6 Amazing Summer Camps In Ho Chi Minh City 2021

6 Amazing Summer Camps In Ho Chi Minh City 2021

by | Apr 16, 2021 | For parents

Why should kids join summer camp?

Another school year is about to end, and kids will be over-excited about the upcoming summer. Contrary to kids’ excitement, parents will be a bit “confused” to find ideal activities to ensure their kids have enough time to play and learn things and grow up. So, instead of letting kids at home “plug into” electronic devices, or play without a plan, many parents choose to give them a summer camp program that meets many criteria for kids to spend their summer days smarter.

Summer camp is an ideal space that converges many factors, such as joy, discovery, experience and learning. Its purpose is to give kids a comprehensive development environment, a chance to make new friends and practice essential skills, and be ready for the new school year. To meet the above needs of parents and students, diverse summer camp models are blooming. This summer, do your family choose any summer camp program for your kid?

Following Everest Education to explore some of the helpful, exciting and vibrant summer camps taking place in Ho Chi Minh City this summer and find your kid one(s) that suits her interests!

6 Amazing Summer Camps In Ho Chi Minh City 2021

 

1. EMASI

EMASI Summer program is designed to serve the students’ diverse needs and is built around 4 areas: Reading, Development, Arts and Health & Sports Education. This summer, at EMASI, students experience various swimming, soccer, cooking, crafts, painting, STEAM, and IT activities.

 

 

  • Available ages: students from 3 – 15 years old
  • Length of course: 4 weeks (21/06/2021 – 16/07/2021) 
  • Location: EMASI campuses
  • Pricing: 17,840,000 – 23,600,000 VND
  • Contact: 1800 599 918
  • Website: https://www.emasi.edu.vn/en/khoahoche/

 

2. Space Explorers Squad by Everest Education

This summer, Everest Education will bring our explorers squad with a completely new look – Space Explorers Squad with a vibrant summer spirit, creative exploration and joy. With an attractive space theme, the Everest Education STEAM space exploration camp is designed perfectly for students in grades 1 to 9. Students will learn exciting knowledge about the universe, then recreate a solar system model, map out the constellations, and try their hands to create their space vehicle program just like NASA and SpaceX. Students will also explore other planets’ lives to learn how astronauts live and work in spaceships and build a sustainable future for earth people and aliens. All these activities in an All-English help kids improve their listening – speaking – reading – writing, presenting, discussing, and teamwork as native speakers.

 

 

  • Available ages: students from 6 – 15 years old
  • Length of course: 6 weeks (07/06/2021 – 16/07/2021)
  • Location: Everest Education’s Learning Center: Phu My Hung, Him Lam, Thao Dien, Cong Hoa
  • Pricing: 3,000,000 VND/week. 
  • Contact: +84 858 323232
  • Website: https://e2.com.vn/programs/summer-2021/

Experience free trial  “SPACE EXPLORERS SQUAD” classes and save up to 30% tuition fee.

EXPLORE NOW!

 

 

 

3. Summer in Tomorrow Land by Apollo

Summer in Tomorrow Land summer camp by Apollo is invested in researching and applying the latest learning trends to equip kids for the future through growing-up challenges. Kids will also have exciting moments when immersing themselves in fun games, competitions where children can confidently express themselves through a variety of activities: Escape Room, Robotics Lab, Master Chef, Sport Room.

4. Teky Summer camp 2021

Technology summer camp is also an ideal choice for tech-savvy kids, along with other summer camps, when technology is becoming important in the 4.0 era. Teky designs a Technology summer camp 2021 with many activities such as: get acquainted with technology, coding, communication skills, teamwork, creative thinking, critical thinking, problem solving,… The program consists of 9 summer camps with themes ranging from programming, Robotics to 3D technology, combining outdoor activities, community activities and teamwork.

  • Available ages: students from 5 – 15 years old
  • Length of course: 2 weeks/camp (start on 07/06/2021) 
  • Location: Teky Learning Centers
  • Pricing: Contact for inquiries
  • Contact: 028 710 99948
  • Website: https://teky.edu.vn/

5. YOLA SUMMER

YOLA Summer this year with the theme of Make Your Own Taste is designed to help kids discover the flavors of summer through art and science lessons. Also, Yola summer also has extracurricular activities in sports (sport day), movies (movie day), farm exploring (farm day), … through which, kids practice English skills and create their own summer. 

  • Available ages: students from 6 – 14 years old
  • Length of course: Contact for inquiries
  • Location: YOLA Learning Centers
  • Pricing: Contact for inquiries
  • Contact: 028 6285 8080
  • Website: https://yola.vn/summer/

6. The Summer of Game Changers by ILA

ILA also joins 2021 summer with The Summer of Game Changers summer camp. ILA summer camp is the combination of language, thinking, skills and physical and mental healing. This is a 7-week summer camp, giving kids from 4 to 16 years old a fun space to learn – explore – experience to build the foundation, bravery and initiative.

  • Available ages: students from 4 – 16 years old
  • Length of course: 7 weeks
  • Location: ILA Learning Centers
  • Pricing: Contact for inquiries
  • Contact: 1900 6965
  • Website: https://ila.edu.vn/anh-van-he/ 

 

 

What Is International Baccalaureate (IB) And Why It’s The Emerging Trend For Your Child’s Education?

What Is International Baccalaureate (IB) And Why It’s The Emerging Trend For Your Child’s Education?

by | Mar 30, 2021 | For parents

According to an IBO report, 78.7% of students with IB diplomas are accepted by universities in the top 100 universities that is mentioned by one of the most prestigious university ranking systems such as QS Universities Rankings, Times Higher Education …


So what is the IB program? What are the benefits of IB diploma? Let’s join Everest Education (“E2”) find out more below.

What is the IB Program?

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide, nonprofit education program founded to give all students the opportunity to receive an education fit for a globalizing world. There are four IB education programs. High school students will mostly be concerned with the IB Diploma Program (DP) and the Career-related Program (CP), which consist of six main subjects. The IB programs focus on fostering critical thinking and building problem-solving skills while encouraging diversity, international mindedness, curiosity, and a healthy appetite for learning and excellence.

IB

What is the structure of the IB program?


Students must choose 3 Higher Level subjects and 3 Standard Level subjects from each of the 6 compulsory core areas: Language & Literature, Language Acquisition, Sciences, Maths, Social Sciences, and the Arts.


They must also complete additional components of the course. This includes a Theory of Knowledge module, which promotes critical thinking, as well as participating in at least 3 hours-worth of arts, sport or community service activities as part of their Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) module. They must also complete an Extended Essay, an independently researched 4,000-word essay on a topic of their choice.

When your child can start IB? And Why choose IB?

The IB program has 3 levels:

  • The IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is for students grades Kindergarten to Fifth grade.
  • The IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) is for students between the ages of 11 to 16 years old. Middle Year Programme is intended to prepare students for the two-year IB Diploma Programme.
  • The IB Diploma Program is for students from 16 – 19 years old. The IB diploma offers a well-rounded education. This makes the course particularly suited to students who are interested in a broad range of subjects but haven’t chosen what they would like to study at degree level yet.

What are the benefits of earning an IB Diploma?

  • The essay and Theory of Knowledge components of the IB program also provide ideal preparation for university education, giving students a solid grounding in critical thinking independent research skills which helps them make a smooth transition into higher education. Studies have found that IB students are more likely to attend college and feel more prepared to succeed and excel in their studies than students who do not participate in IB.
  • Earn college credit in high school. College courses are expensive and time-consuming, so the ability to earn credit while in high school can be extremely valuable.
  • Get into top-ranked universities. According to an IBO report, 78.7% of students with IB diplomas are accepted by universities in the top 100 universities that is mentioned by one of the most prestigious university ranking systems such as QS Universities Rankings, Times Higher Education …
“Regarding holistic development, the IB is the most comprehensive, because it’s an entire curriculum. It does not just focus on individual subjects but offers a framework for different subject groups and extra components like Theory Of Knowledge (a philosophy course), the Extended Essay (a large research paper in the style of a thesis), and the Community Service hours requirement.”
Mrs. Shannon Rybacki,
Mrs. Shannon Rybacki, Chief Operation Officer at Everest Education, holds a B.A. in Education and an Executive MBA. She has 15 years working in education, over 14 years living in Vietnam, was an IB program student.

Find an IB School in HCMC*

  • American International School (AISVN)
  • Australian International School (AIS)
  • British International School (BIS)
  • European International School (EIS)
  • International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)
  • Renaissance International School
  • Saigon Saigon South International School (SSIS)
  • The Canadian International School (CIS)
  • International Schools of North America (SNA)
  • Western Australian International School System (WASS)
  • International German School Ho Chi Minh City (IGS)

*Please note that the above are the schools that offer the IB program and have been officially recognized on the website of the International Baccalaureate. Some other schools in the process of applying for the teaching license will not be included in the list.

>>> At E2, we offer tutoring program offers customizable curriculum and personal mentorship for students who are studying IB program. Learn more at here.

References:

https://e2.com.vn/e2books/high-school-roadmaps-and-international-qualifications-a-levels-ap-and-ib/ 

 https://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/

https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/international-baccalaureate/

Kid-friendly YouTube Accounts for Learning New Things

Kid-friendly YouTube Accounts for Learning New Things

by | Mar 16, 2021 | For parents

The massive contents on YouTube are riskier than you think?!

Do you really know what your kids watch on YouTube?

📺 Watching content without parental control will lead to many psychological and developmental consequences. YouTube Kids will be one of the solutions to help parents select the appropriate content for your kids.

>> If you find out that contents are not suitable for your kids, learn more about how to block theses contents in YouTube Kids: https://support.google.com/youtubekids/answer/7178746?hl=en

However, if kids make use of the endless learning resources from YouTube, they will be given more ideas and motivation to learn and explore the world. Some easy-to-find channels on YouTube Kids with English subtitles – a great way for kids to learn English actively are below. 

📺 Peekaboo Kidz

Peekaboo is a cheerful destination with colorful animation for all the Happy Children of the world! Specially designed for kids as they explore the World of Kids Educational Videos, Classic English songs, Phonics Songs, Lullabies and more!

Why Peekaboo?
– An amazing way to know: What If We Lost GRAVITY for 5 Seconds? Or What If The EARTH Stopped Spinning? Or even What If We Swallow Chewing Gum? And more
– English subtitle provided

→ Peekaboo Kidz on YouTube and Peekaboo Kidz on YouTube Kids

🤖 StoryBots series

The series is on the Netflix Jr. channel, where kids can learn, sing and play with their favorite Netflix characters – from StoryBots to Super Monsters and everyone in between.

Why StoryBots series?
– Cool colorful animation, various topics
– Learning while enjoying the show

→ on YouTube and YouTube Kids

📺 It’s Okay To Be Smart

It’s Okay to be Smart is created by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. who is a curious group of atoms in a very curious universe. Join Joe Hanson as he “explore curiosity and illuminate the science behind… well, everything”.

Why It’s Okay to be Smart?
It- All about science, the amazing universe we live in, and the pleasure of finding things out.

It’s Okay To Be Smart on YouTube and It’s Okay To Be Smart on YouTube Kids

📺 TED-Ed

TED-Ed (from the nonprofit responsible for TED Talks) is committed to creating lessons worth sharing. On this channel, kids can be challenged by perplexing riddles, or they can investigate nature or ponder such subjects as “questions no one knows the answers to.”

Why TED-Ed?
– Carefully curated educational videos with familiar topics
– Cool animations
– English subtitles provided

TED-Ed on YouTube and TED-Ed on YouTube Kids

What If We Lost GRAVITY for 5 Seconds? Or What If The EARTH Stopped Spinning? Or even What If We Swallow Chewing Gum? Kids give us thousands of unexplainable questions every day. Parents may a little bit perplexed sometimes. But don’t worry, these YouTube accounts can help.

We hope these channels could help!

>>> Let E2 with you explore everything in the coolest way while studying. Learn more about Singapore Math course.

#keeponlearning #keeponlearningwithE2 #EverestEducation

9 Websites and Apps to Teach Your Kids Typing with Fun

9 Websites and Apps to Teach Your Kids Typing with Fun

by | Mar 12, 2021 | For parents, For students

Key highlights:

  • In the modern world, fast and accurate typing isn’t only essential. It also provides a range of benefits.
  • It’s important to start young and get a lot of practice. Children at 7 years old can begin learning basic touch typing.
  • There are many free, useful websites and applications that can turn into a fun game, making the whole experience individual and personalized for your students.

The world is moving forward with rapid improvements in the latest technology.  As you are aware, computers now are everywhere, and typing – or keyboarding, isn’t just a fun skill to learn but is becoming one of the most critical skills a 21st-century learner must have.  More than that, as online learning becomes the new normal due to the impact of coronavirus, our kids need to be digitally literate.  

While being able to type is essential, it doesn’t have to be boring!  There are many great typing apps for students that are engaging, interactive, and educational.  This article suggests some of our favorite websites and applications get your kids to practice excellent typing skills.

Why Is Typing Skill Important?

Learning how to type properly is critical for several reasons.  While most kids and adults can learn to hunt and peck on their own, real typing speed depends on proper technique.  What makes a real difference in knowing how to touch type is how good your typing speed and accuracy are.  And speed is important because youngsters should learn how to think and compose at the keyboard.  Read on to find out some things you might not have known about the benefits of typing efficiently:

1. Typing helps kids work more efficiently.

Children who learn to touch type can work far quicker as they won’t have to look down at their fingers as they look for the correct characters to press.  Whether they are working on a school assignment or with a home project, they will be able to focus purely on getting their ideas out onto the screen, rather than wasting energy and time trying to find that elusive letter on the keyboard.

2. Typing gives kids an advantage in education.

In secondary education and beyond, the majority of assignments and essays are expected to be typed.  By learning to touch type, children could shave hundreds of hours off the time they spend producing their work.  On the contrary, students who can’t type correctly end up wasting valuable test time, especially in computer-based testing scenarios, because bad typing slows them down. 

3. Typing gives kids an advantage in their future careers.

Children who learn to touch type will undoubtedly have an advantage in their adult life when it comes to career progression and possibilities.  In 2014, a study by Microsoft found that 43% of bosses think that typing efficiently is a crucial work skill.  Professor John Sutherland of University College London said in response to the study: “Typing is a crucial skill both in a personal and professional context. If it is a skill you lack, you are very much limiting your chances in the jobs marketplace.”

4. Typing helps kids with specific learning difficulties.

Learning to type can also help children with specific learning difficulties such as ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyslexia, where they will often struggle to write by hand.  For example, typing can help children with ADHD who might otherwise produce messy written work due to a lack of focused attention when writing by hand.

5. Typing can be taught from primary school ages.

With touch typing, it is important to start young.  Studies have shown that it is two times easier for people ages 18 and younger to learn to touch type properly.  By the age of seven, children’s hands are just the right size to command a computer keyboard layout.  They also benefit from having better concentration spans than they had previously, and if, like many children of that age, they love to use a computer and should be at the ideal stage in life to get started.  And best of all, typing is a fun skill to learn!

Thanks to the ever-growing technology, children nowadays can learn to type fast and accurately with typing apps for kids.  Our team at Everest Education has tested, selected and compiled a list of best typing websites and applications that you can try with your kids at home:

Best Typing Apps for Students in Elementary School

1. Type-a-Balloon

This game is so simple but enjoyable.  Students need to type the letters that appear on the balloons to pop them! 

If a balloon escapes into the atmosphere, your child loses one of her five lives.  As their skills improve, kids can move up to a more challenging level.  The web-based app is ideal for kids of all ages looking to improve their keyboarding skills, but parents can join in the fun too.

  • Price: Free

  • Available for: Any desktop or laptop with a web browser and internet connection

2. ABCya

For a site with another variety of free typing game options, ABCya is a terrific choice.  When you arrive on the website, just enter the word “Type” into the search box, and you will see your game results below.  Each game has an indicator with the school grade range it is intended for, making it easier to pick one.  Kids can stack and unstack with letters in Cup Stack Typing, watch out for ghosts in Ghost Typing, or visit the animals in Keyboard Zoo.  Each game has an upbeat theme with colorful graphics and silly sounds, making them a ton of fun.   Kids can play the game on a computer (via a browser) or a smartphone.

  • Price: Free

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

3. Nitro Type

Nitro Type is a cool typing game from Teaching.com.  This is a self-contained, competitive typing challenge website that the boys will surely love.  Kids can play as a guest to give it a try, and parents can help them sign up for a free account to level up.  Players race against others by typing the paragraphs displayed.  Speed and accuracy both count in Nitro Type.  The faster you type, the quicker you race but make a mistake, and your car lags a bit.  The game has achievements, leaderboards, teams, and stats.

It is ideal for practice and honing typing skills, so it is suited for children already experienced with the keyboard.

  • Price: Free

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

 4. Epistory – Typing Chronicles

For kids who like video games, Epistory – Typing Chronicles may be a great way to learn typing.  Epistory – Typing Chronicles is a downloadable adventure game where typing words on-screen is central to progressing and playing in general.  In it, kids play the role of a girl riding on a fox with many tails, exploring a number of lands trying to rid the world of a nasty insect infestation.  

To make progress in the game, they. have to type words.  Beautifully designed, Epistory is all much more whimsical than it sounds.  The game’s exciting story and stunning visuals may push kids to stick around and learn to type.

  • Price:$14.99

  • Available for: desktop computers (Mac, Windows) with a web browser and internet connection

5. Typing Pal

Kids of all ages can learn typing skills with Typing Pal Online.  Typing Pal is a thorough program for students who need to know and perfect their keyboarding technique.  The course focuses on accuracy before speed and includes three learning environments with different visuals and practice texts. They’re aimed at elementary (Super Paws), middle (TGIF), and high school students (The Office).  Kids work through exercises to practice correct finger placement on the keyboard.  There’s also a Classic environment, which is suitable for all ages.  The activities have large, readable texts and introduce new keys gradually with a lot of repetition.  Each exercise includes an engaging animation, like a lion parachuting from the sky.  After completing all of the exercises, kids can take typing tests and earn certificates of achievement.

  • Price: $23.22 per year (individual subscription)

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

Best Typing Apps for Students In Middle and High School

1. TypingClub

TypingClub is a simple website that helps kids learn how to type.  TypingClub is also a Google for Education Partner.  TypingClub’s lesson plan contains over 600 lessons, guiding students from individual keys through numbers and punctuation and to a goal of 75 words per minute. The carefully designed lessons include instructional videos, educational games, cross-curricular content, and other interactive experiences.  TypingClub’s games are unique, engaging, and challenging, covering everything from basic to more advanced skills.  Each of the customizable games focuses on building specific typing skills.

 

 

Students can learn touch typing with hundreds of Spanish, French, and German lessons, including games, videos, and the entire student experience in the same languages.  The site has a minimalist look, though, so it may not be engaging for younger kids.  But kids with attention issues may prefer the site’s simple design.

  • Price: Free

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

 

2. TypeRacer.com

TypeRacer is an award-winning typing competition that allows people to race each other by typing quotes from movies, books, and songs.  This innovative multiplayer typing game is designed to teach adults and young adults to type.   What’s more, TypeRacer is completely free of charge, perfect for those looking for a more dynamic and entertaining way of learning touch typing without spending a penny.  Remember, though, TypeRacer does not teach typing per second, but it can help kids view their progress and practice accuracy and speed.  The game is quite similar to Nitro Type, but what we love about TypeRacer is the game’s availability in 50 languages – including Vietnamese.  Your child can practice not only English words but also Vietnamese as well with symbols and diacritics.

The design boasts a user-friendly interface featuring racing cars on a track, which helps the player monitor their improvements and competitors.  Students can also invite their friends by sending their game links, which allow them to challenge, practice and learn with each other.

  • Price: Free

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

 

3. Typing.com

Typing.com is a comprehensive web-based platform that offers a rich library of fun and addictive typing games that improve typing speed and accuracy. Each game can be tailored according to the player’s skills.  Students begin by taking any number of tests to evaluate their typing skills.  Then, they use engaging curricula, gamified learning, and even multilingual content and instruction to take their abilities to the next level.  The website provides several tests kids can take to evaluate their typing skills.  Some lessons span basic to advanced typing drills. 

 

 

Where Typing.com shines, though, is with several arcade-like typing games for kids.  These games are fun and educational.  One big drawback to Typing.com is that there are a lot of ads throughout the site.  The ads may be distracting to some kids but can be removed by paying a one-time fee.

  • Price: Free ($34.95 to remove all ads)

  • Available for: Any device with a web browser and internet connection

 

4. Typesy

This highly interactive application teaches standards-based, common core content that encourages students to improve typing speed and accuracy through fun activities, games, and courses.  Typesy has well over 500 unique exercises that can improve anything from your child’s typing speed to her hand’s memory placement and more.  In the games, the kids can create their avatars and collect points, making it even more fun. The various games include Clumsy Bird Typing, Submarine Dash, Falling Words, Letter Train, Quick Trainer, and Test Yourself.  Typesy offers tailored programs for each child as they progress through the program, adapts to their individual needs, provides tips and additional practice as needed.  Each unit includes step-by-step video teaching, useful exercises, and fun games. 

 

Typesy is free of charge, but a Typesy VIP package will allow parents to track your child’s progress and give you a full range of informative data, such as what assignments and assessments, how much time one of your kids has spent doing certain Typesy activities.

  • Price: $9/ month

  • Available for: Computers, iPad, tablets and Google Chromebooks 

Parting words

Children today are no longer strangers to digital technology.  As distance learning becomes more popular and computers more predominant, kids must learn touch-typing and other computer skills. 

Simply put, typing is an important technical skill that is quickly becoming central in education, the marketplace, and people’s lifestyles as a whole.  Good typing skills can help your child excel in her present academic responsibilities and ensure her future career prospects.  We hope that you can start a new typing adventure with your kids with these handy apps and help them learn a new and useful skill.  Help your child learn touch typing using the best typing apps for kids.  Go ahead and let your child try out these typing apps for kids and let us know which one works best for them. 

For more educational fun, try these math apps for kids.  And if your youngster loves to practice English, check out these cool English apps for kids.

Should you have any concerns or any topics you want us to cover, feel free to leave your comments below.  You can subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox, and find more parenting coverage at
https://blog.e2.com.vn/e2-talk-tips-and-tricks-parents/

 

Reference:

https://elearningindustry.com/why-average-typing-speed-is-important 

https://funtech.co.uk/latest/how-touch-typing-is-an-essential-skill-all-children-should-learn 

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/finding-an-assistive-technology/6-websites-apps-and-games-to-help-kids-learn-how-to-type 

 
Cool Math Websites for Kids

Cool Math Websites for Kids

by | Mar 10, 2021 | For parents, For students

🎮 We all want kids to learn with practice. However, for challenging subjects such as math, it is quite difficult for them to actively practice math after school.
👾 Luckily, technology is the “lifesaver” in this case to encourage your kid to non-stop learning. Everest Education (“E2”) suggests some cool math websites so that your kid can both have fun after tiring study hours and practice math without boring.
🛸 These online games have great graphics, sorted by age and math concepts, and a free version that makes it easy for kids to find their favorite game to “play” math.
Try it now!
  • Level: Kindergarten – Grade 8
  • Highlight: FUNBRAIN has been a leader in developing educational games. There are “tons” of math games with great graphics and clear instruction. Also, videos and comics that you can access will help kids learn about many skills simultaneously.
  • Level: Kindergarten – Grade 7
  • Highlight: MATH BLASTER offers outer-spaced theme games which students will love. They also have an application that you can download for your iPhone and iPad.
  • Level: Kindergarten – Grade 7
  • Highlight: BUZZMATH is one of the best math websites for middle school. They have 7,000 activities that follow the Common Core State Standards and they have free demo plans.

>>> At E2’s classes, interesting interactive games are indispensable that make our climbers love math more. Learn more about Singapore Math courses here.

#keeponlearning #keeponlearningwithE2 #EverestEducation

Why Extracurricular Activities Are Important for Your Childhood Development (and Where to Find Them)

Why Extracurricular Activities Are Important for Your Childhood Development (and Where to Find Them)

by | Mar 5, 2021 | For parents

Key highlights:

  • There are many benefits associated with extracurricular activities, making them extremely important for your child's development.
  • Extracurriculars give your child a chance to explore herself.
  • Extracurriculars play a huge role in getting your child into the college of her dream.
  • There are a lot of activities your child can do to impress university officers in the future!

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”  This statement is more than a proverb; it’s also a fact.  For many Vietnamese parents, children come to schools to study.  Their only mission as a student is getting good grades and success in their studies, and ultimately in life.  We somehow forget that school is not just a place to learn, but to play.  

Outside the standard framework of any educational curriculum, there are endless opportunities for students to learn new skills and ignite new passions.  Extracurricular activities are a vital element in your child’s development that should not be put to the side.  Regular participation in after-school activities is a fantastic way to help your children cut down on emotional stress, develop their personalities, strengthen their social and academic skills, and even enhance their chance of getting into top universities in the future.

In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of extracurricular activities, including a list of ideas for parents to get your child started.

What are extracurricular activities?

The word “extracurricular” can be broken down into its roots for a literal explanation: “extra” means “outside” and “curricular” refers to all of the work you do in the classroom.  So extracurricular activities are just activities that your child does outside of class. 

Extracurricular activities happen outside of class time, whether they are at lunch, after school or even on evenings and weekends.  Your child’s school will have lots of options starting in Junior grades through till the end of college.  Even though extracurricular activities offered to 10-year-olds will differ in some ways from that of college activities, they still share the same principle.  It’s an extra activity that enriches and enhances your child’s development and skills.

5 Benefits of Extracurricular Activity

Undertaking extracurricular activities has far-ranging benefits that touch on many aspects of a child’s development.  When children participate in extracurricular activities, the benefits are exponential as they have a tremendous influence on your child’s physical health, psychological well-being, and social development.  Here are five key reasons why you should be encouraging your child to take on something away from the classroom:

1. Self-exploration

Academics is typically an acquired flair. However, every child is gifted with a unique talent.  Participating in extracurricular activities gives your child a chance to learn more about themselves and their interests.  This helps them to decide what they truly like to do and can help them choose a major in the future.  Not only that, but extracurriculars also let your child explore interests they never even knew they had, allowing them to be more diverse in their likes and dislikes. 

Beyond that, extracurricular activities instill vital skills and personality traits that can be helpful in other walks of life.  For example, sports are crucial to developing teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills.  A musical instrument requires perseverance, hand-eye coordination and, above all, creativity.  These are vital skills that could stay with them for a lifetime.

2. Boost academic performance

Many of the skills that lie at the heart of extracurricular activities can be learned during core academic subjects.  Education requires solid problem-solving skills, memory, creativity, and critical thinking.  To varying degrees, you can find an extracurricular activity that has an impact on these areas.  For example, learning to read music is like learning to read a whole different language, with math skills thrown in the mix!  When performing a solo, your child has to read music, practice and critique their own performance.  All these skills transfer to performance across the curriculum and contribute to overall lifelong career-oriented skills!

Research has been carried out that develops a link between extracurricular participation and better academic performance.  In one study by the Texas A&M University, important academic outcomes like reading, math achievement and course grades were all found to be positively influenced by children who engage in extracurricular activities.

3. Improve confidence

As a child learns what they are good at, they will enjoy enhancing their motor skills; they will also gain confidence.  They will learn things like time management as extracurricular activities force a child to prioritize their to-do list.  Even this will help them be more confident because it will help them feel like they are taking control of their lives.  Children who feel that they have the self-efficacy to achieve their goals are less likely to give up when faced with challenging academic subjects like math.

4. Enhances social skills

These days, our children are becoming unsociable creatures.  While engaging in extracurricular activities is typically done in a group setting, your children can develop in the sense that they will learn they are not alone in their interests, and they will learn how to interact with like-minded individuals.  Socializing with others who enjoy what they like doing may even help them develop friendships that last a lifetime.  At the same time, they learn and respect the value of teamwork.  Also, it will keep their mind off from disturbing behavior and inappropriate activities. 

5. Build up a good resume

Extracurricular activities are also a great benefit to a students’ resume when applying for universities or jobs.  Believe it or not, when applying to colleges abroad, you will be surprised to see how much they are interested in how you choose to spend your free time.  100% of our College Compass students – who have got accepted to top universities in the world – confirm that extracurriculars play a massive role in their college applications.  The reality is that, combined with your grades and test scores, extracurricular activities are one of the best ways college officers can get an idea of who you are.

“Extra-curricular activities help students learn about themselves and develop and use their skills and knowledge in different contexts,” says Chris Davison, deputy director and careers adviser, with the careers and enterprise team at Durham University.  “Such activities are an essential element of the university experience.”  Extracurricular activities also demonstrate that your child has varied interests and a curiosity to learn beyond the traditional classroom.

 

College Compass is a College Advisory Program by Everest Education, where we offer personalized coaching and guidance to students from earlier years of high school. Our alumni have successfully applied to the most competitive schools in the world (Harvard University, Stanford University, Cornell University, Duke University, Williams College, Amherst College, NYU, Bates College, University of Southern California, Minerva…).  The program is led by Co-founders and Senior Lead Counselor of Everest Education, who graduated from Stanford University, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and have served as alumni interviewers for Stanford.

>> Learn more about College Compass at https://e2.com.vn/programs/college-compass/

What Counts as an Extracurricular Activity?

If parents don’t know what activities can be counted as an “extracurricular” or have no idea of what options available out there, below, we suggest some of the most popular extracurricular activities amongst children.

The Common App says that extracurricular activities “include arts, athletics, clubs, employment, personal commitments, and other pursuits.”  Almost anything that you are actively and productively involved in can be considered an extracurricular activity.  You may be familiar with some of the popular categories of extracurriculars already:

  • Sports: includes playing on a school sports team, an intramural team, or a club team outside of your school.  The benefits of joining a sports team are extensive.  Physically, it encourages a healthy lifestyle and develops key physical attributes.  Mentally, it develops teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills while socially, few extracurricular activities bring individuals together as sports can.

  • Community Service: includes any sort of volunteer work, either in your community, on a national scale, or abroad.  This is also an excellent way to develop students’ resumes. 

  • Employment, including any jobs or internships: for older students, part-time jobs can be a valuable opportunity to expose them to industries they have shown an interest in or might like to go into in their career. Employers love to see a proactive individual who has shown intent to develop their career from an early age. 

  • Arts: includes visual arts, performing arts, comedy, culinary arts – this list is almost endless.

  • Academic activities: such as math or science clubs or competitions, research, or writing.  Aside from sports, student bodies like a union, debating team or student representation in a school government are all great ways to show a hunger for leadership, responsibility and a desire to tackle difficult subjects.  This is also a great way to develop problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Culture-based clubs: Culture-based clubs might be something as broad as film, music, languages,  blogging, a film club, hiking, Rubik’s Cube competitions, cosplay, and more.  Whatever interests your child, getting involved in a relevant club gives them the chance to socialize with like-minded children.

Schools and local communities nowadays are full of exciting activities that could spark your child’s imagination and capture their attention. Try to read your child’s general interests and consider what they may or may not be interested in taking part in.  Talk to your children about the types of activities you think they would enjoy.  By beginning the conversation early, you can give them options for what they would like to try until you find the perfect activity.  Then, look for what’s available to your child in their school or the wider community to find an appropriate club for your child.  And if your child wants to pursue something that’s not available, seek mentorship or advice from her teachers, or trusted counselors – we at Everest Education are happy to help!

And who knows?  Maybe what your child chooses could be the ticket to her future dream job!

Parting words

There are many benefits associated with extracurricular activities, making them extremely important for young children.  Not only will after school activities prepare them for their future, but it makes the present a whole lot of fun.  Academics and extracurricular activities go hand in hand to raise well-rounded individuals and independent learners.  Therefore, extracurricular activities should also be an essential factor to consider when selecting schools for your child.  Enrichment activities such as clubs, sports, and travel opportunities help your child flourish across multiple areas of development. 

>> Read on to explore Four things parents should consider to choose a good school for your child here:

https://blog.e2.com.vn/four-things-to-think-about-when-choosing-a-school-for-your-child/


Should you have any concerns or any topics you want us to cover, please leave your comments below.  You can subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox and find more parenting coverage at https://blog.e2.com.vn/e2-talk-tips-and-tricks-parents/

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Reference:

https://www.kidsacademy.mobi/storytime/extracurricular-activities/

https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/article/2020/6/29/the-importance-of-extracurricular-activities 

https://hammondpsychology.com/how-extracurricular-activities-help-child-development/

https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/article/2020/6/29/the-importance-of-extracurricular-activities

https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-are-extracurricular-activities-and-why-do-you-need-them