By Bahawooddin Saiyed 09/06/2025
Real growth happens when your child is exploring who they are, trying new things, and developing life skills that no textbook can teach. That’s why extracurricular activities — sports, creative arts, STEM clubs, public speaking, coding, you name it — are a key part of your child’s learning journey. They’re not just "nice to have"... they’re absolutely essential. Here’s the truth: Kids who regularly participate in activities outside the classroom grow up with confidence, resilience, team spirit, and a natural ability to adapt and lead. These are the children who walk into a room, light it up, and speak with purpose. But let me bring this alive for you with some examples: Who would have thought ballet, boxing, and football could complement each other? Sounds wild, right? But think about it: - Ballet builds balance, posture, flexibility and control. - Boxing develops speed, reflexes, mental discipline and resilience. - Football teaches teamwork, strategy, and sharp decision-making under pressure. Put all three together?
You’ve got a child who is physically agile, mentally tough, and a strong team player. That’s a recipe for peak performance — on and off the field. Want your child to enter a top-tier school or university?
Let me tell you a little secret: academic grades get you shortlisted — but it’s the activities and personality that get you in.
Elite schools are looking for students with character. They love kids who’ve:
Performed on stage
Led a community project
Won a chess tournament
Played team sports
Built their own app or podcast
Volunteered with heart
These create talking points during interviews. Your child can stand tall and say: "I learned to handle pressure from sparring in boxing... I discovered leadership through captaining my football team… and I gained grace and poise through ballet." Now tell me — who wouldn’t want to admit that student?
The Big Picture: Why We Do This at Maara Academy
We're not just teaching academics. We're developing world-class humans. Children who participate in extracurriculars:
Become confident communicators
Learn time management and commitment
Make friends across age groups
Discover hidden talents
Build stories worth telling
at interviews, in life, and in future careers
What Can You Do as a Parent? It’s simple. Start today.
Encourage your child to try at least one new activity this term
Think about what might suit their personality
Ask weekly questions like “What did you do outside of class this week?”
Show up for their performances, games, or showcases — be their biggest fan
Celebrate effort, not just outcome
We’re raising more than just clever kids. We’re raising leaders, creators, thinkers, and change-makers. And it starts with giving them space to grow beyond the classroom. Let’s give our children the freedom to explore, the courage to try, and the wings to fly.
Action steps for today:
Talk to your child: “What would you love to try this term?”
Enroll them in one extracurricular activity by this weekend
Share this message with 2–3 parents who might need a little push