All Work and No Play?
fgoodwin
http://www.parents.com/articles/age/5895.jsp
>From sports practice to art programs, a new survey finds 79 percent of
America's middle and high school students regularly participate in
activities both after school and on weekends.
By Beth Turner
December 16, 2004 - When school lets out, what do your kids do?
According to a new survey, they're more likely to be running off to
dance class or heading to football practice than flopping down on the
couch or hanging out after the bell rings.
Almost eight in ten (79 percent) of America's middle and high school
students say they participate in some kind of out-of-school activity or
program both on school days and on weekends, according to a new survey.
What's more, 57 percent say they participate in some kind of
out-of-school activity or program every day or almost every day, and
another 37 percent say they do so a couple of days a week.
These results are from a new survey, All Work and No Play? Listening to
What Kids and Parents Really Want from Out-of-School Time, which is
based primarily on two national random samples: one of 609 middle and
high school students, and another with 1,003 parents of school-age
children.
The vast majority of students claim their schedules are filled up, but
the type of activities that take up their time vary widely. Here's a
look at what school kids say they are doing:
* 66 percent participate in sports activities
* 62 percent are in school clubs or extracurricular activities
* 60 percent do volunteer work
* 54 percent attend religious instruction or a church youth group
* 52 percent take lessons in music, dance or art
* 52 percent are in an after-school program at school or another
locale
* 37 percent of high-school students have a part-time job
* 30 percent get regular tutoring or extra academic or test
preparation
* 19 percent belong to an organization like the Scouts
Most American students surveyed indicated that activities "play a
crucial and positive role in their lives," according to the study. Some
other key findings:
* 85 percent say they think kids who participate in organized
activities are "better off" than those who have a lot of
time to themselves after school
* 89 percent say they sometimes need a parental push to get
involved
* 75 percent say their day-to-day schedule during the school
year was "just about right"; 22 percent said it was "too
hectic"
* 28 percent say they are home alone after school at least
three out of five days in a typical school week
* Given the choice, 54 percent would choose an activity that
emphasizes sports; 36 percent would choose art, music, or
dance; and 9 percent would take the academic option
* Low-income and minority parents are substantially more likely
than higher-income and white parents to say they have trouble
finding high-quality, convenient and affordable activities for
their children
Do your kids participate in activities? Why (or why not) do you think
it's important to get them involved in extracurricular events? Share
your thoughts on our message board:
http://www.parents.com/community/boards/thread.jspa?forumID=69&threadID=181385
The All Work and No Play? survey is a joint project of charity
organization The Wallace Foundation and nonprofit research organization
Public Agenda. The two national random sample surveys the findings are
based primarily on were conducted in June 2004.
Additional resources from Parents.com:
After-School Activities: Weighing the Options
http://www.parents.com/articles/family_time/4155.jsp
First Classes That Make the Grade
http://www.parents.com/articles/ages_and_stages/3003.jsp
Stressed-Out Kids: How Much Is Too Much?
http://www.parents.com/articles/ages_and_stages/3026.jsp
Finding Great After-School Child Care
http://www.parents.com/articles/ages_and_stages/3183.jsp