Extra curricular activities

[thebigmummabear]

Aibu for my daughter to do extra curricular activities after school 3 nights a week. She does swimming lessons one night, dance lessons another night and then piano lessons a different night. She is 7 and seems to really enjoy them. I also do swimming lessons with my other dc one morning a week. My dsis in law said to me that she thinks its a ridiculous waste of money and time and that my children will be worn out. We haven't had a great relationship in the past but things have been better recently. She doesn't do any activities with her children after school at the weekend etc as she says they need time to chill out on the computer/ipad. It then got me thinking. My parents didn't ever take me to after school stuff and neither did my dh parents. Whats the norm? Is 3 a week to much?

[smokeybandit]

Personally I think as long as you feel you have enough time with her, she's happy, getting done what ever is required of her and not passing out the second you pick her up, let her do it. A lot of kids don't have that opportunity, I didn't when I was little and wished I had done. My dd does things outside of school and loves it, my ds doesn't and doesn't want to. If you can afford it and she's happy, why not?

[Leeds2]

I suspect SIL is trying to justify to herself why she doesn't do anything with her DC. Running down what you do makes her in some way feel better.

I don't think there is anything wrong with doing no activities, or with doing however many as you want as long as your child is happy to go, not over tired, has sufficient down time and you can afford it.

[jonsnowssocks]

As long as she enjoys it and is not too tired, YANBU.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Do what's right for your DD and your family and ignore what others do. DD currently does gymnastics, piano, Brownies, and horse-riding because that's what she wants to do.

[GoblinLittleOwl]

As long as your daughter (and you) enjoy it and are not tired out , continue with it. Good for you for giving her these opportunities.
As for 'she says they need time to chill out on the computer/ipad'; I read that as' I can't be bothered.'

[thebigmummabear]

My daughter seems to really enjoy it and i have never once pushed her into something. i have always said to her that if you stop enjoying the activities then thats fine. It never occurred to me that it might be to much. Part of it is that because me or dh never had the opportunity to do these things that once she said something it made me think. I don't judge her because she doesn't do activities like that with her children, thats her business, to be honest i never questioned it until she brought it up.

[MissElizaBennettsBookmark]

It's up to your DC and you. If they are enjoying it, it's got nothing to do with your SIL. My son trains 4 nights a week and all morning on Sunday because he is sports mad. I'm not... I'm a very lazy cow but I'm happy to support him if he is keen.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Depends on the child. I have a friend whose child is falling asleep after school, so tired. Mine is bouncing off the walls. I think if you one of the first kind, you can't imagine why activities are wanted. DD has lots of them and is fine.