Findings

Children’s participation in organized extracurricular activities has been associated with positive short- and long-term outcomes, such as academic achievement and prosocial behaviours, and with reduced negative outcomes, such as dropping out of school and emotional and behavioural disorders.^1-4

The likelihood that children will take part in organized extracurricular activities varies by factors such as their age and gender, family income, and family structure (one- or two-parent family).^{3, 5, 6} Older children, children from higher-income families, and those living with two parents have been shown to have higher participation rates. However, much of this research was conducted in the United States; the most recent Canadian study was based on 1994/1995 data and covered only 6- to 11- year-olds.³

This article presents data for 6- to 17-year-olds from the 2000/2001 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY). Rates of participation in sports, non-sport activities, and clubs or community groups are examined, along with how these rates vary by socio-demographic characteristics such as gender and family income (see The data).

Majority participate

In 2000/2001, a large majority (86%) of Canadian children and teens were reported to have taken part in at least one organized extracurricular activity during the previous year (Figure 1). Participation rates were significantly higher at ages 10 to 13 (91%) and 14 to 17 (86%) than at ages 6 to 9 (81%). A considerably larger proportion of children and youth participated in organized sports than in non-sport activities and in clubs or community groups.

Gender

Overall, boys and girls were equally likely to have taken part in at least one organized extracurricular activity (86% of girls and 85% of boys). However, participation rates in the various types of activity differed by gender.

At ages 6 to 9, boys were more likely than girls to play organized sports, but at older ages, participation rates in sports did not differ significantly by gender (Table 1). At all ages, a larger proportion of girls than boys were involved in non-sport activities and in clubs or community groups.

Living with one or two parents

Family structure was associated with playing organized sports at ages 6 to 9 and 14 to 17. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of 6- to 9-year-olds who lived with two parents played sports, compared with 58% of those living with one parent. At ages 14 to 17, the corresponding figures were 78% and 69%.

By contrast, family structure was not significantly related to children’s and teens’ involvement in non-sport activities and in clubs or community groups.

Family income

Participation in organized extracurricular activities varied by family income, especially for young children (Figure 2). At ages 6 to 9, an income gradient in participation rates was evident for each type of activity. For example, 88% of 6- to 9-year-olds from the highest income families had participated in organized sports the previous year, compared with 49% of those from the lowest income families.

Sports participation also varied by family income for 10- to 13-year-olds: over 92% of those from the highest income families had played organized sports, compared with 72% from the lowest income families.

Among 14- to 17-year-olds, those from the highest income families were more likely to take part in non-sport activities than were youth from the lowest income families, but participation in sports and in clubs or community groups did not vary by family income.

Urban/Rural residence

Urban versus rural residence was related to the extracurricular activities of the youngest children, but the association diminished at older ages. Children aged 6 to 9 in urban areas were generally more likely than those in rural areas to participate in organized sports and in non-sport activities. As well, urban youth aged 14 to 17 were significantly more likely than those in rural areas to play organized sports. Urban versus rural residence was not significantly associated with the extracurricular activities of children aged 10 to 13. 

Region

Participation in organized extracurricular activities tended to be low for children and teens in Quebec, compared with those in the Western provinces. Relatively small proportions of Quebec children aged 6 to 9 and 10 to 13 took part in non-sport activities. And for Quebec youths aged 14 to 17, participation rates were low not only in non-sport activities and in clubs or community groups, but also in sports.

As well, 14- to 17-year-olds in the Eastern provinces were significantly less likely than those in the Western provinces to play organized sports. In Ontario, youth of these ages were less likely to participate in non-sport activities and in clubs or community groups.

Conclusion

In 2000/2001, a large majority of Canadian children and youth were reported to have taken part in at least one organized extracurricular activity during the previous year. However, differences by socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics were apparent. The likelihood of involvement in extracurricular activities was associated with age, family structure, family income, urban versus rural residence, and region.