Young kids and extra curricular?

[billssey33]

So DS is just turned 4. Extra curricular has always been tricky when we tried

Started at toddler football before he was 2, either ran off destructing the place as a toddler would or got distressed and had a massive tantrum. So we stopped this as 1) didnt want to go and cause him weekly stress 2) i was pregnant with ds2 at the time

We've tried some since, gymmastic just after he turned 2 then we have done swimming since he was 3 (but a lot of weeks he ignores the teacher wants to do our own thing and ignore the lesson) and a football, but he got a bit worked up when it come to the spotlight on him and again started messing around didnt want to join in. So swimming is still in but it is hit and miss regarding his attention span and doing the actual lesson (30 mins)

Just wondering is this normal for his age? Had some up and down concerns as he doesnt always communicate with other kids apart from his sibling. Preschool said hes improved there will play with kids speak to them but when it comes to anything highlighting him he shuts down. He does have a speech delay too so I take this in mind

But we went swimming on our own the other day. He was laughing. Away didnt want to go was trying new swim stuff! I dont know if just because he is a bit sensitive and shy right now lessons aren't for him?

Is this normal! Want to try an extracurricular as he gets older dont want to be pushy and stress him out but dont want to be lax

For our culture and most kids this is totally normal. I honestly I don’t know how parents with little dc doing violin and advanced maths and whatever manage it!

My ds tried football age 4 and similarly just didn’t get on with it. But as he’s got older he really enjoys extra curriculars - the trick is to try lots of things, if he doesn’t like one swim class try another as different teachers and settings can make a massive difference. Also avoid lots of stuff in Reception - they are already exhausted from getting used to school, and there’s plenty of time to start hobbies.

Personally I don't think they need "extra curricular" at that age.
Just do stuff as a family (like the swimming), go to the park or weekend activities at your local museum/library etc.

We only do stuff at the weekend, never after school. They need time to decompress etc. And when she was 4 it was one short ballet class, increased in length when she was 5. Now she's 6 we've added in swimming but still nothing after school and keep 1 day free most weekends.

Completely normal. I don't know many children who were doing regular classes before school age, they just don't have the attention span. Mine started swimming lessons when he started school (age 4.5) and even then I'd say he was too young to get much out of them until the end of Reception.

He now does swimming and Beavers age 7 and that's more than enough for now.

Thanks all! Bit reassured some kids just do it but again im comparing to a class where I dont know the kids

They may not attend pre school which can be tiring overwhelming etc, dS attends 3 days (im off the other 2) we dont have a village who can help in that sense

And also he js quite a stubborn character, fine by me but I assume thats why he doesnt enjoy lesson type yet of an adult just basically asking him or telling him what to do when hes attended preschool 3 days a week

I just wanted to check he'll probably enjoy a hobby when hes older? Even if its art or an instrument

He loves exploring nature and nature reserves. Loves his binoculars! We're national trust and WWT members. Loves swimming free style and animals at the zoo aquarium we have those memberships too

Honestly, mine didn't do anything extra curricular at that age! It was a while ago as they're all adults now but at 4 they came out of school, we went to the park for a bit so they could run around and play with their friends, sometimes had a friend home for tea, then bath, stories and bed! I don't think they need it at that age and school is a long day for them. Probably about 6/7 they did football, martial arts etc when they were better at following instructions and not so tired after school. I wouldn't worry and let him develop at his own pace! Children seem to enter the rat race so early these days, instead of just chilling after school and playing 🤷‍♀️

4 is still very little. At this age my child (potential autism and was selectively mute at the time) was just at morning nursery so did a little cookery lesson, baby ballet, tumble tots and swimming where she excelled. At most of these session children she knew also joined so she knew other kids there. If she was at full time nursery I would have only done the swimming. What hours is he doing in pre school?

I think at this age witj swimming lessons you need to go to swimming for fun every week too. But 3 is young for swimming lesson and many kids just aren’t ready for them yet.

He is still very young. My dd did start riding lessons at 4, but only because I grew up horsey and sort of dreamed of the same for her (she didn’t take to it naturally though and we stopped at 6 as just wasn’t her thing). Then she probably didn’t do anything else until she started Cubs at maybe 9 (COVID in between there). She’s 13 now and trains in a competitive sport 3 nights a week.

My youngest did Beavers at 6 once a week and has moved up to Cubs now. That’s it. They find their things that interest them, but 4 is still very young. I’d follow his lead and let him try things, but I wouldn’t really force the issue.

I think structured extracurricular classes not needed at that age and especially when they first start school. Both of my DC (despite going to nursery 8.30-5 Mon-Fri from the age of 1) were absolutely wrecked by the end of the school day most days in Reception. If they aren't in wraparound care then a run around the local playground is great for blowing off steam.

Our local gymnastics club has preschool open play, where there are other DC to run around with but no formal structure or lesson as such. Perhaps something like that would work if there's anything near you OP?

Call me old fashioned but I think a lot of children of that age actually prefer going home after school and playing with their toys. Mine certainly did.

Supposing a class is 30 minutes and it is 15 minutes travel each way. In that hour you could sit and play Lego with them, get the paints out, bake some fairy cakes or just watch some TV together and chat about it.

Yeah and now with his speech and language appointments starting i dont want to overload him and stress him out, aiming to focus on getting in the swing of SALT , get ready for school starting this year and keep doing our fun acitivites on weekends as a family

Its silly the pressure i was putting on myself worrying he wouldnt have a hobby or like hobbies and he's only 4

Hes in 3 full days at pre school as I work 3 days xx

V v normal.