What is the importance of extracurricular activities in adolescence?

From a young age onwards, parents encourage their children to participate in activities like sports, music, or fine arts. Once they enter high school—Class 10th and 12th —they’re often asked to not ‘waste time’ and focus on studies. In reality, extracurricular activities play an important role in a child’s overall growth—by teaching skills such as team building, how to deal with and overcome failure. In the latest column, our expert Aarti Rajaratnam explores this topic.

‘Knowing teenagers with Aarti C Rajaratnam’ is a fortnightly video column for parents, teachers, and adults who interact with teenagers. Each episode will share insights that will help the audience understand the adolescent mind and behavior.

Aarti C Rajaratnam is a clinical psychologist who has been working with children and teenagers for over two decades.

If you have questions, write to us at columns@whiteswanfoundation.org