Should I ever pressure my child to join an after-school activity?

Should I ever pressure my child to join an after-school activity?

Harvey Hoyo (President, California School Counselors Association) gives expert video advice on: Why should I encourage my child to do after-school activities?; Should I encourage a balance of physical and academic after-school activities?; Should I ever pressure my child to join an after-school activity? and more...

As an involved parent, there comes a point where you have to make a parental interpretation. If you're finding your child is isolating himself too much, I would find it appropriate for you to pressure, connive, motivate your child to participate in this particular activity. You don't want to cause trauma, but you do want to use a firm hand in encouraging interaction. Again, a successful student is one that is involved in the school settings. So as a good parent, you want to make sure that that youngster is involved. So the question is communicating, finding out what that youngster is interested in, and directing him to a program that matches his interests. That would be the best way of doing it. Don't force him into an activity that he has no interest in. Find one that he has an interest in, or start one that he's interested in, or she's interested in, and you'll get maximum participation that way.