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Anna Cummins

Read more of SCMP’s Good Schools Guide
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.
“Some kids have multiple classes on the weekends and a class every day after school, some have a few a week, and some have none. It depends highly on the parents. Sometimes parents will put their kids in these activities out of a feeling they don’t want their kids to miss out on what their friends are doing, or guilt over needing to provide them with every advantage. And sometimes it’s pressure from the children themselves, who also don’t want to be different than their peers.”
An overwhelming majority of respondents in the CUHK survey (77 per cent) said that young children in Hong Kong do not get enough time to play and develop freely. However, by contrast, three in five of the parents of young children surveyed said they enrol their children in at least two after-school classes per week, with 8 per cent sending their child to over five classes per week. In other words, it is about “winning on the starting line.”
If you are worried about keeping up with other children, don’t be. “Kindergarten-age children don’t need to be overscheduled,” Rozga assured. “They are young and need to focus their learning around social skills, so free play with other kids is the best thing you can give your child. True free play, which is not adult-led but instead is child-led, gives kids a chance to learn valuable social skills like sharing, compromise, creating and following rules and how to resolve their disputes without the help of an adult.”
Cramming your child’s schedule full of activities could be counterproductive. “We need to ensure that kids have time just to be kids,” Rozga said. “Sometimes, I see kids whose parents will sacrifice an hour of sleep to get an extra hour of tutoring in. The reality is, if the child isn’t getting enough sleep or has no unstructured time for truly free play, that is a much bigger problem. Don’t let other things slide to get in those extra hours of after-school activities.”
Is it important to focus on academic subjects?

Given the competitive nature of Hong Kong’s education system, it is understandable why many parents enrol kindergarten children in after-school classes that bolster their existing schoolwork. But, as Rozga explained, it is equally important to prioritise activities that can form a bedrock for developing “soft skills”, such as teamwork, communication and self-confidence.
“Parents often have hopes for their kids and want them to pursue certain extracurriculars, but you want to make sure that at least half of them are not academically focused. Allowing a child to participate in non-academic after-school activities gives a child a chance to succeed at something, even at times when they lack academic success.”
This does not mean that tutoring should be avoided altogether. “I recommend tutoring for kids who need it,” Rozga said. “But a lot of kids in Hong Kong are being put into tutoring just because it’s the ‘thing to do’. At this age, it’s more important to focus on classes that kids will enjoy. Academics can still be a part of that, but I want parents to know that it’s not the most important thing in kindergarten.
Language, however, is an exception to the rule. “Language should be started early, but you want it to be fun and play-based if possible, rather than sitting and listening for hours on end,” she said. “Songs and games will help a child learn a language and enjoy it much more than regular classroom teaching. Languages are important and easiest to learn early.”
How do I know what my young child is most interested in?

If you are not sure where to start, try working with your children to identify the things they are actively interested in.
“Enrolling kids in a variety of activities can be very beneficial for their growth and development, especially if you give your child some say in what they would like to pursue,” Rozga said.
Getting a sense of where a child’s interests lie is easiest when dealing with slightly older children. Younger children may not be sure of what they want to do, and could require time and encouragement to develop their passions.
“The best advice for kindergarten-age children is to try out a variety of activities and see what piques your child’s interest. Think about what kinds of activities create a spark in your child already, and find something as close to that as possible.”
Parents should always avoid pressuring young children to participate in activities they actively dislike. “When pressure is involved, activities simply become counterproductive,” Rozga said.
What are the best activities for children of kindergarten age to get involved with?

Some parents know they want their child to get involved with a specific activity – whether that be coding, DJing, ice skating, pottery or horse riding.
But if like many, you are not sure where to start, then it makes sense to contemplate activities within the two most popular categories – arts and sports – and narrow your choice down from there.
“Several studies have shown that children who are enrolled in the arts, such as music, dance or drama, are found to have improved confidence in their academic ability, lower anxiety and fewer socio-emotional difficulties,” Rozga said. “The arts build confidence, teach resilience and teach children how to overcome fears around performing or making a mistake in front of others. These are incredibly important skills to learn. These activities are also often fun, and so it can be easier to get a child to participate.”
Rozga pointed out that, in kindergarten, arts are an obvious choice because children naturally enjoy dressing up, drawing, dancing and colouring at this age. “Take advantage of this natural interest to develop their confidence.”
In a similar vein, sports make for a natural choice for young children. Team sports in particular – think football, mini hockey or basketball, for example – will encourage important skills such as teamwork and cooperation.
“Children involved in sports must learn to work together with their fellow teammates to accomplish a mutual goal,” Rozga said. “They must learn to share and must learn to be happy for the success of others.”
Sports also encourage the art of resilience and learning how to fail and get back up. “Dealing with failure is a skill that children are learning less and less, as parents want to provide them with everything they need to succeed,” she warned. “But you cannot be successful without first knowing how to fail.”
Rozga added that children of kindergarten age should be getting at least an hour of exercise every day, so enrolling them in a regular sport will help to meet that goal, expend their energy, and learn to enjoy exercise.
Am I damaging my child’s future if I make the wrong choices for them now?

With all the pressure that is put on children as they join the formal education system and begin mixing with their peers, it’s easy to wonder if you’re doing the right thing by them. If you feel concerned about making the ‘right’ decisions at this early stage, try to keep the big picture in mind. It’s crucial that after-school activities remain fun, and don’t develop into a source of anxiety for children or parents.
“I would say, don’t worry too much. At the end of the day, it’s most important that kids aren’t missing out on anything else such as sleep or free-play time to attend a class,” Rozga said. “While it’s important to encourage the building of soft skills, this is likely to happen in any class that involves other kids. Health and happiness are the most important – so make sure you don’t overschedule, and maintain some balance in life. After all, parental stress isn’t good for you or your children either.”


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Parents of Hong Kong international students should worry less about the time their children spend on exercise and free play, and focus more on the benefits. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Alyson Shick, girls coach (in red woman). The Junior Soccer programme at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley. Photo: Winson Wong

Students of Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) return to school on the first day of the new term in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Jelly Tse

Parents should help their young children try a variety of different activities to see what sparks their imagination and grabs their attention. Photo: Shutterstock 

Kindergarten art class at German Swiss International School. Photo: GSIS

Above all else, your child’s activities should be fun and enjoyable. Photo: Shutterstock

News

Hong Kong

Education

Special Reports

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


After-school activities are an essential part of a child’s development, but these should be fun and not become a source of anxiety for parents or children


Good Schools Guide

International schools in Hong Kong