What has been the best (organised) activity your child has done

[scissorsandsellotape]

Extra or super curricular
Just wondering really

Competitive swimming club swimming. When you take them to galas you literally just have to get them there on time. You generally don't see them again until the end (apart from spectating obviously) the coaches and Marshall organise everyone into the right races at the right times etc.

Pretty much everything mine have done has been good but if I had to pick one it would be First Lego League. They reached national finals several times and went to internationals once which was an absolutely phenomenal experience. But the local competitions were great too and they learned a huge amount from the projects and there are so many different roles in the teams that lots of different kids get the change to shine. If you've got a child who has any interest in STEM subjects at all it's definitely worth looking into. We did it through school but independent teams can enter.

Swimming and climbing

It's probably obvious to most of us but nearly all these activities depend on huge numbers of volunteers who coach, support, lead and train, give up their own free time, weekends etc for our young people so a big thank you to everyone who volunteers. Many parents get very involved in supporting these activities and continue long after their own DC are no longer involved.

Judo has been great for ds who is asd.

All of mine go swimming - we live on the coast. Non negotiable, it's a life skill. Gone from the age of 4.

DS goes to a kickboxing and Karate dojo twice a week. It's really helped his confidence and his dexterity.

DD goes to Fitness gymnastics (focus on movement and flexibility rather than competitions) and has started rainbows and adores it. She is desperate to go to dance class a few of her friends go to but it's so expensive and seems to be focused on competitions and show cases which look like long days/ full weekend affairs and I can't be arsed with that!

I didn't mean dexterity for ds- that's fine motor skills. I can't think of the corresponding terms for gross motor skills! It's helped his balance and coordination,

Guides, local youth drama group (especially when they Joseph), local choir group and our Church youth group. All low cost and all hugely beneficial.

For DS it was Coding Club as it started his love of computers and programming and was really well done by a local family. Also chess as a teenager.

Not sure for DD. Probably Brownies.

Cubs/ Scouts / Brownies / Rangers

Surf lifesaving - fun, mixed ages older kids cheering on the younger ones.

DD has also done development coaching in netball and softball which were both fabulous. Small groups, coaches who played at top/elite levels, 2 hour sessions to really get lots of practice in drills.

Toss up between circus school and scouts. Circus school has been great for physical skills, balance etc. and lots of fun too, plus the opportunity to perform but in a low key low pressure way. Scouts has been great for all kinds of things, especially independence and teamwork, and knife safety and skills - most recently was an orienteering camp where they worked in groups of 3 to find their way to the campsite out in the countryside with no adults, cooking their own dinner on the way.

The one that your child loves.

Our strategy was to initially try out a lot of different activities, and then see what developed. DS initially did Beavers / Cubs / Scouts, football, tag rugby and swimming (he was the type of child who needed lots of exercise). Over time, football grew and the rest shrank, then football shrank and a new-found interest in music grew, until it became something he did most evenings and one day every weekend, as well as in school.

DD started on a similar type of variety, but for her it was dance that grew until it was am 'every night' thing.

It depends entirely on the child AND the quality of local providers.

Cubs and scouts

Best value: Scouts/Guides because they were very cheap.

What my children have got the most out of: Theatre School, although I'm partially aware that's because of who runs it so it's great socially as well as doing the theatre arts.

Scouting all sections, now a Young Leader

Tag Rugby (under 6 upwards) - minis

Cricket (under 7s upwards)

Both fantastic for team work and an opportunity to be part of a larger club system.

Beavers, cubs, scouts and rainbows. So much on offer with a huge range of opportunities. My cub has just come back from a weekend camp. Amazing time, loads of activities - only money asked for was £5. The leaders worked their socks off to give the children this experience.

Beavers/Cubs/Scouts - both DC

DS also loves guitar lessons. Started on ukulele age 8, niw working on Grade 4 violin age 13.

DD really enjoys football, she plays for a U10 girls team.

Scouts .....as in Beaver, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers (all sections)

Guides
Football

Explorers

St John Ambulance cadets

Drama lessons have probably been the best for DD and she has loved them, I'd say it was pretty closely followed by musical instrument lessons as well.

Sailing club - dinghies in the morning, windsurfing in the afternoon. As PP has said, reliant on volunteers with parents helping but also being encouraged to participate if they weren't already into watersports themselves.