To even consider 3 after school activities on one day for my 9 year olds

[sandyballs]

I've always been a bit anti loads of clubs and rushing kids around after school, with the view that they need to chill and just 'be' now and then. However, my girls are now 9 and have done brownies for the last couple of years which they love and they also play netball for the school two evenings a week.

One of my DDs is football mad and has been begging me to find a girls team for her to join for months and months. I have finally got round to it but it is on a Friday evening, the same day as netball and brownies. Part of me thinks no, too much, the other part thinks they aren't babies any more and it is a Friday so they can have a nice lie in the following day. No other options for footie as this is the only girls team locally.

So Fridays would be as follows:

School
Netball at school until 4.30
Pick up and take straight to brownies for 5 until 6.30, with a sarnie in the car (had hot dinners at school)
Footie 7-8 and then home.

Is it nuts? Or fine at this age, or should I just try it and see. They are very reluctant to give up brownies and I don't want them to either, but they are 10 at Easter and would presumably go up to guides then anyway, which is on a different night.

I say do it!

Especially if it wears them out so much it results in a lie in the next morning

My 8 year old wouldn't be able to cope with it. Have you asked them what they think?

A lie in would be a big bonus!

They are very up for it, very keen on all three things and don't want to give any of it up. They think I'm making a fuss by even thinking it is too much!

perhaps hang fire till easter?

You are so lucky she wants to do sport - I keep exhorting my 8 year old to join netball club but she is not having it.

Since it is Friday I reckon it is fine - weekend the next day to recover. I probably wouldn't countenance it on another week day evening though

I think it sounds like too much.

Suggest to her that she can join the football team now but need to give up the brownies. She will join Guides at Easter.

If she waits with joining the football till Easter, the team has bonded, the other girls have learnt football together for 7-8 months already, and she might not feel confident enough to join them then?

I would wait till they had finished finished Brownies. Three activities in one evening sounds too much for you never mind them.

my 10 year old w0uld be exhausted by that but she is a bit of a foof

if they want to then thats fine

Thanks for all your replies.

I really don't mind the running around, it's all fairly local, it's just I don't want them exhausted by it. I am lucky they like doing sport so want to encourage it but not overdo it.

Good point about the footie team bonding now and them being left out in a few months.

I spoke to them again tonight and they are really keen on doing it all so might try it and see how it goes.

If they want to do it and you are happy to run them around, then go for it.

When my children were younger (15 and 12 now)they did all manner of things; karate, soccer, basketball, brownies, swimming, art, yoga, music etc etc. DH, in particular, was very keen to let them experience whatever they fancied.

Some activities doubled up. They managed. I just made sure they had good food and early nights. Now my son is playing basketball and indoor soccer for school and my daughter does swimming and waterpolo. She still does the music. Oh they also had plenty of downtime and do well at school before anyone says anything about too many activities.

Agree that trialling it is the way forward, esp as it's a Friday. DD manages a mad schedule and thrives (but I am knackered!).

dd, also 9, is going to have a similar day on Wednesdays. Sports afternoon/match , then an hour 1/4 dance lessons at her school then a music lesson at another school(time tbc but hopefully home by 7). Certainly less than ideal.

If they're the rush-around-madly sort anyway, go for it. Not that much different from school games afternoon followed by out of school activities (unless, of course, school also does games afternoon on a Friday -- you might just want to check!)

If it does all get too much, you could randomly skip a week for each activity every so often, and you know it'll all come to an end by Easter anyhow. (I really wouldn't drop Brownies just before they move up to Guides, as they'd miss whatever send=off they usually do for them).

But that means you won't be able to have your wine till about 8.30

Go for it, what's the worst that happens? You miss an odd session or have to drop something for a few weeks or whatever if it does prove too much. I bet they cope fine though, especially as they sound so keen and excited.

I also worry about too much post school stuff - though my DC are nearly 6 and nearly 5 - they both swim already, DS does rugby and is desperate to do football too.. not all on the same day though! DD only in Reception, so keeping her on just a swim once a week... she needs to get used to the school routine first before we do any more.

Hey, and it's a Friday, so everyone can relax the next day a bit.....

As it's a Friday night, and they are close to moving to Guides, I'd say go for it.

Please don't take them out of Brownies - they'll miss the end of centenary events (the Vision) and their preparation for Guides.

(yes, I'm an Owl!)

Do it! They have the weekend to recover.

I'd give it a try but make clear that is is up to them - so no whinging, no not being ready on time, or it will stop immediately.