Co-curricular activities refer to activities outside the standard curriculum that are meant to supplement classroom learning. They provide opportunities for creative thought, social and organizational skill development, and allowing students to explore their interests and talents. Some examples of indoor activities include music, dance, drama, debate, art, and math clubs. Outdoor activities can include sports, yoga, gardening, and community service. Co-curricular activities offer students benefits like improved communication, time management, moral development, self-motivation, analytical skills, and patience. Teachers play an important role in organizing these activities and providing opportunities for student growth.

1. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- RUQIA FERHEEN
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ruqiaferheen
High school can be tough. Maybe you’re busy getting ahead, or
maybe you’re busy just trying to keep up. It’s understandable if
you feel you need to focus on academics. But the truth is, if
you’re always working, you could be missing out on something
equally as important. Co-curricular activities fuel your learning
by stimulating creative thought, improving your social and
organizational skills, developing your interests and talents, and
offering you the chance to switch off and do something you really
enjoy. So, if we’ve captured your imagination, here are our picks
for the top benefits of co-curricular activities in high school.
Introduction:
Science and technology develop every single day. Skillsets are
redefined every fortnight. Schooling is no exception, teaching through
non-academic or co-curricular activities are gaining prominence
across the world. Let’s understand what these co-curricular activities
are and how they can change your kid's life for the better.
Subsequently, we will have a look at some indoor and outdoor co-
curricular activities which are available for students.
What are co-curricular activities?
Co-curricular activities refer to all the activities performed by students
to enhance their life skills. Wherein curricular activities comprise
academic and scholastic activities.
Co-curricular activities can be performed individually or in groups,
inside or outside the classroom depending on the nature of the
activity. Psychologists too recommend co-curriculum activities to
help kids with all-round development. A balanced set of activities will
ensure all-round development for kids at school.

2. Definition of Co-curricular Activities
“Co-curricular Activities are defined as the activities that enable
to supplement and complement the curricular or main syllabi
activities. These are a very important part and parcel of
educational institutions to develop the students’ personality as
well as to strengthen classroom learning.”
These activities are organized after the school hours, so known as
extra-curricular activities. Co-curricular Activities have a wide
horizon to cater to the cultural, social, aesthetic development of the
child.
Advantages of co-curricular activities
“The Extracurricular activity in which I was most engaged -debating-
helped shape my interest in public policy”, enunciated by Joseph
Stiglitz, American Economist, and Policymaker. Let us go through the
following points to understand the importance of co-curricular
activities.
 Improves Communication Skills
Communication skills are extremely important in today's competitive
world.
Moreover, kids need time to understand how to express themselves,
active participation in the debate, or extempore speech can help them
relinquish their barriers.
 Develops Methodical Time- Management Skills
One needs to learn time allocation and management in their school
life itself.
Balancing scholastic activities with co-curriculum activities will help
your kid understand the important principles of work-life balance.

3.  Inculcates Moral Values and Decision-making ability
Our sense of justice and moral values stem from early childhood.
Even though various factors like family background and individual
traits play a key role, participation in co-curricular activities helps
kids gather their thoughts.
 Teaches Self-motivation
When a kid struggles to learn a new skill in early childhood, he or she
experiences failure and feels rejected at times.
However, they keep trying and learn to motivate themselves.
Identification and rectification may sound complex for kids in junior
grades but a few kids astonishingly pick up their grades after
performing poorly in an examination.
 Analytical Ability
Participating in the Mathematics Club or Mathematics exhibition is an
engaging recreational activity for kids.
These activities include games and mathematical modelling alike
which can be fun and challenging at the same time. These activities
help children analyse situations on their own. Kids can also solve
puzzles and simulations on Cue math to build analytical abilities.
 Develops Patience
Children can be very restless at times and this might create problems
during examination. Kids tend to overlook important details
associated with questions.
Comprehension can also be cumbersome for some kids. Mental Math
or Math Puzzles help kids comprehend better. In the process of light-
hearted learning, kids tend to develop patience and interest.

4. List of some co-curricular activities
Let's look at a few co-curricular activities to have a better
understanding of all the activities which are available for your kids.
While picking a school for your kid, you might as well have a look at
all the co-curricular facilities the school has to offer. The list is
inexhaustible as schools and education boards are constantly updating
the available activities to provide the most likely experience for kids.
The list of Indoor Co-curricular activities is as follows:
 Music
 Dance
 Drama
 Drawing and painting
 Abacus
 Mental Mathematics or Vedic Mathematics
 Cooking
 Weaving
 Clay modelling
 Debating
 Mathematics Club
 Story Telling
 Tailoring
 Rangoli
 Cardboard work
 Youth Parliament
 Mathematics Exhibition
 Model United Nation
 Student self-government
 Art and craft
The list of Outdoor Co-curricular activities is as follows:
 Horse Riding
 Yoga
 Athletics

5.  Martial Arts or Self defence
 Bicycling
 Gardening
 Cricket
 Tennis
 Mass parade
 Mass drill
 Swimming
 Football
 Basketball
 Volleyball
 Educational Excursion
 Community Lunch
 Morning assembly
 Excursions
 Community service or volunteering activities
Role of a Teacher in organising curricular Activities
1. The teacher must be a good planner so that the different activities
could be carried out systematically throughout the year.
2. It should be the duty of the teacher to give more and more
opportunities for the child while performing co-curricular activities.
3. The Teacher should act as an Innovator by introducing some
innovative programs.
4. The teacher must be a good organizer so that the students experienced
a maximum of it.
5. He should too act like director, recorder, evaluator, manager,
decision-maker, advisor, motivator, communicator, coordinator, so
that the student and child could gain a maximum of finer aspects of
Co-curricular activities.

6. CONCLUSION
Co-curricular activities add balance to student life and help to
facilitate Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive development in kids.
Behavioural or concentration problems are common among kids.
Allow them to participate in school activities and they will learn
social behaviour. Stress is really bad for kids and hampers their
overall development. Various activities conducted by schools will
help you in parenting your child better.