With the school year upon us, concerned parents across America are hoping their students will receive the resources they need to support their continued development.

America’s kids are having it tough, and in ways like never before. From mainstream social media use to reduced in-person contact, it’s tough to be a kid these days.

While each generation faces its own challenges, children face new obstacles to character development—inside and outside the classroom. Not only are there millions of anxious children, but children today also complain about a lack of social and emotional support, and many parents don’t even realize it.

Fortunately, there is a time-honored tradition that provides an informal support structure that fosters children’s character development and executive functioning: the humble extracurricular activities. So as you enroll your children for this school year, don’t forget the development that takes place outside the classroom and look for character-building sports and other extracurricular activities for your children.

As fathers, we are familiar with the many distractions and temptations that exist today but were never a significant part of our childhood. And while it’s easy to lament the obstacles placed in the path of our 21st century youth, we don’t necessarily have to come up with new solutions.

From chess club to debate teams to youth sports, extracurricular activities have been a part of life for decades, and almost everyone has certainly participated in them as a child. We cannot underestimate their importance in 2024. Modern proposals like social media bans and parental control apps may dominate the headlines, but parents must continue to support tried-and-tested extracurricular activities and provide their children with exciting and immersive opportunities outside the classroom.

Is this common sense? Maybe, maybe not.

Consider this: American youth sports are reportedly “in decline,” with participation rates plummeting. In recent years, participation in high school sports has declined for the first time in U.S. history. At the other end of the spectrum are the all-consuming travel sports that are too expensive for families short on time, money, or both. More and more kids are leaving organized sports due to burnout and other factors.

If this decline is not reversed, it will only become more difficult to raise healthy children – behaviorally, emotionally, socially and physically. Character building at a young age will not become easier as children advance into a virtual world but lose time for face-to-face interactions with others. Whether it is organizing a basketball team’s defense or working with a coach on a golf swing, these interactions are platforms for overcoming adversity and taking pride in achieving goals. They also empower children to communicate constructively and prepare them for success after high school.

According to a recent survey by The Harris Poll in partnership with First Tee, extracurricular activities are a valuable tool in addressing the character crisis facing America’s children. Just take a look at the parents: 95% of parents whose children participate in extracurricular activities say these activities give them the opportunity to learn life skills and build character.

Four in five parents whose children participate in such activities say they have had a positive impact on their child’s emotional health, including mood and self-esteem. Even more say the same about improvements in behavioral health (88%), physical health (89%) and social health (91%).

Much of the strength of extracurricular activities lies in the external support provided by mentors.

Nine in 10 parents believe that extracurricular activities provide mentoring and support, and 94% say these activities allow children to connect with supportive adults who help with character development.

The role of a mentor, such as a coach, is invaluable. Parents cannot do this alone, and we know that. Children are exposed to many different influences in today’s world (some good, some bad), so exposing children to positive adult role models who are not relatives is essential to strengthen social bonds and develop values. Character (63%) is the most commonly cited factor that parents of a child under 18 want their child to learn from a coach.

Raising the next generation in America is a shared responsibility. While parents have the greatest influence on a child’s life, other influences can determine success. Skills and values ​​don’t have to be taught by parents alone. In some cases, the football coach may be better placed to teach the value of teamwork in a practical way. In other cases, the local swim coach may be better placed to convey the importance of work ethic by breaking it down into basic, achievable metrics — like seconds it takes to run a 100-meter dash.

Organizations like First Tee are particularly good at using trained coaches and the game of golf to teach important character traits like focus, patience and perseverance. Driving, chipping and putting are the teaching platforms, but the skills themselves go beyond the game.

There is a character crisis in childhood, but it is not insoluble. Today, as then, all we need is one or two extracurricular activities, fun sports and also good coaching.

Will Johnson is CEO of The Harris Poll, one of the world’s leading polling, market research and strategy companies. Gregory T. McLaughlin is CEO of First Tee.

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