What hobbies do your kids do?

[fartotheleftside]

trying to gather ideas for things for my 3 year old dd and 5 year old ds to try as they get older!

Both currently do swimming but that’s really the only organised activity at the moment.

I’d really love them to be able to develop some useful skills, have some fun and have a social life outside of school as they get older.

Brownies, netball and junior choir.
Football, tennis and junior choir.

and some kids club activities at our gym

My kids are sporty - football, netball, tennis, cricket. Obviously the 3yo is a bit young but the 5yo can get started with little kickers or similar. Two of mine have also done coaching or refereeing, which is a great way for a teen to earn money.

Also music - mine all played the piano from age 7, one gave up early and the other two carried on and now play other instruments and play in bands etc.

Beavers is great, some then progress to cubs and scouts.

I was thinking to start him in football when he turns 6. He does love kicking a ball about. Shame for me as football bores me to tears 😂 but I know it’s good for boys

At those ages, nothing.

Dd (now 13) started riding lessons at 6, but it didn’t come naturally to her, so we stopped at 7 when COVID hit. When things opened back up when she was 9, she did cubs then scouts and started trampolining. She now only does trampolining, but competes at the national level so it’s pretty much all she does.

Ds (now 8) has only done beavers and cubs. He didn’t love cubs (new leaders and quite different to beavers), so has stopped that now. We’re looking into tae kwon do for him now.

4 year old
Monday (day off nursery) - music class (morning), swimming (afternoon), drama club (evening)
Wednesday - squirrels (younger scouts)
Saturday - athletics

1 year old
Monday - music class
Friday - gymnastics
Saturday - baby ballet

At 3 - not a lot - it was more socialising with other parents, trips to the park etc. But they did go to a pre-school music group they loved. And swimming is a brilliant idea from a young age.

At five, they did beavers/rainbows and DS1 started piano lessons. DS2 started an instrument a bit later. As they got older they did tag rugby and then rugby which they loved. DS2 went to an art club after school which he loved. Both had swimming lessons.

I forgot - they both did Little Dragons martial arts at that age too. Also loved it.

At those ages nothing

Oldest DS hated any kind of organised club throughout primary school- tried scouts, football, martial arts etc. disliked everything. He is musical though and has stuck with guitar lessons throughout primary and now secondary which he loves. He also enjoys fitness and goes to the gym frequently, I think some children just aren’t into organised clubs. I feel like he saw them as extended school time.

DS2 (primary school) also isn’t sporty but loves swimming and does lessons. He loves art and crafts and luckily his school offer two different crafting clubs each week (paid for but worth it) so he does those.

Swimming both DS4 and DS6
beavers DS6 DS4 has his name down at squirrels
junior park run

Why don't you just wait and see? You don't have to enrol them in anything so just hang on, talk to other parents and see what's available in your area. There are bound to be things they could do locally, that some of the elder one's classmates already do.

Oh yeah, and please don't base your choices on gender - like you already did when you mentioned football for your eldest.

Mine both started gymnastics at age 5. Neither of them is going to get even close to competitive standard, but it is a fun class and good for strength/balance/coordination.

Eldest is on the waiting list for cubs. He also seems quite musical but there isn't a great choice of instrument teachers locally so we haven't managed to sort out any sort of lessons as yet.