspirations,” noted Nancy Darling, Linda L. Caldwell, and Robert Smith in an article entitled “Participation in School-Based Extra-Curricular Activities and Adolescent Adjustment” published in the Journal of Leisure Research.
With university admissions looking at more than just academic performance, Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) aims to develop well rounded students by offering a broad range of after-school clubs for both Primary and Secondary age groups.
According to Dusten Kent, a YCIS Secondary coordinator, “The YCIS philosophy of holistic education is an integral part of the curriculum design, because we feel strongly that extra-curricular activities, along with a strong academic program, will best benefit the whole child.”
At YCIS, students participate in a vast range of activities, including cross-stitch, modern Chinese literature, robotics, rock bands, environmental protection, orphanage visits, board and strategy games, video news, book club, print making, drama, music, sports, and many more. Activities that the clubs engage in can be quite complex, such as the projects that the robotics team undertakes, which focus on “understanding the process of figuring out how to engineer something for a purpose,” says one of the clubs’ co-coaches, Christopher Westcott, head of Information Communication Technology and Design and Technology at YCIS’s Century Park campus.
Another club for Secondary students, The Enterprise Club, helps students participate in the world of business. The YCIS teacher-sponsor of the club, Paul Smith, explains the learning opportunity for students, noting, “The Enterprise Club brings the world of business into the classroom, and gives insight into what it means to think like an entrepreneur.” By providing students with an opportunity to develop their own business ideas and practice them on a small scale, “they gain vital life skills in planning, organization, communication and financial management,” adds Smith.
In addition to a wide variety of clubs from which to choose, students at YCIS also have the added advantage of learning in an international environment, which includes classmates and teachers from around the world. Says Kent, “Teachers and students bring their own cultural capital to their clubs. In this type of environment, students develop perspectives that not only allow them to reflect on the places they have previously lived and studied, but also to tap into these perspectives to bring about creative, and unique outcomes.”
Clearly, the time students spend engaged in clubs, set in an international context, is highly beneficial. Afternoon and evening schedules featuring diverse activities, in tangent with a holistic academic program at YCIS, means that students get the most from their time during and after school hours, and are well-equipped to transition into activities and clubs during university, and into professional and social organizations as adults.
Reasons childrenshould participate in after-school clubs
Physical development
Sports and outdoor activities put children on the path to life-long fitness, and a healthy lifestyle.
Self-confidence andsocial skills
New skills and social activities give children a self-confidence boost. Social skills such as negotiation, cooperation, and conflict resolution are useful in all aspects of life.
Creativity
Clubs can be excellent outlets for creativity and problem-solving, in activities such as arts, mathematics, and sports.
Team spirit
Teamwork — as learned in Boy or Girl Scouts, and other groups and clubs, is an important skill to learn for success, both at school and in the workplace.
Leadership
As many after school clubs involve students of different ages, the activities offer ideal opportunities for older students to take on leadership roles by mentoring and helping younger students.
(Andrew Murray is a YCIS Shanghai Primary Curriculum coordinator.)
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