Engaging extracurricular activities for children, from sports and arts to hobbies and creative pursuits, designed to build confidence, skills, teamwork and creativity.
As summer holidays commence, experts recommend engaging children in creative, physical, and interactive activities to reduce screen dependence and promote healthier development, backed by recent health and academic research. With the summer holidays under way, many parents are looking for…
New insights suggest that qualities like respect and empathy foster stronger friendships among children, with martial arts schools serving as effective environments for cultivating these attributes beyond the pursuit of confidence. Children do not need endless bravado to make lasting…
As parents weigh the benefits of physical activity and social development against the rising risk of head traumas, especially in contact sports like Australian rules football, new safety considerations are shaping youth sports choices. For many parents, the question of…
As the school year ends, experts advocate for viewing holidays not as idle time but as an essential opportunity for children to learn resilience, independence, and creativity through unstructured play and shared family experiences, fostering skills that endure beyond the…
A groundbreaking study reveals that aerobic fitness and body fat influence children’s inhibitory control through separate neural mechanisms, challenging traditional views on childhood cognitive health. Children’s fitness and body composition may shape how well they can resist impulses and filter…
Structured weekend pursuits ranging from sports to creative hobbies can foster lasting self-belief, resilience and social skills in children, setting foundations for lifelong success. For many families, the weekend still means sand, screens or simply switching off at home. Yet…
While video games can foster problem-solving, coordination, and social bonds, experts emphasise the importance of personalised limits and parental involvement to ensure healthier gaming habits for children amid concerns over excessive play and content risks. Video games can do more…
New research using wearable sensors reveals that defensive tennis strategies may be more physically demanding and psychologically stressful for young players than aggressive tactics, challenging traditional assumptions and prompting a rethink in coaching approaches. Péter János Tóth’s research into youth…
Jonathan Haidt’s new book warns that the shift towards smartphone-centric childhoods is fuelling mental health issues among youth, prompting calls for policy changes and a reconsideration of modern childhood experiences. For years, rising anxiety, depression, loneliness and self-harm among young…
A quiet shift away from screen-based self-care towards hands-on, creative pursuits is gaining popularity, offering tangible mental and physiological benefits in an era dominated by digital distraction. For many people, self-care has drifted into an expensive industry of apps, supplements…
While six weeks of school holidays may seem like a lull, they offer a prime opportunity for children to foster creativity and resilience through unstructured play, away from the constant buzz of digital devices. Six weeks of school holidays can…
Courtney Bourne, head athletic trainer at Waltham High School, has pioneered a dynamic, inclusive fitness initiative that enhances athlete development and confidence, with plans to expand to male students. Courtney Bourne has become one of the most recognisable figures in…
