Experts say parents of Hong Kong international school students should worry less about after-school activities and what they should consist of
- Researchers say after-school activities are an important part of a child’s development but parents find it hard to break the habit of filling evenings with further study
- Free play – child-led not adult-led – gives kids a chance to learn social skills like sharing, compromise, and creating and following rules
The pressure to succeed starts early in Hong Kong. A 2016 study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) found that a third of Hongkongers believe children should be trained to “win at the starting line” from kindergarten age, with 54 per cent thinking it is crucial to develop a child’s interests “as early in life as possible”.
The study, which was carried out by the university’s Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies and polled 751 local adults, also found that 24 per cent believe that the younger a child is, the more readily it will absorb new knowledge. One in six feels it is important not to let young children “fall behind” their peers.
Researchers agree that the hours spent in after-school activities form an important part of a young child’s development. But with a dizzying range of activities on offer – from music and art to dance, drama, sports, language, maths and technology – it is easy to be overwhelmed. We spoke with psychologist Katrina Rozga, director of therapy and counselling at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre, to get some useful tips for parents preparing to navigate the murky waters of after-school activities.
How many activities should my child be doing?
There is no set number of after-school activities that a kindergarten-age child “should” be enrolled in. Still, Rozga acknowledged that parents in Hong Kong often feel particular pressure to get their kids ahead through extracurricular classes and clubs.
