Engaging extracurricular activities for children, from sports and arts to hobbies and creative pursuits, designed to build confidence, skills, teamwork and creativity.
Experts say creativity is not limited to artistic talent: open-ended play can help children develop confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills and emotional expression. Creativity is often treated as a talent reserved for children who love drawing, acting or telling stories, but…
Clubs, sport, music and volunteering can strengthen confidence, belonging and academic engagement , but research suggests that too much involvement may undermine wellbeing. As the school year gathers pace, extracurricular activities tend to fill family calendars almost as quickly as…
About 3,300 people were treated in Austrian hospitals after weight-training accidents in 2025, but experts say the raw total masks strength training’s wider health and injury-prevention benefits. Austria’s latest injury figures have renewed attention on the risks of strength training,…
Coaches can help young athletes stay involved by rewarding progress, giving constructive feedback and allowing them to take greater ownership of their sport. Coaches can do more than teach drills and tactics.They can shape whether young athletes feel capable, valued…
A study of six-year-olds links loosely organised time with stronger self-directed thinking, while wider research suggests children need both independence and meaningful friendships. Many parents worry they must choose between filling a child’s calendar and leaving them to their own…
The free Choose Sport service assesses more than 30 physical and cognitive indicators to help children aged six to 12 find disciplines suited to their abilities and interests. Moscow parents looking for a suitable sport for their children can use…
Air-raid alerts, remote classes and chronic fear are reshaping how Ukrainian children learn, remember and communicate, an expert warns. Ukraine’s children are growing up under conditions that would challenge even the most resilient adult: air-raid alerts, disrupted routines, prolonged online…
Some families are choosing rest, resilience and practical skills over relentless tuition and prestige school chases, even as anxiety about their children’s futures continues to rise. Some Singapore parents are choosing to step away from the academic rat race, even…
From journalling and painting to running, cooking and reading, enjoyable activities may help lower stress hormones and improve wellbeing. Anxiety and stress are now woven into daily life for many Americans, and the health consequences can be serious. The Independent…
More than 20 children treated for serious brain injuries linked to e-scooter crashes in the past year, with hospital admissions continuing to rise. The Road Safety Authority and Children’s Health Ireland have launched a renewed warning to parents not to…
Clear targets, shared tasks and online donation tools can help youth teams cover rising costs without exhausting parents and volunteers. Youth sports may build confidence and teamwork, but they also bring a familiar strain for families: the cost of keeping…
Small, age-appropriate tasks and low-stakes consequences can help children build confidence, independence and a lasting sense of responsibility. Helping children take responsibility is less about perfect behaviour than about repeated practice. Small, real tasks can give them a sense of…
