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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to be doing any extra cuticular classes with my children

62 replies

CantGetUp · 29/08/2015 13:20

I don't bring my children to any classes - they are 6 and 4.

I'm so busy working during the week and we normally do something at the weekend or just be lazy

A friend of my has her children signed up for every class going and I'm wondering if I should make more of an effort with mine.

friend's DCs are doing swimming, football, drama etc.

Does it really matter at this stage? I'm worried that by the time my children suggest a hobby they want to do that all the other children will be years ahead of them.

My elder DC has problems with coordination so he doesn't really like sports. He's happy playing lego, going to the playground etc

OP posts:
Original poster
CantGetUp · 29/08/2015 13:20

Oops - meant extra-circular

OP posts:
Original poster
CantGetUp · 29/08/2015 13:21

Can't spell today Smile

OP posts:
Savagebeauty · 29/08/2015 13:21

Or even curricular?Grin
I like cuticular

clary · 29/08/2015 13:24

If they are happy I wouldn't bother. Certainly hold off junior footy until they ask!!

I would enrol them in swimming lessons tho, really vital life skill to learn to swim and 4yo/6yo is a good time to start.

Mehitabel6 · 29/08/2015 13:24

Cuticular sounded much more exciting!

I had mine doing swimming from a young age- it is an essential life skill.

The rest I should wait and see if they mention wanting to go. If mine mentioned it for several weeks running and really wanted to do it, then I tried to fit it in.

Mehitabel6 · 29/08/2015 13:26

Cross posted on swimming. essential IMO.

Savagebeauty · 29/08/2015 13:26

Yes I agree with clary
Swimming lessons a great idea.
But as long as they're out running about at the weekend and after school, they don't need formal clubs.

Booboostwo · 29/08/2015 13:35

Swimming is essential. The other things I would do them if the child wanted to no there was no provision at school. My DD is 4 as well and wants to start dance and football. If your DS has co-ordination issues dance may be helpful.

TeenAndTween · 29/08/2015 13:36

I would also do swimming lessons.

My DD's both have DCD, and swimming is great for helping coordination and general muscle tone. Plus it is a life skill imo.

DisappointedOne · 29/08/2015 13:47

DD(4) has done swimming and dancing (not formal) for the past few months. Over the holidays we've added a gymnastics class that she wanted to try. She loves them all. Apart from swimming I'm not bothered if she does the others or not. It's just for fun.

Lilaclily · 29/08/2015 13:53

I wouldn't spend ££& on years of weekly swimming lessons
I would book them in for a weeks intensive course every summer
Mine just did free activities at school : football, hockey, cricket , usually an hour after Sch once a week
We couldn't afford more and we both work weekends so couldn't commit to footie teams that train on Saturdays and have matches too

museumum · 29/08/2015 13:55

I think with the dire state of pe time in schools that a sport is necessary.
Unless they're outside playing football or whatever on week nights themselves in the neighbourhood.

sliceofsoup · 29/08/2015 13:59

DD1 has swimming lessons, and she has done ballet and theatre and another dance class in the past, all at different times. I can't say anything she has done, except the swimming, were of any benefit to her. Though she really did enjoy the ballet.

I do wonder though, if its better to have them in gymnastics from a young age? Can children start gymnastics later?

There isn't a great deal in our area apart from what I have mentioned.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 29/08/2015 14:07

6-8 is the best age to begin a hobby if you want them to take up a skill for life such as a musical instrument or a specialist sport but nothing wrong with doing nothing.

Personally I've got my dc doing 2 clubs each. A 3 hour one and a 30min one and that's plenty. They started at 6 and it gives them some form of structure but also enough down time

Lurkedforever1 · 29/08/2015 14:07

Depends on what they are doing instead. Playing happily, being creative, active etc Yanbu. If they're sat around on screens then yabu. Also if they're actually really interested in doing something or struggle socially it's important.
I do think swimming is important to learn. And I agree that dance or similar would really help with the co-ordination.

KERALA1 · 29/08/2015 14:12

I think learning to swim. And personally a shame to miss out on brownies - I loved brownies. I also feel they don't do enough languages at primary so mine do a fun french session that they enjoy. Admit I have been sucked in though!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 29/08/2015 14:17

It depends on the type of child, my DS needs tons of physical activities and he does two sessions of football, playball, trampolining, Cubs, rugby, bouldering and he would also do golf but it's not being offered this term. DD is only doing tennis this term because she likes a bit of down time. They both go swimming but not in a class.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/08/2015 14:22

Well it's up to you really. But I think if your older child has co-ordination issues, then putting him into some kind of physical activity class might actually help.

DS1 started dancing when he was 3 (he's 7 now) and also Little Kickers football. He ran like a crab and danced like a spider, so he did Little Athletics for a bit (sorted his running out) and his dancing is becoming much more fluid. He's now doing Tae Kwon Do, which is good for his balance and core strength. He's only a little thing, so I'm doing whatever I can to help him in terms of physical resilience. I considered gymnastics but I think dancing is better for him, because he loves the music as well.

He also did swimming because I also agree it's a real life skill, and we have a pool so it's an essential safety feature, but he woudln't learn off us, he needed the lessons with peers to get over his issues with being underwater. He's brilliant now and can swim effectively, if not prettily or fast.

Ds2 is nearly 3 - he's doing Little Kickers football and dancing as well. And will start swimming lessons next year.

It sounds like a lot - but it's not all at the same time and he always has at least 3 days off a week; he's not overburdened with activities (he'd soon tell me if he was!)

I think it's good at a young age to introduce them to different options, and then let them choose what they want to carry on with - they don't have to do it all forever.

MargoReadbetter · 29/08/2015 14:29

Mine have done loads over the years but now they're older they are more discriminating about what they want to do so it's only one each. Suits me!

lastqueenofscotland · 29/08/2015 14:53

I agree I'd at least take them swimming!

If they are playing/being creative etc in their spare time crack on. If they are in front of a telly I'd want them doing more.

RiverTam · 29/08/2015 15:00

Swimming definitely, it's the one class that everyone here does. DD (5.5) does more than this (ballet and gymnastics) but that's because she is totally not tired out by school (not that doing any of these classes has worn her out!).

lunar1 · 29/08/2015 15:05

Another one here who says you need to find time for swimming. You don't want your children to be the only ones in arm bands at 11 (like me!).

teacherwith2kids · 29/08/2015 15:09

Agree with others about swimming for both.

Also Scouting - Beavers would be around the right age for the elder one.

teacherwith2kids · 29/08/2015 15:14

My DCs started their 'thing' at about the same age yours are now - DS started playing football in Y1 (though it was Y3 before he started music, his other love now as a teen, and that was through school), while DD started at 'skipping round the village hall' type ballet at 3 and 'dancing at a serious dance school' [that was a mistake on my part, new to the town i accidentally selected a very high quality dance school for her!] at the start of Reception.

goblinhat · 29/08/2015 15:31

Op your kids are quite young, I wouldn't panic.
Activites can help with emotional and social development though.
My DD had a speech delay and was very shy. She started ballet at five and it has really helped boost her self esteem and confidence.

Although she now does 19 hours of dance a week outside of school- I didn't bargain on that one!!