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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How many activities do your DC do?

30 replies

JazzyLake · 25/01/2016 18:13

DM says it's way too much, so just looking on opinions and what other DC do! My son is 2 1/2... He does swimming, ballet and gymnastics - is it too much? We also do the reading club, at the library, and a family art thing... TY x

OP posts:
dodobookends · 25/01/2016 18:21

It depends on how much of a live wire he is. My dc would have coped with that just fine at that age.

tootsietoo · 25/01/2016 18:24

At 2 1/2 it's about getting you both out of the house and keeping busy! I would say pack your days as full as you can, if you prefer being out and about to being at home. It's definitely not too much, and as long as he's happy and not exhausted then it's fine.

starry0ne · 25/01/2016 18:25

My rule of thumb at that age was a maximum of one activity a day .. Is this on top of nursery or is he is with you... If he has nursery too if he is with you not too much at all

Original poster
JazzyLake · 25/01/2016 18:26

Nope, doesn't start nursery yet :)

OP posts:
curlycat · 25/01/2016 18:26

I found when mine were small they did loads. As they got older they started to pick and chose and it lessened. Now at 16 and 12 i have a dancer and a table tennis player. I think its good when they are small to let them try lots - how else will they know what they like or what they are good at. As long as they enjoy it i think its fine..

Muskateersmummy · 25/01/2016 18:31

My dd is 3 and she does dancing and cooking classes. She's then in preschool for 3 days a week doing lots of things. Weekends are our time as a family but she will be starting swimming soon too.

HeyMicky · 25/01/2016 18:38

DD is 3.5 and does swimming, ballet, gymnastics and RugbyTots. Swimming is only 30 mins, ballet and rugby 45 mins ; only gymnastics is a full hour.

We'll drop back to 2 of these (still TBC which) once I go back to work after mat leave and she's back in full time nursery.

CalleighDoodle · 25/01/2016 18:40

I did one activity every week day when they were babies / toddlers. We did swimming, with something from the following list... ballet, music class, baby sign, baby massage, gymtots, pram fit (but they slept through that), rhyme time, messy play, craft sessions, soccer tots.

Now they are 4 and 5. We do swimming. My dd5 does irish dancing and rainbows. She wants to do gymnastics but i work long hours and simply cant get her there. My ds4 does swimming and a music class and thats it!

CalleighDoodle · 25/01/2016 18:41

Just remembered it was rugby tots he did, not soccer tots:

Pobspits · 25/01/2016 18:44

My kids are older now when Ds was 2.5 he did art class, tumble tots and football. When dd was 2.5 she did - erm- nothing. Blush

They're 9 and 5.5 now and little one just does football and ds does football 4 times a week and Cubs one time a week.

GloGirl · 25/01/2016 18:44

1 thing a day - be it an activity or play group or play date is what I liked before baby #2 so that doesn't sound too much to me.

Triliteral · 25/01/2016 19:08

We used to go to the park, or I used to drink coffee with friends, some of whom also had children. Occasionally we'd go to the library. They seem to be turning out fine. But I think it's very dependent upon what suits you, your child and your budget. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

BackforGood · 25/01/2016 19:23

At 2.5 - none! They can't follow group instructions at that age - why on earth would you take them to a class? Confused

I used to get out every day, but nothing structured, just stuff to use up energy and get them out in the fresh air.

However, if you are enjoying them and it's not putting pressure on the family budget, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

ZanyMobster · 25/01/2016 19:51

That sounds lovely OP, if he is not at nursery then it's fine.

Many 2.5 yo can follow group instructions at that age or even younger. 2.5 yos can enjoy activities also, not just the parents. A group of us went to singing groups from 9 months and the DCs joined in with what they could. They were at tumble tots once they could walk and joined in perfectly well. They were pretty average really and of course some of the little ones could not follow the instructions but the majority of the class did.

It is only too much if you are struggling for time, money or your DCs are not enjoying it/too tired. If that's not the case then it's no ones business.

thegiddylimit · 25/01/2016 20:01

At that age my PFB (and her little sister) did swimming and jolly babies (music) and went to nursery 3 days a week. My PNTC does nothing but nursery, although he'll start swimming at 3.

So much depends on the family lifestyle, if you are a SAHM then it's good for you to get out and about as well. If you work FT there's not much time to squash everything in, my DDs are at school now and do football, swimming, gymnastic and Brownies. The family diary is full of the kids social engagements and DH and I plan our working hours round the kids.

HighwayDragon1 · 25/01/2016 20:04

4 - gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, rainbows.

Tues,Weds,Fri,Sat

ElasticPants · 25/01/2016 20:48

Dd1 has swim club on Sunday,Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. She goes to Cubs in Tuesdays also.

Dd2 swims in a Sunday and Wednesday and goes to beavers in Thursday.

Provencalroseparadox · 25/01/2016 20:53

My two have always done loads, from an early age. They swapped and changed more when they were younger than they do now.

Your schedule looks fine to me.

witsender · 25/01/2016 20:56

None really, and none at that age. Bar a nature tot/forest school type thing. At 5 Dd is considering rainbows and has done ballet, and goes riding every other week. At 3.5 Ds does forest school a morning a week.

They both swim a lot in my parents' pool And do a lot of activities with us...sailing, riding etc. I don't like rushing around after school, and they like the time to run around with each other and chill out.

Hihohoho1 · 25/01/2016 20:57

As long as you and your ds are happy and enjoy them sounds lovely op. Ignore your mum.

TheAnswerIsYes · 25/01/2016 21:24

When my DS was three he did an activity/class each day (swimming, dance, music classes, forest school, art) then did playdates, playgrounds, library visits, gymnastics in the afternoons. This changed when he started school and now at 4.5yo he only does drama and swimming as extra activities.

Do however much your child is happy with. It will all change when he's older.

RubbleBubble00 · 25/01/2016 21:29

I was at a different activity everyday when dc were that age. When they started preschool we dropped activities. Now in school they swim once a week and any in school activity they want to do

TFPsa · 25/01/2016 21:51

A sensible number of activities is, I suppose, one that kids and parents enjoy and get something out of.

In the main, activities are very good for kids. This said, there are fewer more pathetic sights than the [mercifully rare] modern middle class mother who allows herself to become so obsessed with cramming in extra activities that it's allowed to have a damaging impact on fundamental things like sleep, nap, mealtimes, budgets, normal non-rushed family time, etc.

mrtwitsglasseye · 25/01/2016 21:52

Yup, preschoolers it's fine. Once they start school it becomes too much. But as long as they have plenty of down time, time to be kids...then a few activities here and there are fine.

My three year old does two mornings at preschool, two home ed groups (older brother is HE), rhyme time and gymnastics.

Six year old (at school) just does Rainbows.

Eight year old (Home Educated) does Cubs, Judo, Science club and climbing. He would do less if in school.

teeththief · 25/01/2016 22:19

When you're at home all day every day with them I don't see why it matters what you do with your day. Doing swimming, ballet or gymnastics in a class is no different to swimming with a parent or dancing around the living room but someone else is doing it with them while you chill out a bit! My DC are 11 and 9 now. They've always been busy children. The 11 year is doing less of a variety now and focusing on one thing. The 9 year old does something different every night of the week plus something on a Saturday.