Becoming proficient in an instrument can give your child an enviable source of side income when they are older. What’s more, if they are reasonably proficient in a classical instrument by the time he or she takes the PSLE, they can apply for the Music Elective Programme at select secondary schools. This will not only enable them to take music as an O level subject, it will also give parents a subsidy on school fees.

Private music enrichment classes are the fastest and most effective way to help your child learn as much as possible. But if your child is still a toddler, group classes can be rewarding. A three-month term at Yamaha costs $401.25 for weekday classes.

Where to sign up: Yamaha has multiple branches and conducts keyboard group classes for toddlers. Is your child more Metallica than Mozart? Then Academy of Rock might be a more suitable option.

Coding is not only the perfect gateway to a potentially lucrative freelance career, it can also be the key to further studies in computing or software engineering. However, coding workshops can get a little costly, especially for more advanced students. A series of sessions by Saturday Kids (from 20-24 July) – that run for slightly over three hours each – costs between $530 to $590.

Where to sign up: Saturday Kids organises weekend workshops teaching kids block-based programming and game creation; Coding Lab teaches kids as young as four how to code simple applications; First Code Academy has several courses matched to your child’s age that aim to introduce coding to them at an appropriate level of complexity.

It goes without saying that reading and pronouncing English well will go a long way in developing confidence and good language habits. Phonics enrichment classes are a great investment as equipping children with the proper English enunciations through reading could help them cultivate a love of learning the language.

Where to sign up: Jan & Elly music school teaches phonics classes designed for preschool students from four to six-years-old, while Learning Journey organises a class called Super Readers, where children between the ages of four and seven will be coached on reading through hands-on art sessions.

Knowing to count is not the same as knowing how to manage money. While your child may be adept at Mathematics, this doesn’t mean that they know how to budget, save, and spend wisely. Going for a one-off workshop on financial literacy where the children can learn through play may be a worthy investment for you as it helps them become more independent with their finances.

Where to sign up: Star Horizon teaches concepts such as budgeting, savings and deposits through hands-on activities and storytelling. Civil Service Club also has a course named Money Management for Kids for children aged seven to 12 that costs $40 for non-members.

When it comes to have an edge over competing job seekers in the future, being proficient in a third language is definitely a boon. And apparently, the younger one starts, the better. According to a report by the New York Times, experts and researchers interviewed believe that children seem to be more susceptible to picking up an additional language before the age of 16.

Where to sign up: Goethe Institut conducts German classes for children and teenagers in a group setting; Alliance Française offers French group classes for toddlers, older children and teenagers; Las Lilas School is a Spanish school that conducts lessons for both children and teenagers.

Text: Joanne Poh / MoneySmart

Additional reporting: Chelsia Tan