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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

DD spent 2 months in a choir; I just stopped her going [sad]

44 replies

KatyMac · 12/12/2011 19:51

She has loved it; but she has to give up as she is doing way too much atm.

I feel bad I ever let her do it in the first place

OP posts:

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 21:26

DD is (predominantly) healthy atm but we are monitoring it (both school, dance school & the GP) - her sight seems OK again atm - it appears to have been a 'glitch' but who knows.

Dance school would be ideal but it would be residential & I'm not sure I could cope tbh

How much she does (wrt dance) is controlled by the dance school & they are watching all the children carefully for burn-out. It's one of the big issues (along with eating disorders) but there is a "Long Term Athlete Development model" which we are working too which proposes the 'ideal' level of training for optimum development and fitness levels while preventing injury. It's not a 'dance school' in a village hall or even a studio it's a large professional organisation, she auditioned for it, won a place and DD gets full grant funding for her time there.

You guys aren't saying anything I haven't said but the simple fact is that she 'has' to dance; it's an emotional/psychological/physical need

She went to a concert/gig on Saturday at the Arts Centre in the city & she ended up dancing on stage (it's now on You-tube) - this is bigger than "DD likes dancing"

I may be wrong supporting her like this but atm the best advisers I have say it's what I need to do only time will say whether they were right or not.

Residential dance schools are currently being researched but it's a massive step I'd like to leave until she is 16

OP posts:

ElphabaisWicked · 13/12/2011 20:31

I remember Katymac saying on another thread that her dd has had no health problems since starting the extra dance as it makes her happy

itsstartingtofeelalotlikexmas · 13/12/2011 20:29

You can;t hold children like that back.

sure;y you can if they lose their sight and no one gets to the bottom of it?

itsstartingtofeelalotlikexmas · 13/12/2011 20:28

surely with her sight problems though it would have been better to have let her relax for a couple of years

it's almost like she was under too much pressure

ElphabaisWicked · 13/12/2011 20:25

I can understand why you made her give something up (says she who is currently waiting for her 10 year old to finish a panto rehearsal that started at 1.30pm today and ends at 9.30pm and she has the same again tomorrow!)

Stellar - you have no idea what it is like to have a child so dedicated - Katymac's dd auditioned for a highly competitive dance scheme that is meant for the truly dedicated. You can;t hold children like that back.

If it is any consolation the senior girls at dd's dance school do a imilar amount - some go to a highly academic grammar school too.

A 14 year old at ds's taekwondo class trains for at least 2 hours 6 days a week plus comps and sometimes extra sessions on a Sunday - she is aiming for the next olympics.

They seem to cope.

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 13/12/2011 20:17

I think dance school is a good option - they are much better at ensuring the dance/school balance are met. Is it the cost?

I think she is doing too much - I think you need to speak to her dance teachers/school teachers before something gives

stellarpunk · 13/12/2011 19:56

Why? You're in charge, you set what she does, surely?

I'm all for extra curricular activities but dont you think her doing something every night is a bit ott? Chance of burnout?

How does she fit in her homework for example?

Why are you against dance school if she is that dedicated? Is it the fees?

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 18:27

She should have 2 dance free days a week - but we can't manage that

OP posts:

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 16:47

She wants an extra 3 dance classes (in January) but I said no

She would like to give up school & go to a residential dance school but I said no to that too

OP posts:

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 16:45

Yes I did warn her

School is OK - they let her off games to do GCSE homework as they 'think she does enough exercise'

I suppose she is doing about half what she would be as a top athlete even if you take into account the 5.5hrs of dance she does at school - maybe 12.5/13 hrs a week dance plus choir, theatre & drumming

OP posts:

stellarpunk · 13/12/2011 16:36

Wow, you mean her DD really does ALL of the above.

[In shock]

And when exactly does she have time to relax? Oh Sunday. I see.

ChippingInNeedsSleep · 13/12/2011 16:36

stellar??

Katy - it's a shame, but there are only so many hours in the day. How is she doing with her school work now? (I mean after her sight problems before - not that she was ever doing badly!!).

OddBaubles · 13/12/2011 16:32

I remember you posting before about how much she does and I'm sure you told her at the time of starting that is was a 'see how it goes' kind of thing. It's disappointing but she must have been expecting it.

stellarpunk · 13/12/2011 16:23

Love it :) Fab joke OP

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 16:19

She is 14 & does:
Mon 1.5 hrs Ballet
Tues 1.5 hrs Contemporary
Wed 1.5 hrs Theatre
Thurs 1.5 hrs school Choir & 1.5 hrs drumming/music theory
Fri either .5 or 2.5 Ballroom/latin alternating
Sat 1 hr Ballroom/Latin, 1.5 hrs Ballet, 1.5 hrs Contemporary & 1 hr creative

I said it was either school or gospel choir not both

OP posts:

Seeline · 13/12/2011 16:06

Did you let her decide which activity she wanted to give up?

AuntieDoris · 13/12/2011 16:05

Does she do other things or was it only this that she as doing. How old is she?

Original poster

KatyMac · 13/12/2011 15:59

I let her because it was to be a hour a week for 6 weeks & a performance

It ended up being 2 hours twice a week & a load of performances

OP posts:

lljkk · 13/12/2011 12:51

She can always go back to it later, in 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 years. Was there a trigger for why you had her quit now and not wait a bit longer?

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