White kindergarten children were 2.6 times more likely than children of other races/ethnicities to participate in athletics — the most common type of extracurricular activity, the research showed. Children of highly educated mothers were about twice as likely to take part in sports as those of less educated moms.

Similar results were found in other types of after-school activities.

Previous studies have shown that extracurricular activities can benefit children in many ways, so it is concerning that gaps in participation show up so early, said Elise Allen, a graduate student in educational studies at The Ohio State University.

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