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Snapshots of America's FamiliesChildren's
Environment and Behavior By Jennifer
Ehrle and Kristin Moore
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Participation in extracurricular activities
encourages personal accomplishment and the
development of interpersonal skills. For
adolescents, these activities offer an
opportunity to assume meaningful roles and
responsibilities. The sense of efficacy gained
from these experiences can be an important
protective factor for children growing up under
adverse circumstances. Research finds, for
example, that participation in religious
organizations and leadership in school clubs are
associated with a lower risk of school-age
motherhood. For many children, participation in extracurricular activities is not an option, because of economic constraints, limited opportunities in neighborhoods or schools, or a parent's need for assistance at home. Changes in welfare may affect family economic resources and family schedules. With more income, families may be able to afford activities and lessons for their children, or they may enroll children in schools where activities are more readily available. However, the demands of parental work may increase children's obligations at home, thereby limiting their participation in extracurricular activities. Participation in extracurricular activities was assessed on the basis of parents' responses to questions about children's involvement in lessons, clubs, sports, or other activities. Children who participated in at least one of these activities in the past year were categorized as involved in activities. Nationally, 83 percent of all children age 6 to 17 participated in at least one extracurricular activity, including clubs, sports, or lessons. Of children in families with low incomes (under 200 percent of the poverty level), 73 percent participated, compared to 90 percent of children in higher-income families, a statistically significant difference. In the 13 states surveyed, extracurricular participation ranged from 78 percent to 87 percent. The percentage of all children participating was above the national average in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington, and Wisconsin. Participation was below the national average in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. For children age 6 to 17 in low-income families, participation ranged from 68 percent to 78 percent. Only in Wisconsin was the percentage of children participating in activities above the national average of 73 percent. Participation fell below average in Texas. For children age 6 to 11 in low-income families, participation in extracurricular activities ranged from 65 percent to 76 percent. None of the states surveyed had rates higher than the national average of 72 percent, but Mississippi and Texas had lower-than-average rates. Participation by adolescents from low-income families ranged from 69 percent to 82 percent. Rates among these 12- to 17-year-olds were higher than the national average of 73 percent in Washington and Wisconsin, but no state percentages for this age group fell below the national average. |
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