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Co-curricular activities (CCAs) can enrich your child’s school experience and come in handy when it is time to choose a secondary school. These tips may help you and your child when its CCA selection time.
1. CCAs can help get your child into a good secondary school
Your child’s sports abilities or special talent in niche areas such as drama or robotics can help him or her get into a secondary school of choice through the Direct School Admission Exercise (DSAE). For some parents, this will swing them towards choosing a CCA that the school already has a track record of excellence in and can provide good training, especially if their child has shown potential in this area and could use this extra ‘lifeline’ to get into a preferred secondary school.
 2. Find out what your child likes to do
This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you know your child is going to spend a few hours each week on this, why not make it a fun experience?
3. Find out what your child can do well
This is a tricky one – something your child can do well may not necessarily be what he or she likes best! However, if you are seriously thinking of secondary school entry via DSAE, then it is worthwhile to consider a sports or niche talent that your child has an affinity for, especially one that the school is good at and can provide proper training in this area.
4. Make the most of tryouts
In many schools, students will get to ‘try out’ their preferred CCAs at special sessions during the selection stage, usually in Term 1. Teachers will also use these sessions to assess students with potential. These sessions are important for your child to get to know more about that CCA, and equally importantly, for them to get a hands-on experience, especially if these are sports CCAs. However, due to scheduling issues, it may not be possible for your child to attend too many tryouts. So, choose carefully and take this chance to ask questions on details such as the frequency of meetings or training sessions, whether costs are involved etc.
5. So you’re choosing a sport…. but which one?
Again – it helps if your child already likes certain sports or shows a talent in certain areas. But if your child is new at most sports, pick something which would be reasonably within his or her physical abilities, body type and personality traits as well. Outgoing children may like team sports such as soccer, while quieter ones may prefer swimming or athletics. Some sports like Outdoor Adventure are more ‘flexible’ towards different body types than let’s say basketball, where players tend to be on the tall and lanky side.
6. Different CCAs, different commitments
What can your child afford to commit in terms of time? Sports and uniformed groups generally take up more time than clubs and societies, something you must weigh carefully if you think your child will find it a challenge to juggle between CCA and schoolwork. However, do note that the greater commitment associated with training for a competition, attending rehearsals for a band performance or play etc. often results in a lot more intrinsic satisfaction and will create memorable experiences that your child will fondly recall years later.
7. Some CCAS have ‘staying power’
Many uniformed groups in primary school have counterparts at secondary level such as the performing band, Brownies (whose members often go on to join the Girl Guides), Boy Scouts and St John’s Brigade. This is one option that your child could consider - where the values and skills learnt in primary school can be strengthened and further developed when your child joins similar groups in secondary school.
8. CCAs can help to ‘strike a balance’ in your child’s school life
CCAs can be a way of discovering your child’s other skills, and make his or her school experience a holistic one. If your child is a science buff whose nose is tucked into books or glued to Discovery Channel most of the time, then getting him involved in a sport would be a good change, plus keep him active and fit.
9. CCAs need YOU too
Many CCAs, especially sports, do need the support of parents. Budding sportsboys and sportsgirls may need to may be fetched to and from training sessions, you may need to help your child rehearse that script for the coming play, or at the very least, you need to make sure that your child eats properly on schooldays featuring CCA time before or after school.
10. CCAs build character
Yes – it may sound clichéd, but the teamwork and interaction that forms part and parcel of being part of a group may help to develop aspects of your child’s character. Having to play leadership roles and provide guidance to younger members will help to train up your child’s sense of responsibility and leadership skills, and you may be pleasantly surprised to see such positive developments in your child’s overall behaviour and personality traits.
 Do you have other pointers to share on how to select a CCA?
Do let us know 
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