Do you ever feel like you’re being pulled in so many directions that your head is about to spin off like a top? It seems things have gotten even more hectic thanks to the introduction of technology. That same feeling has trickled into our children’s lives and schedules. They go to school and, at an early age, we want them involved in extracurricular activities. The choices range from athletics to video gaming; we often don’t know which way is up. Whether you want your child to be involved to keep them busy or the fact that it looks good on college applications, the question is which activity is best for your child?

Some things to consider when helping your child choose an extracurricular activity – cost, commitment, time, logistics, and passion. The best activities are those your child is passionate about. Colleges are looking for students with passion who have whittled down to one or two organizations but have done great things within those organizations. The problem is children often don’t know what they are passionate about. When picking an organization, find out what is expected in terms of time commitment, wallet commitment, and family scheduling. For example, when I was in band, I was committed to being a part of it. My mother bought an instrument and made sure I practiced 45 minutes every night. However, when it came time to have afterschool practice, Saturday games, etc., we were unable to pull off the logistics and my band career ended abruptly. Remember, these activities, although meant to enhance your child’s life, depend very much on the rest of the family, so choose wisely.

There are lots of great programs out there, and I have to say, I am partial to 4-H. First, we work with boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18. We are committed to an experience for them, one they get to determine. If they love animals, love to talk, are artistic, want to try something new like an electric project, or climbing a rock wall, we have something for them. Meetings are meant to fit your schedule. For example, the majority of our clubs meet once a month. We also have a place for parents to be volunteers and will offer trainings and certifications. Being a 4-H member has little to no cost. The majority of our programs we offer are either free or at reduced rates thanks to funding from United Way of Robeson County. We do our best to make every opportunity available and affordable to our youth. The other great thing about 4-H is we allow your child to grow in the program offering them different experiences as they get older. The learning challenge increases, but so does the fun. Finally, always wanting to prepare our youth for the next step, 4-H offers an ACT prep course, college scholarships, and even opportunities to be on a college campus. Did you know, 40 percent of 4-H alumni who graduate high school go on to complete a university degree? In most other programs, only 28 percent of their alums do the same thing.

So if you are looking at extracurricular activities, find what suits your child and your family best. While you are looking around, think about trying out 4-H. We are cost and time effective, create passionate leaders, and want to prepare your child to succeed in the future. Really, what more could you ask for?

For more information, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276, by E-mail at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website at //robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/.

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.