By Preethi Durga, Career Strategist & Education Innovator
Let’s begin with a simple question—what do you remember most about your school days?
Was it the math classes? The grammar lessons? Or was it the moments spent rehearsing for the annual day, the cricket matches, the debate competitions, or the music club? Chances are, it’s the second list that left a stronger impression. And that’s not a coincidence.
As a career counsellor, I often find myself in conversations with students and parents who tell me how extracurricular activities have helped them discover what they’re truly good at. Sure, academics are important. But let’s not forget — some of the most meaningful growth happens outside the classroom. These activities might not always show up on a report card, but they play a big part in shaping confidence and long-term success.
In fact, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics in the United States found that students who participate in extracurricular activities are three times more likely to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher than those who don’t.
Yes, I’m talking about extracurricular activities, and they matter much more than you might think.
Why Do We Need to Rethink Education Beyond Textbooks?
Scoring well in exams may get you into a good college, but it’s what you do outside the classroom that shapes your ability to thrive in real life.
From building teamwork to handling pressure, extracurricular activities are not just hobbies. They’re tools. Tools that help in shaping personality, mindset, and skillsets.
When we talk about extracurricular activities, we’re talking about something that directly affects emotional intelligence, social awareness, and even career clarity.
In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell shows how success often comes not just from intelligence but from opportunities to practice, explore, and grow in spaces outside traditional academics. That’s exactly where extracurricular activities come in.
What Counts as Extracurricular Activities?
Some parents assume that extracurriculars mean only sports. That’s a myth.
Here’s a quick list of what comes under this umbrella:
- Sports and athletics
- Dance, drama, music, and other performing arts
- Debates, public speaking, creative writing
- Coding clubs, science exhibitions
- Volunteering and community work
- Student council or school leadership roles
- Model United Nations (MUN), quizzes, or Olympiads
Every activity contributes in a different way. A student who leads a school campaign learns responsibility and communication. Another who volunteers in an NGO understands empathy and resourcefulness. That’s the real-life prep most textbooks can’t offer.
A Real-life Scenario
Let me share a quick example. Riya, a student I worked with, had always been shy. Her grades were average, and her parents thought she just wasn’t “ambitious enough.” One teacher pushed her to try school-level debates. It started with small inter-class events. Slowly, her voice grew louder—both literally and metaphorically.
She went on to represent her state in national-level MUN (Model United Nations) conferences and is now pursuing a five-year BA LLB degree from one of India’s top law colleges. Her transformation didn’t come from tuition classes. It came from the confidence and skills she built through extracurricular activities.
How Extracurriculars Contribute to Holistic Development?
Holistic development isn’t just about scoring high marks. It’s about growing as a whole person. That means emotional growth, social confidence, mental strength, and the ability to think beyond textbooks.
It’s about raising young individuals who aren’t just smart, but also balanced, creative, and ready to handle real-life situations.
So how do extracurricular activities fit in? They help students discover their strengths, work in teams, think on their feet, and bounce back from setbacks.
In short, these activities shape students into well-rounded individuals, not just good exam-takers.
5 Ways to Know If an Activity is Helping Your Child Grow
1. Boost Confidence
Have you seen a child beam after winning a quiz or a dance competition? That sense of pride is priceless. It comes from taking initiative, trying, failing, and trying again.
Such experiences create a self-belief that doesn’t depend on academic marks or grades. In fact, students who engage in extracurriculars tend to handle academic pressure better because their self-worth isn’t tied to exam results alone.
This is where extracurricular activities importance shows up in the most visible way — by creating confident young individuals who are ready to take on life with courage.
For example, in How Children Succeed, author Paul Tough talks about how traits like grit, curiosity, and perseverance matter far more than pure academic IQ when it comes to life outcomes.
These traits are developed not through lectures — but through experiences like teamwork, competition, and problem-solving.
2. Improves Social Skills
Teamwork. Conflict resolution. Public speaking. Listening. Leadership. These aren’t just textbook lessons, they’re real-world skills we all need as we grow up and take on more responsibilities.
Whether it’s coordinating a school fest or working on a group project, students learn how to manage differences, lead a team, or support others when needed.
These experiences matter even more later in life when parents, guardians, or teachers are no longer around to guide you.
Take, for instance, the case of Arjun. He was average in academics but found his spark when he became the captain of his school’s football team. It gave him discipline, patience, and a reason to show up with energy.
And you know what? Today, he’s not only pursuing sports management but has also landed an internship with a top Indian Super League (ISL) football club in Mumbai.
3. Time Management: The Best Teacher Is a Packed Schedule
Balancing schoolwork with practice sessions, rehearsals, or community work teaches students something they won’t find in any curriculum—how to manage time.
A common worry among parents is, “Will extracurriculars take away time from studies?” The opposite usually happens. Students with a routine that includes their interests are often more focused because they have a reason to plan their day well.
It’s one of the strongest examples of extracurricular activities importance—where a so-called distraction ends up making a student more disciplined.
William Stixrud in his book The Self-Driven Child highlights how autonomy and self-direction can drastically improve motivation and mental health among students.
4. Emotional Maturity Through Real-World Experiences
Books can teach concepts, but activities teach reactions. Losing a football match, handling criticism after a performance, or navigating disagreements during a group task are moments that grow emotional strength.
This maturity helps later in life too. Whether it’s dealing with setbacks in college admissions, handling pressure at work, or managing relationships. Parents should never underestimate the emotional side of extracurricular activities.
5. Discovering Real Interests
Sneha, a student from Gandhinagar (Gujarat), wasn’t very vocal in class but loved sketching. One day, her parents reached out to me, asking how they could support her talent. Sneha herself wasn’t too open about it, yet during holidays, she happily spent hours with colours, brushes, and painting books.
In the first few sessions, I simply spoke to her and tried to understand her hobbies better. That’s when I realised she had no interest in taking the usual routes—Arts, Science, or Commerce. What she really wanted was a professional course in sketching or painting, something that matched her inner drive.
I suggested her parents explore admission to NID (National Institute of Design), Ahmedabad. That one small push made all the difference. Today, Sneha works at a creative studio. The portfolio she built through extracurricular projects played a big part in helping her secure a place at such a reputed institute.
That’s the beauty of extracurricular activities importance—they reveal what no exam can.
What Can Parents Do to Encourage This Growth?
As a counsellor, I meet many parents who worry their children will lose academic focus if they spend time on other activities. It’s a valid concern, especially in a system where marks rule.
But here’s the catch: academic performance and extracurricular participation don’t compete with each other—they actually complement one another, as both play a bigger role in our lives than we often realize. While academic grades and degrees may help you land a job, it’s the extracurricular activities—and the skills you build through them in childhood—that often determine how long you’ll stay in that job and how successful you’ll be in your career.
In fact, students who are engaged in something they love are often more focused and emotionally stable. As the great author Mark Twain once said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” That’s why students who develop a passion early on are more likely to stick with their careers over the long run.
For example, someone who enjoys writing could consider a career in journalism or mass communication. Likewise, someone who loves singing might explore paths like becoming a singer, radio jockey, or voice-over artist.
Support That Sticks: Four Ways to Nurture Without Pressure
1. Let Them Try, Then Choose
Your child might not know what they enjoy until they try it. Don’t dismiss activities just because they don’t seem “useful.” A storytelling club might spark public speaking skills. A robotics class could unlock creativity. An art workshop might open doors to design careers.
Instead of choosing for them, help them explore. Watch what excites them. You’re not picking a career—you’re helping build character.
And here’s something worth noting: a study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that students involved in extracurricular activities are 20% more likely to report high levels of motivation and engagement in school—something academics alone can’t always deliver.
2. Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Medals
Sometimes, parents say, “What’s the point? They didn’t win.” The point is the participation, the preparation, and the willingness to show up. Whether your child comes first or last, they’re learning resilience, courage, and collaboration.
Take the example of Meera, a 14-year-old student from Pune. She joined her school’s debate club despite having a fear of public speaking. In her first inter-school debate, she forgot half her points, stumbled through her rebuttals, and her team didn’t even make it past the first round. But she didn’t quit. She kept showing up for practice, watched videos, asked for feedback, and slowly grew more confident.
A year later, she was leading her school team and even mentoring juniors. Did she win a national trophy? No. But did she grow in confidence, build leadership skills, and overcome a fear that once held her back? Absolutely.
3. Don’t Treat It Like a Checklist
One or two meaningful activities are enough. Some parents end up enrolling their children in everything—music, karate, coding, drama—thinking it will boost their college profile. But this ends up stressing the child.
According to a 2019 Pew Research Center study, 21% of teens say they feel a lot of pressure to be involved in extracurricular activities. That’s not ambition—it’s anxiety. The goal isn’t to tick boxes. The goal is to give them space to grow in one area they care about, consistently.
Let your child pick what they enjoy—and stick with it long enough to learn something real. Not every hour has to be optimized for a college resume.
4. Be Curious, Not Controlling
Instead of asking, “Did you finish your homework?” try asking, “What did you do at practice today?” or “How did that group project go?” These small shifts in conversation may seem subtle, but they create a big difference in how your child feels around you.
When children sense that every conversation is just a progress check, they start associating you with pressure. But when you show genuine curiosity about their world—whether it’s football, chess, coding, or art—they start opening up. You’re no longer the person with the checklist. You’re the person who gets it.
It builds trust. And children who feel trusted are more likely to stay motivated—not just in their activities, but in their studies too. According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, supportive relationships with caring adults can help buffer a child’s stress response, promoting resilience and healthy development.
The Role of Schools in Making This Work
Schools can’t just offer extracurriculars as token gestures. They need to treat them as part of the learning system.
A school that values extracurricular activities importance will:
- Allocate proper time during the week, not just on weekends
- Hire experienced coaches, mentors, or facilitators
- Recognise and celebrate participation, not just winning
- Give equal access to all students—not just those who are already high achievers
If your child’s school doesn’t yet do this, it’s worth raising during a parent-teacher meeting: “What systems do you have in place for non-academic development?” These small nudges help schools shift their mindset too.
Want to help your child grow beyond textbooks?
In Conclusion
To the students reading this—don’t wait for permission to start. Whether it’s painting, writing, learning music, or volunteering in your community, take the first step. In The Element, Sir Ken Robinson says people truly thrive when they work in the space where their natural talent meets personal passion. That space isn’t usually found in a textbook. It’s found when children are given the freedom to try, fail, enjoy, and grow.
I’ve seen time and again as a career coach, it’s this: the most confident, grounded, and focused students aren’t just the ones who top the class. They’re the ones who’ve learned to work in teams, lead without shouting, bounce back after failure, and show up even when it’s hard. This is where extracurricular activities importance truly comes to life.
Whether your child is into coding or cricket, music or Model UN, the point isn’t what they pick—it’s that they do pick something. That they stick with it. That they grow through it.
Here are a few simple ways to start:
✅ Ask what excites them—not what looks good on a college application
✅ Let them try one or two activities deeply, instead of everything at once
✅ Celebrate the effort, not just the achievement
✅ Be part of their world—attend that performance, cheer from the stands, ask how practice went
At NextMovez, we don’t just help students choose careers—we help them discover themselves. Through interest mapping, mentoring, and one-on-one support, we guide families to make choices that go beyond marks and into mindset.
Curious how your child’s interests could shape their career? Book a free 20-minNeed Discovery call today.
