Family Weekend Article: "Extra Good " - by LDS Living Staff

Involvement in extracurricular activities has become a rite of passage for children. Experts cite the benefits of an involved child, but others have started to identify increased stress from overscheduling. What is the good in these activities, and how do we balance them in order to avoid too much of a good thing?

A typical mother in a typical family, with two young children each in three extracurricular activities, will spend roughly six hours driving per week and, on a busy day, will not return home until 5:00 P.M. After that, it’s dinner, homework, and bedtime. If the kids are lucky, they’ll get some unstructured time to release their creative juices. Scheduling everything is no easy task for the typical family; in fact, typical parents should probably have a naval degree for the tight ship they have to run.

With all this time being stolen from homework, free time, and—most importantly—family, one has to ask: Are extracurriculars worth the hassle? How much do they contribute to children’s development?

The Good in Extracurricular Activities

When extracurricular activities first became popular, in the early 1900s, parents, educators, and the general public thought that the activities were detrimental to study—that recreation would prevent students from doing well. But over the years, numerous studies have found significant beneficial relationships between extracurricular activities and academics, social skills, and psychological health.

In fact, studies have found that adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities—sports, arts, clubs, and others—have higher grades, higher academic aspirations, and better attitudes toward school and education. On a psychological level, they are more likely to have a positive self image, less inclined to depression, and less likely to have suicidal tendencies. Physically, they are more likely to get proper exercise and eat healthy—even if their extracurricular activity doesn’t include sports. And, according to researchers Patricia Harrison and Gopalakrishnan Narayan, they’re even more likely to drink milk.

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Weekend Fare: "Fresh Dating Ideas" - by LDS Living Staff

It’s date night. You’ve got a sitter, and you and your sweetheart have exactly two and a half hours of alone time. Now what should you do?

Coming up with new date ideas is just about as easy as coming up with the formula for cold fusion. And while going to dinner and watching a movie really can be fun, here are a few ideas to spice up the best night of the week.

• Sample multiple eateries. Have your appetizer, main dish, and dessert at different places. If you really want to go wacky, try different varieties of food for each course—get an Italian appetizer, a Chinese entrée, and an American dessert.
• Put a new twist on the old favorite. Pack a simple dinner and eat in the park. Rent a movie, take a laptop, and watch the movie outdoors. Remember to bring a blanket and some pillows!
• Check out more great ideas...

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