Many schools and communities offer after school sports as a way for students to continue to socialize and have new experiences. While sports are a great opportunity for children to learn team work and keep active, they aren’t the only options out there. Here are a few other activities to consider letting your little one try out.

Horseback Riding

Horses have been used as a form of therapy for years. Horseback riding teaches discipline, new skills and is a way for your child to connect with animals. It can also help improve coordination and strengthen your child’s core muscles. As time goes on your little one may even want to start entering competitions. Competitive horseback riding is a great way to learn sportsmanship and meet new friends. Although horseback riding can be an expensive hobby, you can look for discount riding boots to help with the cost.

Coding

If your child is interested in computers or robotics, you may want to consider enrolling him or her in a coding class. Becoming a web developer is a very lucrative career, and there’s no better way to get ahead of the game then to start young. Your child will learn how websites are created from scratch. He or she will collaborate with other students to create websites or build robots. These are skills that your little one can continue to build on and use for life.

Martial Arts

If you’re looking for a way to teach your child discipline while still getting out his or her built up energy, you should seriously consider martial arts. Many girls tend to stay away from martial arts classes, but they teach self-confidence, which is especially important for girls to have as they enter middle school. In addition to martial arts, there are ninja warrior classes that teach children problem solving skills and build strength as they work their way through obstacle courses as well as other challenges.

Many places allow you to try your first class for free. This is a great way for your child to get a sense of whether he or she would enjoy that activity. It’s good to let your kid try a little bit of everything so that he or she finds what suits him or her best. Once your little one has found something he or she loves, you may even see an improvement in your child’s grades and demeanor!