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Original poster

How many activities do your children do

45 replies

Beavers9 · 26/04/2024 09:58

I'm always questioned about what do the kids do. For school clubs activities ect Apparently we don't do enough (we do scouts and cubs so that's 2 evenings a week) but honestly how are you meant to fit them all in I don't have access to a car untill the husband returns home from work around 4.30 and we also have a very young energetic dog that needs an evening walk . I finish work at 3.30 my self

OP posts:
Arrestedmanevolence · 26/04/2024 10:03

My dd (9) does

Monday - tennis
Tuesday - free
Weds - dance
Thurs - musical instrument.
Fri - swimming
Sat - drama club

DS (5) does
Saturday - martial arts
Sunday - football
He will start cubs or badgers or whatever it's called next year.

We are lucky that we can walk to most of these. Dh and I work full time so we tend to sit outside the clubs in the car or at a local cafe and work. We will then catch up extra hours in the evening to account for the time to taken to get there/back.

Our DC have endless energy so handle their schedules pretty well.

OneHeartySnail · 26/04/2024 10:03

Do your kids want to do more?

One of mine did Scouts until 14 (I think!), never did any more and seems to be fairly happy and well adjusted, and is nearly finished with teacher training.

The other has a passion and talent for dance, and spends hours every week in dance classes.

Encourage them to develop their interests, but their is no need to programme every minute of their time.

GingerScallop · 26/04/2024 10:06

OneHeartySnail · 26/04/2024 10:03

Do your kids want to do more?

One of mine did Scouts until 14 (I think!), never did any more and seems to be fairly happy and well adjusted, and is nearly finished with teacher training.

The other has a passion and talent for dance, and spends hours every week in dance classes.

Encourage them to develop their interests, but their is no need to programme every minute of their time.

This op. Also do not underestimate the skills they learn with just free play time. Or the value of down time. And do not exhaust yourself

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Families
Shergill15 · 26/04/2024 10:11

DD 9 does:
Music lesson (in school time)
Swimming
Rugby
Cubs
(All weekly)

She was meant to be doing drama once a week too but the start of that has been delayed.

She also does a community/volunteering group for kids and messy/family Church but these 2 are only once a month.

I'm a lone parent and don't drive so all of these are within walking distance or easy to reach via bus.

I don't think there's a "right" amount of activities, do what you have the time/energy/money for. DD is quite high energy/easily bored so what we do works for us but I wouldn't introduce anything new without dropping something now

TheWhiteCakePendleton · 26/04/2024 10:12

I think you need to be led by your children.
I have three, and their schedules all looked very different over the years because that was what suited them.

Eldest has always thrived on multiple activities and would cheerfully do something every day. She's the same now she's older - 2 part-time jobs, loads of school roles, sport, coaching, busy social life.
Middle likes his football and occasionally one other thing, but would find more than that overwhelming. He needs 'nothing' days at home to recharge.
Youngest found one thing she loves and does it as many times a week as she can, but doesn't do much else.

Horses for courses.

addictedtotheflats · 26/04/2024 10:12

My 5 yo just does swimming

PuttingDownRoots · 26/04/2024 10:13

DD1 does Scouts and climbing.
DD2 does Scouts and Rugby.

At school DD1 goes to clubs 4 nights after schools... at the moment its Dance, Badminton, Athletics and Science. Throughout the year shes done Drama, School musical, rugby, film making, cookery... its all free, I think its brilliant the range they offer.

DD2 does drama at school.. I'm sure she will take the opportunity to do more like her sister at Secondary.

DD1 can walk to her Scout hut, but I need to drive DD2 to hers. Rugby is one night in the week and Sundays. But season is just finishing. Climbing is on the next city, so we need to drive her (at weekends)

TheBirdintheCave · 26/04/2024 10:14

Our three year old does pre-school ballet and football on Saturday mornings. We're hoping to add a language class when he starts school next year but need to find something that fits around work times.

Compsearch · 26/04/2024 10:14

DC1 (year 1, almost 6) does swimming, football, choir and learns violin. We do 2x short practice sessions on violin per day (only 5-10 mins a go) but that feels like a lot! I think that’s enough for now.

DC2 is 3.5 and I won’t start her on anything until reception (next sept) but will probably aim for something similar. I like them to have downtime to play/draw/read at home as well.

4YellowDaffodils · 26/04/2024 10:15

DS1 is 14 and does a special swimming class on Saturdays for kids with disabilities.

That's it.

DS2 does another swimming class and plays tennis in the summer once a week. He's 12 and that's it. He loves riding his bike.

Neither of them want to do more.

Personally I think children can be overscheduled. School is extremely intense and certainly for my older one he can barely cope with the school day, never mind extra stuff.

In the holidays we do more 'stuff'. Bowling, days out.

Normandy144 · 26/04/2024 10:15

Mine do swimming, brownies and theatre school which are outside clubs. Then they do after school clubs of drama and netball.
We can also walk to all of these except swimming - although we could cycle there if needed.

SleepingStandingUp · 26/04/2024 10:16

Cubs. That's it.

He applied for Cheerleading but didn't get in. He'll do a half term of craft club when it's open to his class. He's done gymnastics and dance etc but found it was too tiring (some medical issues).
Twins will start Squirrels September at 4.5

Chunkycookie · 26/04/2024 10:17

10 year old dds school run various free after school clubs each term and she usually gets a space at one or two of them.

So this term it’s cricket and drama right after school so I pick her up at 4:30 two afternoons a week.

Then she has a weekly fencing session one night and a church group another night.

Chunkycookie · 26/04/2024 10:18

My ds did Jack shit, he didn’t want to. He’s 21 now and it really doesn’t matter if they want to do loads of things or nothing.

Boxerdor · 26/04/2024 10:19

11 yo ds does boxing, cricket and football.
8yo dd does drama, netball and about to start rugby.
both did weekly swimming too until they were competent enough to stop. We can walk to all of these bar drama and boxing which are in the next town and need to be driven to

Chocolateorange11 · 26/04/2024 10:20

Mine do stuff at school and then one does swimming and football and the other just football although she plays between 2-4 times a week depending on fixtures etc

Sprogonthetyne · 26/04/2024 10:20

DS7 - music lessons, swimming & trampolining. Also on the waiting list for cubs/scouts (depending on if he turns 8 before getting in)

DD4 - only rainbows at the minute, but set to start trampolining in the next few weeks & will pick up swimming and music lessons in September (both will only take kids in reception school year)

Menomeno · 26/04/2024 10:21

If you’re all happy and there’s nothing else they want to do, I wouldn’t worry. Some parents feel pressure to fill every spare minute doing something. I think it’s a lot of pressure for children, who need plenty of down time after being in school all day.

CeeJay81 · 26/04/2024 10:23

DS15 Xplorers and youth club
DD10 Cubs and Dance. Also music lessons in school time.

There is also free swimming on Fridays at leisure Centre. Youngest goes sometimes goes. Eldest occasionally.

There are several reasons they don't do more than that. Kids these days seem to do so much though so I do sometimes feel they are missing out.

museumum · 26/04/2024 10:24

Mine does scouts, football, swimming and guitar (at school).

Swimming is at the weekend, football is Fridays (early finish day) and guitar doesn't involve me as he goes from asc.

Scouts/cubs is quite well-rounded so if you're only able to do one thing then it's probably the best thing to do but I wanted ds to get more sport/exercise - he doesn't really 'play out' or go to the park independently so I think he needs more activity.

BridgedeckBardo · 26/04/2024 10:31

None. They're not interested and they just do their own thing. Lots of activity, just not activities.

JaninaDuszejko · 26/04/2024 10:39

Depends on the child, and what is available and where it is and how much time you have and indeed how many children you have.

Currently my 11yo does football and choir after school (activities happen at school so it's just a late pick up) plus cubs (10 minute walk from house) and swimming (Sat pm, pool 5 min drive from house).

My 14 & 16 yos are passed the stage of doing loads of activities that need lifts. But both do choir and drama club in after-school clubs. 14 yo also does orchestra after-school (she plays the violin) and has piano and singing lessons. 16 yo plays football in a regional league so has training one day a week in the evening and a game on Sat am, the club parents share lifts. The worst stage was late primary/early secondary when they were both doing swimming club but were in different squads, between them we were at a pool (different ones around town) every day of the week. But swimming was a non-negotiable for me, I wanted them to be competent swimmers because it's such an good exercise you can do your whole life so is a real life skill.

Singleandproud · 26/04/2024 10:41

Prior to COVID we were rushing around every night, DD did loads of different things and although she enjoyed them we were both quite stressed but didn't realize it at the time. I didn't want her to miss out on activities and that's just what good parents do isn't it?

COVID made us slow down and we are both much happier at a slower pace, now she just plays rugby that's one night of training in the week and matches or training on Sunday September - May, with a nice chunk of time off in the summer.

If I had another child I'd make sure they could swim confidently by the end of Primary teaching them myself and then moving on to lessons for technique, as it opens up alot of opportunities in watersports as we live by the beach as well as being a life skill.
I'd make sure they can ride a bike - taught by myself.
A social group for more free play and socialising which they don't get much of anymore like scouts or guides.
Access to instruments and art supplies and tutorials or online classes if they didn't want structured lessons.

Book them on to taster courses for ski, snow board, watersports etc so they could try different things throughout the Primary years to see if anything sticks and have at least one sport during secondary years, preferably something hey can take into adulthood.

Damnyourheadshoulderskneesandtoes · 26/04/2024 10:45

From age 4-6 he just did squirrels and beavers. Then he started football which is two nights a week training and a match either Friday night or Saturday morning. That's more than enough for us so we've stopped beavers now. Which is a massive shame because it's so good and so cheap but he's tired and wants time to chill out at home and so do I.

JaninaDuszejko · 26/04/2024 10:52

Menomeno · 26/04/2024 10:21

If you’re all happy and there’s nothing else they want to do, I wouldn’t worry. Some parents feel pressure to fill every spare minute doing something. I think it’s a lot of pressure for children, who need plenty of down time after being in school all day.

While I agree with the general sentiment that it's not necessary to have a jam packed itinerary if it doesn't suit your child I do think a small number of (not all) children really love doing loads of activities. Our secondary school does lots of different clubs (before, after and at lunchtime) that are all free and are at school and our older two do at least one a day. It's completely their choice and it's where they make lots of friends. Our eldest when in Y7 did different sports multiple times a week, she was doing 8 hours of sport a week not including PE lessons. When she finally decided to drop the swimming club she still did swimming at school to keep up her fitness and picked up another sports club at school just for fun. She's very energetic. I know adults that are the same.