Kids & Social Activities

[LisaHarman]

I was talking to a friend today and she was saying how her 8 year old has an after school sport or group activity on every day of the week and then on saturdays she has track & field with Sunday as her day to do homework and anything else.

I personally think this is way too much stuff for a child to be doing aswell as school. I ask my kids if they would want to have a schedule like that and they both said it is way way too much and they wont have any time for playing. they both felt that even though it was sports and fun things she is doing, there is no freedom to do and play what they want to do.

i am glad that they feel this way as we already have cricket once a week on saturdays and I was trying to think of something else to do and they only want to do one other activity for during the week.

so their weekly structure once school goes back will be

Monday - free play afternoons
Tuesday - Mixed sports at rec centre
wednesday - library day
Thursday - free play
Friday - games night with family
Saturday - cricket
Sunday - family day

my two think that this is enough for their lives otherwise it get too busy.

what limits do you put on your kids and are they happy with what they are doing?

[Naomi]

I'm not there yet but wow, every afternoon + Saturdays, *I* would be worn out with that schedule, let alone a child. I'd like my children to do a sport or athletics of some kind (good to have the physical activity) and probably one other activity but I honestly don't know if I could keep up with something every day ... If they were particularly talented at something and wanted to pursue it further (for themselves) then that would be different.

[Patricia]

Just wait until they are teenagers and need to be delivered to social appointments ..it is also very difficult to try to make them see when they are spreading themselves thin between school and other activities...haaa only 7 more months until Callum can deliver himself there!

[LisaHarman]

I just wonder if and when this child is going to burn out and also the parent. the mother was complaining about it all and how busy it makes her.. but at the end of the day she is the one to have the final say on weather or not she is going to let her kid do these things. Surely she can say no.. and surely the child could say they dont want to do something. Unless they are worried about hurting said parents feelings.

[kezabelle]

I know a number of parents who are busier than what you are suggesting if you can belive it. Many of my daughter's freinds (she's 8) have something on every day of the week, and a number of them have more than 1 thing most days. I knew I'd over committed during term 3 last year when we had:

Monday - singing then ballet
Tuesday - free
Wednesday - flute in mornings, tap in afternoon
Thursday - soccer
Friday - drumming during lunch break, swimming
Saturday - soccer
Sunday - free

And that's a schedule for 2 kids. It was far too much and they were over tired from all the structure. And it was wearing me out! Doesn't help when they're young and you have to stay, and so do your other kids. At the moment we are doing nothing, and this will continue for at least term 1 because of the new bub. DD will be able to do choir at school and a dance group at school, but there's no activities for the moment. Then we'll have to assess where we are at and what's important.

[LisaHarman]

Kezabelle that just seems so full on. am I just lazy..lol.. I am not pushing, (not saying anyone is either), the kids into wanting to participate in anything. I have told them if they want to do something then we shall do it. If they want to learn an instrument they can and so fourth.

sometimes I think i should push them into anything but they haven't shown any real interest in anything. they rather run around outside all day or go to the park and play.. is that wrong, should I be giving/making them do other things?

[redrobyn]

My grandson doesn't have anything set in stone just take's his activitie's as they come, he's alway's doing something that he choose's himself, going to the park, going swimming, playing with his friend's. He hasn't really made up his mind yet if there's an activity he prefer's, that may come if he pick's something my d.d. will back him up but she doesn't schedule anything for him.

[kezabelle]

Lisa - that was too much for us! I told the kids they could do 3 activities each, and then the ones through school seemed such a great idea so I said yes to that too, and then swimming is so important... you get the idea :) So many of the kids here do heaps, but quite a number do very little. I want my kids to try new things, but I think we give them too many things to do. One of the most important lessons to teach your kids is to be happy in their own company and entertain themselves. My daughter likes to have people around and things organised for her, or she'll just watch tv all day - drives me mad as she has a million things she could do... So, I think an activity or two at this age is a good idea, but not esential, and certainly there is such a thing as doing too much.

[LisaHarman]

I guess that is where I am lucky the kids dont like watching tv unless it is the discovery chanel or the health chanel. they love information.

when they play outside they are amazing. Joshua has always called Cassandra Alisha and she answers to him by that name.. and they play mums and dads, schools, workers where Bianka is a rather nasty banker person taking all their money.. its funny to watch them play.

our back yard is never clean because they keep moving everything around the place to make their props. It is great though.

Cassandra isnt one for doing many activities. the one thing she loves the most is hanging over the fence playing cafe's with our neighbour Hoa. They can play there for hours if we let them. its great.

Soon enough they will be starting swimming lessons so there is one more thing to add in.

[Heather]

When my TT was at Primary, he had two extra curricular activities only during the week and unless it was an emergency, no friends after school until Friday.
It s totally ridiculous the amount of time and money some parents expend 'entertaining' their delights....what ever happened to kids making their own fun.

[LisaHarman]

Heather Ann I think that is why we dont push the kids too much into doing activities.. to allow them to find themselves and encourage them to be inventive.

[kezabelle]

That's the joy of having neighbours too. We had a farm til 2 years ago, so the kids rarely did play dates. Now we have neighbours over the back fence and it's rgeat - when they are at home :)

[miss kiki]

i agree. i don't know how some kids and their parents deal with rarely ever being home and having to bring the kid here and there. sometimes it's too much here and it might not seem like much!
becca is in girl scouts and cheerleading. girl scouts is one meeting every 2 weeks so it's not that bad. all school year. and cheering practices are held during the summer and the games start in october. practices there are 2 during the week and games are held on sundays.
richie is in boy scouts, which is the same as becca. and he's also in soccer, which is 2 practices a week and games are on saturday. and now he wants to do football, which supposedly is everyday!? oh i think he's doing tball too this year. it's just way too much!
so i told DF that they should earn it, because after awhile they just wanted us to sign them up for everything! their grades weren't even so great, they were slacking, they were on the brink of getting left back and i ensured that and now they are doing tons better. becca still needs to apply herself, but richie is doing great. :yes: they know that if they don't get better grades, they won't do a sport. DF says that they should be able to depending on the circumstances, but i honestly don't think so. growing up i had straight a's and still didn't do any sports, lol. but then again i guess that was my choice! :)

[Supa]

to many kids are way overcommited by their parents now. My kids have gym on a saturday morning. When netball & footy season starts if they are interested in playing I let them if they dont want to I dont push them. They have asked to try karate this year. So that is a Monday afternoon. On top of the commitment I also have the drive to get them there as their activites are in Geraldton 50k away.

[miss kiki]

we do the same with the kids. becca did NOT like soccer at all and therefore this year she hasn't played. :yes: i rather have them do 2 sports tops, including outside activites as well like gymnastics or karate. but they don't do any of that, so i don't have to worry! :) sometimes i wonder if i'll ever get a break! lol

[lucyloo]

My 2 older kids have always played a winter sport being netball and footy. They both played on Saturday mornings, and both trained twice a week. When spring hits, it yayyyyy time, swimming in our pool and just relaxing with friends etc. I personally think that children shouldn't have too many after school activities, everyones lives are too busy as they are, without putting more pressure on yourself!
School work always comes first!! Sport second...