Should students spend their free time on educational activities?
Some parents believe that their children should do educational activities during their free time.
Others say that in this way children are under pressure. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Model Answer of the Essay
After finishing schoolwork, students generally have some free time on their hands. Some parents believe that they should continue doing educational activities during this time, while others think that this is too stressful for students. I believe that it is better for them to focus on stress-relieving activities in their leisure time.
There is a lot of merit to the idea that students should continue doing educational activities during their free time. It allows them to learn a new skill, like playing a musical instrument or programming. This would not only give students personal satisfaction, but it would also strengthen their university application as most universities like to see students engaged in extracurricular or co-curricular activities. Some educational activities might even supplement students’ studies at school and therefore help them improve their grades.
However, the brain needs a break from highly cognitive work. By doing educational activities all the time, students will burn themselves out which is counterproductive. This is because burnout would worsen their mental and physical well-being, and subsequently their performance at school. Hence, it is crucial that students also incorporate some stress-relieving activities, such as listening to music, playing board games with family and friends and exercising, during their free time.
In conclusion, the main benefit that students gain by spending their free time on educational activities is learning a new skill. Conversely, an excessive amount of time spent on these activities leads to burnout which has adverse consequences on the student’s health. Therefore, it is better that they engage in activities that allow them to relax and reduce stress during their free time.