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Sports, Arts, & Extra Curricular Activities for Homeschoolers

Sports, Arts, & Extra Curricular Activities for Homeschoolers
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Hello and welcome back NEO Homeschoolers! Happy mid-April! Are you feeling water-logged yet? Man, I feel like NE Ohio has gotten nothing but rain for weeks now... crazy! Thankfully, May, colorful flowers, and warmer temperatures are just around the corner. While I wait for warmer weather with less rain, I've been busy working on transitioning this blog space into the homeschool directory NE Ohio needs. As I continue working on the directory, I want to share some focused content that will begin the process of sharing homeschool resources within the NE Ohio area... and help me do my research for the directory, hehe. 😼 Today, with summer right around the corner, and long days spent outside in our near future, I thought it'd be a great time to talk sports, arts, and extra curricular ideas.

Since homeschoolers often have more flexibility for extra curricular activities than their public school peers, there's a wide array of options for homeschool kids to explore. Let's take a look at some extra curriculars in NE Ohio. I'll organize the lists by topic (i.e., sports, arts, etc.).

Sports

We all know this is a big one in NE Ohio. It seems every kid nowadays is in at least one sport. Playing sports can be an excellent learning experience for kids though; from learning how to be a team-player to figuring out how to lose gracefully to developing an understanding that following the rules in a sport is important if you want everyone to have fun. Sports are an excellent extra curricular, and with summer coming, it's a great time to get involved in an outdoor sport so you and your kiddos can enjoy some vitamin D and fresh air.

Non-Competitive Outlets

If you'd like to introduce your kiddos to sports without the stress of competing, here are a few outlets for non-competitive learning.

  1. The Little Gym: The perfect place to introduce kids to gymnastics in a fun way, The Little Gym is one of my personal favorite sports outlets. My daughter has been attending classes at The Little Gym since she was 14 mos. old; she loves it! Her teachers have all been enthusiastic and engaging, and because of her consistent attendance, I've noticed a significant improvement in her overall gross motor confidence. The best part is that The Little Gym has locations across NE Ohio, so you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding one near you.
  2. Preschool Sports/K4 Sports: Have a kiddo aged 3-10? This could be the program for you! With options for everything from soccer to tennis, Preschool Sports/K4 Sports is a great way to introduce young kids to the basics of playing a sport without the added stress of competition. Kids learn the rules of the sport (e.g., how to move with a soccer ball) and get to play in a few scrimmages. Sessions are held in Avon Lake, and the main coach - I cannot remember his name. - knows how to make learning a sport fun & exciting... at least for the kids who want to learn. My daughter and her bestie were more interested in playing with each other than in actually learning about soccer, haha.
  3. Soccer Shots: With programs designed specifically for kids ages 18 mos. to 8 years old, Soccer Shots is a great extra curricular activity to introduce kids to soccer in a fun, low-stress way. The goal of all programs offered is to build a child's character, skills, and confidence while having fun. A couple of the child-care centers I worked at prior to becoming a nanny and then a mom offered Soccer Shots as an add-on program for kids enrolled at the center. Every student of mine who participated always came back to the classroom with a huge smile!
  4. Greater Cleveland YMCA: This resource will be listed in the directory as well, but since the Y has so much to offer, I thought I'd include it here. With everything from swimming and dance to ninja classes for kids and a gym for adults, the YMCA offers plenty of opportunities for our homeschool kiddos to get active. And, like The Little Gym, the YMCA has locations across the NE Ohio area. Visit the linked website to find a location near you.

Competitive Outlets:

For those who are looking for a competitive edge in their child's sport, here are a few options for competitive sports.

  1. Softball/Baseball Leagues: There are quite a few options for this particular sport, especially this time of year! So, here's a list of several reputable websites that can help you get connected with a local team:
    1. Softball Connected - Ohio Team Directory
    2. Field Level - Club/Travel Softball Teams
    3. NEO Baseball Ltd. (Northeast Ohio Youth Baseball)
    4. Explosive Fastpitch
  2. Youth Soccer: Again, lots of options here... List of several reputable websites to help you get connected with a team if this is your child's sport of choice.
    1. Cleveland Force Soccer Club
    2. Ohio Travel Soccer League
    3. North FC Youth Soccer Club
    4. Soccer Sportsplex - also offers flag football
  3. Dance & Gymnastics:
    1. Gymnastics & Parkour School
    2. Above the Barre Dance & Gymnastics
    3. ADMA Dance & Gymnastics
  4. Martial Arts: While not necessarily competitive, martial arts is a fantastic outlet for learning self-control, building character, and developing confidence.
    1. Riverview Martial Arts & Fitness
    2. Kim's College of Martial Arts
    3. Powers Martial Arts Academy
    4. Kang Do Won Martial Arts Institute

I'm sure there are numerous other sports outlets I could list here, but I have limited space, so if you know of other outlets, or find something I missed, please share in the comments below so everyone can benefit. Thank you!!

Now, onto the arts!

Arts

Have a more creative kid? Maybe one who enjoys theater or piano? NE Ohio has you covered with options galore to allow your creative kiddo to explore and enhance their talents in the arts.

  1. Theater: From summer camps to classes that meet regularly, the options are plentiful for the theater lover. Here are several you might consider:
    1. Beck Center for the Arts
    2. Talespinner Children's Theatre
    3. Great Lakes Theater Camp
    4. Play House Square Summer Camps
    5. Karamu House
  2. Music: From piano to the flute, there's an array of instruments for kids to explore... including our voices, lol! And here in NE Ohio, we have plenty of options for helping kids improve on those musical skills. Below are several options to get you started.
    1. Sing & Swing NEO
    2. The Music Settlement
    3. Westlake Music Academy
    4. Avon School of Music - also located in Strongsville
    5. Maestro Musicians
    6. Rhapsody Music Studio

Other Options

Finally, I wanted to share some links for other extra curriculars that kids might be interested in, but don't necessarily fall under a neat category.

  1. 4-H
  2. Girl/Boy Scouts
  3. Y Adventure Guides
  4. American Heritage Girls
  5. Horseback Riding - link to a page with stables offering lessons in counties across NE Ohio

All right, I think that about covers it. With everything from camping and horseback riding to piano lessons and soccer teams covered in the lists above, homeschool kiddos in northeast Ohio will not be lacking for extra curricular experiences. I am well aware that I did not cover everything, so additional resources are welcome in the comments. Also, in case you missed my post about why I'm transitioning this blog space into a homeschool directory for NE Ohio, click here to check it out. Thanks for reading, and see you soon!