Sports may be the first thing when thinking about extracurricular activities for children, but there all plenty of other choices to consider asextracurricular activities do a lot for child’s development: child’s self-esteem… To help your kids to find an extracurricular activity they can be passionate about – and that will not always fit to your taste, discuss with them: animals, writing, video games, sports, history, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, …
If selecting extracurricular activities is challenging in your home country, it is even more difficult for expatriates. Here is a guide of different options of activities available in Beijing, besides those offered by international schools:
Art lessons
Founded in 2012 by a team of French professionals, Atelier Art School offers high quality educational programsfor kids from 3 to 15 years old: visual arts,Chinese language learning through visual arts, drawing and painting, …
Atelier has now 2 locations in Beijing: Sanlitun and Shunyi. Good to know also:
Atelier not only offers extracurricular activities for children but also art activities for adults: photography, visual arts (Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Visual Arts, Oil Painting…), graphic design… you also unleash your talent in Beijing!
Martial arts
I
f places to practice sports are not difficult to find in Beijing, you may wonder where to find professionals who can teach martial arts in Beijing in English or other foreign languages. NB8 Taekwondo is a school offering fitness, dance and martial arts classes / Taekwondo, both private and in group. Classes are given by World class experts in their field and are available in different locations in Beijing.
NB8 was founded byMaster Bruno Ntep, World Cup winner, European. Champion and 6 time French Champion. The center is located at228, 2/F, Bldg. A, Chaowai SOHO, 6 Chaoyangmen Wai Dajie.
Here again, NB8 Taekwondo doesn’t offer only classes for children but can also provide with home training and team building activities.
Soccer
Popular amongst young and less young boys, playing soccer is an activity which will allow your kid to spend energy and learn how to play as a team. French l’Equipeorganises training sessions in French language for7 to 40+ year old football fans.
Tournaments are organised on a regular basis to compete with other international teams.
For other languages, please check the schedule of IFFC (International Friendship Football Club):http://www.iffc1994.com/
Tennis
Kindly check our article with all tennis club contact details:http://www.beijingrelocation.com/blog/tennis-courts-in-beijing/. Most of tennis clubs in Beijing will offer lessons options.
Music lessons
Happy Musicoffers group music programs for children in French, Chinese and English, a good way for kids to discover music and later select eventually an instrument they want to learn.
Happy Music offers private lessons of guitar and accordion for both children and adults. Classic, folk or electric guitar lessons in French, English or Chinese! Teacher will go to your home for the lesson.
In case you or your kid already started to learn from another instrument before your arrival in Beijing, we suggest you check the offering from international schools, such as – but not exclusively – Dulwich College, ISB, Yew Chung International School…. You should be able to find piano, trombone, violin…
Chinese lessons
For those in love with foreign languages, learning Chinese can fit under the extracurricular activities. Tailor Made Chinese Center offers private and group lessons for kids and adults.
Classes can be taken in their learning center or teachers can visit you at home or at your office in Beijing.
Horse riding
Most horse riding grounds are located in Beijing suburbs, something to consider when your kid will ask you for horse riding classes. Horse riding is developing fast in Beijing and you have many options:
Equuleus International: BHS approved club. For kids and adults. Chaoyang district.Note: Atelier Art School, NB8 Taekwondo, TailorMade Chinese Center, French L’Equipe and Happy Music companies are all members of The French Connection, a group of enterprises in Beijing offering premium services to expatriates and their families.
