AIBU to say no to all these activities.

[islandofsodor]

Dd is 6 next month and has just gone into year 1. Her school offers a variety of after school activities.

Dd loves drama and dance and as has done Stagecoach for 2 years as dh works there. She is due to move from the 90 minute class on a Friday after school to the 3 hour class on Saturday afternoons next week.

Last year she did ballet after school on a Wednesday, Gymbobs on a Thursday (she conned me into that after I had to take her to ds's Tumble Tots one week when term finished early)and STtagecoach on Friday. She was always complaining she couldn't do singing club at school as it clashed with Stagecoach. I have made her give up Gymbobs as her new ballet class (she passed her exam) clashes.

In addition she has been learning the recorder with me at home, she wanted to join lunchtime recorder club at school but wasn't allowed in reception, she watched the older ones playing at the Easter assembly so I bought her one but she has done pretty well for a 5 year old and practices at least 3-4 times a week. She is very enthusiastic about all her activities.

Anyway, this year she has brought home the after school clubs list and this is what she WANTS to do:

Monday - Country Dancing 3.30pm - 4.00pm
Tuesday - Ballet 3.45pm - 4.30pm
Wednesday - Gymnastics 3.30pm - 4.00pm
Thursday - Design & Technology 3.30pm - 4.00pm
Friday - Singing Club - 3.30- 4.15pm
Saturday - Stagecoach 2.30pm - 5.30pm

She will also be allowed to do lunchtime recorder club and possibly choir at school. I have no choice over those, they sign themselves up with no parental input.

I have said no to country dancing and D & T. Dd is not happy. The Country Dancing is non negotiable as I would have to pay for that but AIBU to say no to D & T. It doesn't make any difference in terms of invonvenience, in fact a 4.00pm instead of 3.20pm pickup from school would be easier. My sole reason is that I don't think a 6 year old should be doing so much.

And she has only been invited to one playdate in the last 12 months, I can't return the favour as dh works from home teaching.

If she hasn't got that much homework yet I'd say let her go if no extra cost involved and see how she copes with school/tiredness during term and decide afterwards.

My dd just started Y1 and she'll be doing spanish and gymnastics after school. That's paid for activities as unfortunately we aren't that lucky re what school offers Saying that they do a lot of lunch time clubs which I let dd attend. Dd also wants to do ballet but a) I'm broke and b) I think it would be too much. However, if she keeps pestering me I'll sign her up for next temr and will make her go no matter how tired because then she'll learn if she wants something and gets her way it has consequences... especially if mum has paid for it... YOU'R GOING! Only way to get the message through to her that she's not supergirl ;)

I think if it were me, I'd let her do them on the understanding that if she can't get up for school or becomes whingy/ difficult then you will stop some of them. I bet she will be fine though, none of them are long classes and they are all fun.

Speaking as a parent who has to force her dcs to do after school activities a bit, I am just at your dd!! She sounds fabulous and I would be tempted to let her get on with it. What a super school as well!

I find my daughter is a lot more easy to be around when she has activities. Dance and swimming give her a sense of self, she has something that is just hers and she relishes the chance to have her independence. She's four by the way, I think I forgot to mention that in my last post

Agnes

islandofsodor, I have just returned to this thread and see that your dd can cook already! Where did you get this child? Did you buy her?

I think it is a bit much. She'll be knackered and not enjoy it all even though she thinks she will. My DD went through a phase of wanting to do everything and ended up quite frazzled and giving much of it up. She now rides and it's so expensive that I've seriously limited her other activities. She's quite happy with that now.

So long as you don't have to drive her there and everywhere I think let her do it! Be thankful that she wants to do all of this. I have an 8 year old that is too shy to do anything.

She can cook yes, but send her to tidy her room, or go and get undressed ready for bed or to go and out her shoes on and she forgets what she is doing and you find her in the middle of her room, with no clothes on, dancing or reading a book.