For school-aged children, participation in activities outside of school—such as sports teams, lessons, Scouts, religious groups, or Boys’ or Girls’ Clubs—after school or on the weekends can be an important part of their overall development and can provide enrichment and contribute to their social skills. Parents of children aged 6 to 17 were asked if their children had participated in any of these activities in the past year. Overall, 81 percent of school-aged children participate in activities outside of school.

Participation in activities outside of school varies by race and ethnicity as well. White children aged 6-17 are the most likely to participate in these activities (87.4 percent), followed by multiracial children (83.6 percent), Black children (74.0 percent), and children of other races (80.5 percent). Of Hispanic children, only 62.5 percent participated in outside activities.

Participation in outside activities also rises with family income. While 60.7 percent of school-aged children with family incomes below the poverty level participate in activities outside of school, 73.7 percent of children with family incomes between 100 and 199 percent of poverty did so. Of children aged 6-17 with family incomes between 200 and 399 percent of FPL, 87.3 percent participate in outside activities, as do 94.0 percent of children with family incomes of 400 percent of FPL or more.