5 year old activities and wrap around care

[bumblebee39]

As of January (building up to it gradually)

Monday- normal school day, homework
Tuesday- normal school day, spelling practice, swimming lesson
Wednesday- normal school day, spelling practice, youth group (after school club but nothing to do with school)
Thursday- breakfast club, school day, after school club at school
Friday- breakfast club, school day, after school club at school
Saturday- morning swimming and macdonalds, tablet time and homework in afternoon
Sunday- pyjama morning, either seeing family, people over for a roast, or a play date

Weekends will be flexible due to party invites etc. But mostly stick to that.

She is very active and school doesn't tire her out. I don't want to overdo it but need thurs/fri her brother will be in nursery those days.

Does that sound like too much? Or fairly average/normal? I don't want to overwhelm her but currently just school is not tiring her out at all...

Is this reception or year 1?

Why swimming twice a week?

Or I think I understand now. Are you adding activities to tire her out? My dd does a similar amount (without the wraparound care) but not really any homework other than 10 mins on her reading books and the odd quick spelling or maths test that I make up. Seems pretty standard ime.

Adding activity to tire her out
One swim is to learn one is to practice and have fun as a family
Before/after school club 2 days a week is necessary
Sorry yes year 1 X

There's not much down time. Personally I think it's too much structure.

I think judge in your own child.

Add slowly . The other thing to consider beginning of term full of beans by the end tired and grumpy

Lots of children have wrap around care before and after school every day so I don't think twice a week is too much. I don't think swimming every Saturday is necessary though. I would hate to have all my weekends planned out like that in advance but we're all different.

She used to be at nursery FT and just can't adjust to having less to do.
I did say the weekends were flexible. But swimming works really well for us as a family and it will be harder/nigh on impossible once DC3 arrives

I'd say that was fairly normal. I've tried to actively give my yr1 child more (no screen time) down time to do exactly as she wants - usually colouring, sticking, board games or role play with her sister as I know her school is much more structured in yr1 and she doesn't get much play time. She does swimming lessons one eve, and ballet at the weekend.
Weekends vary but we usually go for a walk/scoot park trip both days, plus like to go for a coffee, visit family, plus more free play. Homework at weekends and reading every night.
I think kids at this age need time to just play and use their imaginations.

That sounds like quite a lot to me but you're the best judge of your child.

I think sometimes issues occur when kids do loads of activities when they are younger and then are very reluctant to cut down when they are older and need more time for homework.

Id steer away from relying on other activities and other people to tire your child out. Start thinking of things you can do together. For example go to the park afterschol? Invite a school friend to come too maybe? Invite a schoolfriend round and have coffee while they play?
Think of ways to play with your child or places to take them to play (we have lots of different places to walk or parks as well as play areas). Cooking together.

I dont think they should have so much homework you have to timetable a lot of time. 10mins on spellings maybe? They should have time to freeplay.

However we have done a lesson a week and often a family swim at the weekend. We love swimming. Or a walk or a trail. Your timetable looks fine.

I like structure and acitivites for my kids too, I have to actively remind myself to make time for unstructured play. I think it looks ok although homework once a week is enough and I would have more outdoor time (it's all very indoor based) at the weekend and swap the youth group for a sports club.

Homework is just a weekly reading book and spellings but she's struggling with both so take longer than I'd like. I have spoken to the school and am meeting with them regarding homework because it seems to be set with just a couple of days to complete. She's a much more physical child anyway and I struggle to get her to engage with "book learning"

We will still have Monday afternoons and weekends for park etc. Weekend probably sounds much more structured than the reality (fairly flexible depends when people are available for meet ups/play dates).

Read the book Simplicity parenting

Less is more

The wrap around carer is to take her to the activities?

No wrap around care is the breakfast and after school club provided by the school X