October 9, 2018
I remember the moment I realized one of my children was not into sports. Being a naturally athletic person myself (before giving birth to four little people of course), having a child that wouldn’t like sports never even crossed my radar. So when my daughter told me she wanted to quit the softball team—the one I may or may not have convinced her to play on for three consecutive seasons—you can imagine my surprise. It wasn’t until I began searching for alternative activities for her that I realized how hard they were to find. If your child is like mine, keep reading to get some ideas on some fun, nonathletic, after-school activities.
Robotics clubs are perfect for any child who may have an interest in STEM. Depending on the area you live in, there may even be classes held at your child’s school campus. One of the clubs that I’ve seen at my kid’s school is Bricks For Kidz. They offer after-school classes that utilize Lego bricks to explore the world of robotics with a variety of hands-on lessons.
Cooking classes can be a fun activity for those that enjoy helping in the kitchen. Young Chefs Academy is a culinary school for children that have locations nationwide. Your local recreation center may offer classes too.
Arts & Crafts
Painting, drawing, pottery, jewelry, you name it! The possibilities are endless if your child is into arts and crafts. Active Kids is a great resource for finding classes in your local area.
If your child loves music, they may want to take lessons to learn how to play an instrument. You can find a personal music instructor on websites like www.takelesssons.com, or you can find a local music school that may offer group or private lessons.
It’s beneficial in so many ways to volunteer in our communities. Not only will this help keep your child occupied, but it is also a great way to learn what it means to be selfless. If you aren’t sure where to find volunteer opportunities near you search for some on volunteermatch.org. You’ll be able to filter opportunities by location, age requirement, and type.
Ninja Warrior Classes
Okay, so this is technically still an athletic activity. But, it’s so much fun that your child may not even notice they are exercising! If you are like my family, and absolutely love to watch American Ninja Warrior, then enrolling your child into a ninja warrior class may win you the parent of the year award. Didn’t know this was even a thing? Yeah, me either. It wasn’t until my son asked to have a ninja party for his 8th birthday that I knew places like this even existed. Check out ninjawarriorgyms.com to find the gym closest to you.
Are your kids a part of any fun activities? I’d love to hear about it!