If you have kids in secondary school what do you think were the most beneficial activities pre secondary?

[Bookwanderer]

My dc do loads of clubs & extra curriculars, enjoy them all. Just out of curiosity what extracurriculars would have been of most benefit to your dc's in secondary?
Swimming a non negotiable for mine.

Horse riding. Tried a few different things. That stuck.

Anything that means they mix with different ages, encourages confidence, socialisation, independence and that they enjoy. For two of mine that was Scouting.

Anything where they make non-school friends. Not had anything happen, but I know that if my daughter falls out with her school friends she has club friends she can arrange to meet up with etc. Her world isn't just her school and her school friends.

My daughter does Fire Brigade Cadets and she loves it. She is the least outdoorsy, doing things in the rain/cold/dark girl known to man, but she runs around the yard with a hose, building loads of team work, communication and leadership skills. Not everyone gets an award or recognition, so she's learning that sometimes you're not chosen, or not the best (unlike her primary where everyone got a medal/sticker/mention). She really has learnt a good dollop of resilience but also has immense pride when she does get chosen/an award as not everyone does.

Thanks for all the honest replies, they've really given me something to think about!

I do think it's kid dependent, DD is not a team sport person she hates that environment. But she does kick boxing and archery, she likes that she is good at 'uncommon' things so there isn't any competition of who is best, it's about pushing yourself. The kick boxing coach in particular has been fabulous at building her confidence and belief in her strength- physical as well as mental.

DS has followed the rugby path and at 16 coaches and refs the juniors as well as plays. Again it's not just the social side, the reffing in particular has taught him a lot and given him confidence. In particular due to the grown up parents who want to berate him about decisions against their precious kids

It really does depend on the individual child. We’ve always encouraged DS to be active but team sports have never worked for him.

Riding and golf have been great for fitness, confidence and focus ( less so for my wallet).

He discovered Warhammer a year ago (in Year 6) and has never looked back! He loves the modelling and painting at home, and there’s a whole community of kids out there ( who, like him, we’re not football types) to join. He has just started matches, and is having a great time!

Drama - made lots of friends outside of school.

Anything that got them out and getting different experiences. It all builds confidence.
For my ds, it was football. Even as teenagers and now not playing for teams, they'll meet friends for games and play at lunchtimes.
The other activity that doesn't require a formal setting is reading. So many kids barely read anymore that the ones who do, can have a bit of an advantage.

Thanks everyone, I think my dc are missing out on a drama type activity judging by the responses.. Everything else is pretty much covered.

You have said they already do lots of extracurricar. How about free time, time to switch off and just play, switch off, see friends without an activity. That is just as important as everything else

See my above response. Do they like drama, have an interest. The worst thing you can do is push them into something they don't like. It sounds like your kids have enough activities. Let them be kids before they get bogged down with the homework and exams that come with secondary

It's not a scoressheet to be filled in though. I think the notion that we can through doing X, Y or Z create this uber child for whom everything will go right....it just doesn't sit right with me. Support their genuine interests, money and time permitting, leave lots of time for just hanging out and beyond that, don't stress too much.

1. Kumon (maths and english)
2. Park run
3. Little Kickers (not for football, but for things like following instructions / taking turns etc)
4. Swimming
5. Scouts
6. Reading with them.
7. Lego club
8. For oratory skills and comprehension - audible playing the same story as they’re reading. But it can get expensive as you’re buying the same book twice

We were always guided by the DCs, I might have made suggestions, often based on what their friends were doing, but they never had to try anything they didn't want to, and when they were ready to give up then they did. There was a time late primary/early secondary when we were probably a bit short on downtime, but I don't think it did any harm, they were both happy with what they were doing and gradually dropped things as the school workload increased (and covid). They just have one main one each now at 19 and 17.

Swimming club as it built confidence & she swam with ability not age in club which gave her friends at secondary before she got there.

athletics club and cycling club, both gave her an out let for the 11/13 hormones spike of puberty . My eldest didn’t do so much f so port and was a hormone riddled but youngest never suffered and I’m sure it was the excess of exercise that helped

They do! The reason I'm posting is they do so much & will be dropping a couple of the ones they're less bothered with hence my post about what's useful as if we're investing & committing I would like it to be beneficial when secondary rolls around. (that's how I feel personally each to their own!) They would love musical theatre but our local one always clashed with other activities. Absolutely agree that they need to enjoy their extracurriculars, utterly pointless othewise.