Extracurricular activities for pre-teens

They no longer want to do "children's things" but they are not adults either. Also, they are not teenagers either. What extra-curricular activities are best suited for pre-teens? Next, we give you some ideas.

The preadolescence

Establishing the starting point of preadolescence is difficult. In fact, it depends on each person, since maturation at the physiological level can occur sooner or later. Thus, there is no specific age to establish that a child has entered preadolescence. However, in general, we speak of ages between 11 and 13 years old.

During preadolescence, new processes are initiated at the physiological and psychological level, changing the references and behaviors.

In any case, it is a really important stage, prior to adolescence and leaving behind childhood. It is an intermediate phase and, as such, full of confusion and discoveries:

• The preadolescent still maintains many childish behaviors. However, on the other hand, begins to claim their autonomy, which will be accentuated later in adolescence.
• Also, from the psychological point of view, the beginning of process of searching for your own identity within the social network.
• In addition, the desire for autonomy will lead them to leave family references little by little as absolute references. Indeed, during childhood, the family nucleus had been the one that instilled practically everything to the child. Now, as you move into adolescence, you will be looking for those references outside the home.
• On the other hand, you will begin to experience changes in your body.

Extracurricular activities for pre-teens

Therefore, when choosing extracurricular activities for pre-teens, we must bear in mind that these:

• Increase your social and interaction skills.
• Develop your own personality.
• Promote values that will be essential during adolescence and adulthood.
• Develop self-knowledge, body and mind.
• Do not saturate them.

team sports

In addition to those of physical exercise, sport provides another type of ideal benefits for this stage. Indeed, sport is essential for them since:

• Free from stress.
• It helps to understand and establish limits.
• They learn to respect rules.
• It helps to know your body better.
• It instills a spirit of self-improvement and improves self-esteem.
• Especially team sports, they teach them to cooperate with others, in search of a common goal.

Thus, it is a good idea as an extracurricular activity to practice a team sport. Such may be football, basketball, volleyball, etc. On the other hand, Sport always brings benefits, also when it is individual. Therefore, this type of sports is also recommended such as martial arts, gymnastics or athletics, among others.

We recommend you read: Benefits of physical exercise in health

Intellectual activities

If the sport does not convince them, there are other types of options. Is about intellectual activities that, in the same way, are beneficial for them in the short and long term. We speak of extracurricular activities such as:

• Chess
• Languages
• Reading courses
• Informatics class
• Robotics classes

This type of activities especially favors the intellectual development of the preadolescent. But nevertheless, although they are individual, you will find yourself in a group. Thus, they will also facilitate that they develop ties and social strategies with the rest of their classmates.

We recommend you read: The benefits of raising bilingual children

Artistic or craft activities

Artistic activities also involve other benefits for the organism through creation and creativity.

In addition to the physical and the intellectual, there is another side, another type of intelligence that we do not pay the importance it deserves: artistic. Thus, in a world governed by the result, we forget that there is also the process and the art. That's why it's a great idea to target preadolescents to activities that develop their artistic capacity.

Because art also offers numerous health benefits. In fact, it's about a form of expression that will help the preteen to get to know himself better. It will promote your expression, your imagination and fantasy through creation.

We talk about classes or courses of:

• Ceramics
• Painting
• Creative writing
• Sculpture
• Theater
• Crafts
• Sewing
• Kitchen

This type of artistic or craft activities will benefit them:

• Helping them to release stress through expression.
• Improving your self-esteem by obtaining an exclusive result of the effort and the unique and personal self.
• Developing your sensitivity
• Increasing concentration
• Promoting self-knowledge through artistic expression.

In conclusion

There are many extracurricular activities recommended for pre-teens. ANDespecially at this stage, they need to start lay the foundations of what will be their relationship with the world and with themselves.

So, talk to them about what they really want to do and do not impose anything on them. Tell them about the benefits that each type of activity can bring. Finally, Let them decide.

Also, do not forget that they are "extra" activities. Because, we should not saturate them. We must seek its enrichment through recreation and stimulation.