Students have to find balance between school and increasing time spent on extracurricular activities

Children today are more involved than ever in extracurricular activities. While there are many advantages associated with sports, dance, music and other interests, counselors and other professionals say there needs to be a balance.

According to a recent Pew Research Center study of 1,100 American middle school to high school students, 83 percent said they participate in at least one extracurricular activity.

The U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Income and Program Participation also shows a high level of after-school involvement, particularly in sports. Of the more than 48,000 children studied in 2006, 41 percent were involved in a sport such as soccer or baseball. The number is an increase from the 34 percent involved in sports in 1998. Lesson-based activities such as dance and music are also on the rise, with 31 percent of students participating in 2006 as opposed to 28 percent in 1998.

Melissa Colyer, 17, devotes considerable time each week to playing the flute, whether it's practicing or performing with bands at her school and church. (Kristin Eberts)

The study also found that 12 percent of students are participating in sports, lessons and after-school clubs, like newspaper and drama.

Seventeen-year-old twin sisters Rachel and Melissa Colyer started dancing when they were 8 years old. Their mother said as small children they begged to go to dance classes like their big sister. As the girls' dancing progressed, the class load increased to several nights a week.

Rachel Colyer dances four nights a week at Dance Extensions studio in Jackson, while balancing grades, church activities and practices and performances with the Jackson High School Spear It dancers.

She said it's a lot of activities to juggle but that she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I think it's made me who I am," she said. "It keeps me in shape. If I'm having a really hard time, it helps to dance my emotions out."

Rachel Colyer said life doesn't slow down after high school and that learning at a young age how to manage responsibilities will continue to benefit her.

"I can deal with it. I've been busy my whole life," she said.

Melissa Colyer danced four nights a week last year, including classes and practices for dance competitions and production numbers. After having knee surgery this summer, she decided to take a year off dance.

"I miss it, but having some down time is nice," she said.

Melissa Colyer has filled her schedule with choir, band and youth group activities at her church. She hasn't decided if she will return to dance for her senior year, but said one of the things she misses about dancing is the special bond it gave her with other family members. In addition to taking classes with Rachel, their older sister Chelsie is an instructor at the studio, mother Donna is the office manager and brother Phillip assists with stage setup during recital.

Karen Schroeder, a counselor at Oak Ridge Elementary School, said activities such as dance, sports and music teach children personal achievement, which helps build healthy self-esteem. But, she said, parents need to realize the stress that overinvolvement can place on children.

"Good communication between parents and children is key. Know your children," she said. "Listen to them when they tell you they're too tired, too stressed. Know when they need to back off."

To that end, Donna Colyer said she watches the girls closely to make sure they are handling all of their responsibilities well. While dancing and other activities are important, she said, the girls also need to maintain their grades and attend church every Wednesday.

"It's good to be grounded in the middle of the week," she said. "They're not perfect kids, but we all need that extra boost."

Both girls said they know if their grades go down, the activities stop. They said they've learned to use their free time to do homework and study.

Jackie Robertson, owner of the studio where the Colyers dance, said children want to experience as much as possible but that parents need to know when to say no.

"As a parent you want them to try, but you have to teach them to be selective," she said.

She said parents sometimes have to step in and explain that in order to start a new activity, something will need to be eliminated. That is something she said she does with her own daughters, who are involved with dance and rodeo.

Robertson said in her capacity as a studio owner, she sees children who are pushed too hard and students performing to make parents happy, especially with younger children. She said parents have called her to request lessons for children as young as 18 months. Robertson said children that young don't possess the necessary motor or socialization skills to receive a healthy dance experience. She generally requires her students to be at least 3 years old, and even then the child may not be ready for lessons.

Talent scout Peter Sklar said when children are performing for their parents, stress can be overwhelming. During an interview earlier this month in advance of his appearance in Perryville, Mo., Sklar said children receive their behavioral cues from their parents. When a child doesn't succeed in an activity, parents should offer support and not allow it to be viewed as a rejection or failure.

"Don't let them feel like they are letting down mom and dad," he said.

Sklar, Robertson and others say listening to the child and adjusting schedules to fit their individual needs is critical to finding a healthy balance between activity and good health.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

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