No clubs/classes at 5

I would wait until Spring and the return of lighter evenings then maybe try swimming and one other more fun activity.

I’m a bit lols at some commenters earlier in the thread describing 3 year olds doing extracurricular activities. They can’t be extracurricular until they start doing a curriculum 😄

We did swimming and Rainbows at that age. Library visits, Sunday School and play dates too.

Swimming lessons and Pony Club. We tried extra clubs but she’s just too tired after school.

Neither are wrong as all kids are different.

My just turned 6 year old has done gym for a year and has just started Beavers. He also wants to do football on a Saturday, and maybe rugby on a Sunday.

He's a very physical child though, my middle child is less so and he only does Scouts and badminton after school. He's very fit etc but not that interested. Cricket in the summer.

Older child would be rowing every day if she could, and swimming or skateboarding as well as Scouts/Explorers.

In warmer months we tend to swim every day either at the beach or a private pool, which keeps us busy.

We have just scaled right back on the clubs so my 4yo won't do anything and my 7yo will do 1 after school and 1 on a Saturday. This includes pausing swimming for both of them, although my 4yo will need to return at some point as he can't swim yet.

They are both repeatedly telling my they don't want to go to school because they don't get enough time to play at home. I think that unstructured free play is really good for them (and can't stop school!) so this is what we have decided.

My primary school age kids have always either gone to after school club or taken part in some clubs that the school runs after school because I work full time. They've done stuff over the years like Lego Club, Poetry, Football, Philosophy (?!) etc. Anything that takes their fancy. Does your school offer that?

They do swimming lessons at the weekend (a non-negotiable life skill in my view) and Brownies/Beavers during the week.

At 5, start small. Maybe just swimming one night?

Mine don't do any clubs at the moment but is learning an instrument. Much older than 5. In after school club 2-3 times per week, do sports clubs occasionally, we'd never see them if they did much more. Each to their own I say, don't compare. . If anything children are typically overscheduled these days.

At that age my eldest just did swimming lessons - I was chatting to a mum in the playground thinking I was doing him a disservice as the all the other kids were jam-packed with activities after school and she said to me "at this age it's enough that they go to school"

When he was about 8 he started cubs and karate and that was it - more than enough!

My almost 6 yr old started swimming lessons in reception as soon as she turned 5 (minimum age for stage 1 at our leisure centre). She also has a half hour dance lesson on Weds teatime. Learning to swim is a non-negotiable for safety reasons, the dancing is for fun.

DH put her name down for beavers so she’ll be starting that at 6. I wouldn’t want to do any more at this stage as it leaves no time for play dates or down time. Also we both work and have younger twin siblings so that limits what we can do around the little ones.

My reception aged DD only does swimming at the weekend. I might add an after school class eventually but not one every day and not in any rush to start as she's still getting used to school really

At 5 , dd1 was doing swimming and gymnastics. By the time she was 7, gymnastics got out of hands as it became 3 days a week with competition on some weekends and she was refusing to cancel any day because she wants to progress with her friends. We had to put our foot down in the end and cancelled the whole thing.
Now at 10 she does 1 swimming & netball in the week and violin/musical theatre on Saturday and she loves everything.

DD2 is 5 and only does swimming, we are not making the mistake of putting her in too many clubs. Playing, walking the dog, going to the park, relaxing and doing homework, etc are all fine at that age.

Mine started martial arts at that age and are still doing it now aged 11, it’s been fantastic.

Swimming and beavers.

At 5, my DD was doing swimming, Rainbows and karate after school. Classes are usually earlier for little ones, so usually home for 5.30.
My kids still do lots of extra curricular stuff now. It's good for them and definitely builds confidence. I'd pick at least one activity at 5.

I tried my son with quite a few but he never wanted to stick with anything until last year when he took up tennis. He absolutely loves that now but it didn’t happen until he was 10, he is a very happy and healthy 11 year old. So no, you don’t need to worry if by age 5 your child hasn’t found their thing yet. They will eventually.

In reception mine did a theatre group and swimming. Plus junior parkrun when they felt like going.

They are older primary age now and do something most days (I'm always taking or collecting on if them from somewhere) and they love being busy but know it wouldn't work for everyone.

school is more than enough for our 4 year old so just swimming at the weekend and parks etc. Our 8 year old however does quite a range of clubs which she really enjoys and benefits from. I’d say about 6/7 ideal age to start

Mine started school doing swimming and football, and we sacked them both off by Christmas. It was too much for him on top of school. Started up again a year or so later.

DS1 age 8 just does swimming now. He finished beavers and didn't want to move up to cubs. I ask him every time I see clubs advertised but he never wants to do anything else. He values his time at home which is fair enough considering we are pretty busy anyway and they go to my mum's 2 days, and ASC after school 2 days.

DS2 age 5 does swimming and squirrels. It's definitely enough for him, he gets tired out quickly.

I'd be happy to enrol them in more but they don't seem bothered. I never know if I should encourage them more.

Our 5 year old does swimming (30mins), karate (1 hour), tennis (1 hour) and art club (1.5 hours) on various day after school during the week and rugby on sundays. We asked him if he wanted to drop any, but he seems happy and has the energy for all of them.

I think you can be led by your child. My eldest has ASD and does no clubs, lessons or groups. Forcing them to socialise and be in the sort of environments that cause sensory overload after a full day at school seemed like the route to meltdowns from everybody. They are much happier coming home, recovering from the day and spending time on their special interests.
My second is very active and competes in her sport plus has other sports she dabbles in for fun. She needs down time as well but I think she'd go a bit loopy if she spent every evening at home.
I think you can ask your daughter and maybe try a couple of things but it sounds like you have a lovely routine and get plenty of exercise and fresh air so I wouldn't place too much importance on what a bunch of strangers say.

I personally think school is enough at that age. As long as they are active and getting a chance to play then that exactly what they need to thrive. The only exception for me was swimming. I had mine in swimming lessons only at that age - it’s a good age to start, kids who start older seem to get nervous.

DD will be 5 shortly and doesn't do any at the moment. Our school actively discourage after school stuff for reception for the first term as they get so tired. Obviously some people still do them but I'm glad we took their advice for DD.

I'm looking at maybe getting one or two in the calendar from January. Some combination of swimming/ gymnastics/dance/drama but that's mostly because she's asked.

Your after school hours sound lovely though so I wouldn't worry about it unless there's something your DD is desperate to do.

I think over scheduling children is a bit of a modern risk and they do need downtime.

Some of the kids mentioned on this thread must be completely over wrought

OP what you currently do sounds lovely and it works for you. Everyone is different and a lot depends on what time you finish school and where you live etc. My four and a half year old does a lot in my opinion but she is hyper and finishes pre school at midday so she does gymnastics and dancing during the midweek and ballet and music at weekends. She craves company so loves her classes obviously if she didn't enjoy them I wouldn't send her.

I cannot understand this perspective at all

Your child is 5

They will be absolutely exhausted from school

So don't do any activity during the week

Maybe swim lessons at the weekend