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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How many classes does your child do?

93 replies

Burnt0utMum · 07/05/2021 14:35

In ordinary times, as obviously lots of activities haven't been running recently, how many activities does your child do each week? Mine are 5 & 6 years old and currently only do swimming once a week but I feel like it'd be good to try some more activities but don't want to overload them

OP posts:

JackieTheFart · 07/05/2021 14:37

None. I want to start up swimming lessons but the place I want hasn’t got places.

They tried Cubs but didn’t like it.

HairyToity · 07/05/2021 14:38

8 year old does two classes. 3 year old none.

Triffid1 · 07/05/2021 14:38

I don't think there's a definitive answer. We've generally found we/they can cope with up to three per child. But we have a friend whose DD would be happiest if she had an activity after school every day. So it really does depend.

It also depends on whether you're the type of family who is always out and about. I often feel for those kids as they spend all weekend on long hikes or whatever, and then still have swimming, tutor, dance class, art class and cricket during the week. When do they get to chill out?

Triffid1 · 07/05/2021 14:39

Oh, and age is also a factor. 10 year old DS can and does more - and enjoys things that are longer sessions - while 7 year old DD is happier with a smaller selection of shorter classes.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/05/2021 14:39

DS does swimming, Beavers (about to move up to Cubs) and horse riding. He's nearly 8. I let him pick his own activities apart from swimming lessons which are non negotiable.

wendz86 · 07/05/2021 14:40

10 year old does 2 - gymnastics and dance (although she wants to quit dance and try something else)
5 year old does 3 - swimming, ballet and tap (the dance classes and run one after another).

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 07/05/2021 14:41

My 5 year old does a sports class after school on a Monday, swimming on a Tuesday, choir on a Thursday and three hours of Playball on a Saturday morning. It is quite a lot - maybe too much. He seems to enjoy it all except the swimming which I have said he can stop but he is very determined to become a good swimmer so he grits his teeth and continues!

My three year old isn’t at school yet. On top of nursery, she does swimming and ballet on a Tuesday, music on a Wednesday, forest school on a Thursday and three hours of Playball on a Saturday.

I’m actually a bit shocked, now that I am writing it all out! I think I got over excited when classes were opening up again!

user648482729 · 07/05/2021 14:42

My 4 year old does ballet amd will start swimming shortly

hopingforabrighterfuture2021 · 07/05/2021 14:42

Really massively depends on the child and what they like/can cope with.

My 8 year old boy does a running club, Cubs, football, gymnastics and hockey, all out of school.

My 12 year old only does gymnastics out of school, BUT loads and loads of clubs and activities at school.

icklekid · 07/05/2021 14:42

We’ve always stuck with 2- 4 year old swimming and ballet and 6 year old swimming and beavers.
To be honest this might be different if I didn’t work 4 days a week - one is a Saturday and one is the day I can pick them up from school. Definitely wouldn’t be more than 3... am still hoping my oldest might start a musical instrument next year which would count as an activity in my mind

DelurkingAJ · 07/05/2021 14:44

DS1 (8) does six in the summer. Two of those (athletics and cricket) are summer only. Otherwise swimming and Cubs on school nights and dance and trumpet at the weekend. He’s shattered but was furious at the suggestion he might drop one. Only athletics is with the school.

DS2 (5) has just swimming. He tried dance but didn’t like it and will be a Beaver next year.

Mypathtriedtokillme · 07/05/2021 14:46

Dd 7 does to Italian language classes and Swimming lessons and her 4 year old Sister does just swimming lessons.

superking · 07/05/2021 14:46

My baseline is swimming, one other after school activity, and one weekend activity. Sometimes it's been one more or less depending on time of year, as some seasonal activities overlap for a couple of months. Now my younger DS is school age and I am having to factor him into the equation too, but luckily I've managed to get them swimming at the same time so that helps with logistics.

Ilovewillow · 07/05/2021 14:46

My son (7, yr3) usually does swimming, Judo, Beavers and horse riding.

My daughter (13, yr8) currently does two orchestras, rock climbing, gymnastics and rugby.

They have always done a similar amount and done a variety to find things they really enjoy. When they were younger it was a similar amount but for shorter periods.

gwenneh · 07/05/2021 14:47

Before everything was cancelled? We had two DC doing cubs, football, and swimming, and then older DS also did skating and a game design class.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 07/05/2021 14:47

Ds9 goes to judo twice a week.
Dd6 goes to riding, family scouts and precovid gymnastics.

Tohaveandtohold · 07/05/2021 14:50

7 year old does gymnastics twice a week and swimming. She also does 1 piano class for 15 minutes at school but they do it just before closing time so no additional time commitment.

Tohaveandtohold · 07/05/2021 14:52

To add, the 2 year old does nothin but she goes to the childminder anyway

Peace43 · 07/05/2021 14:54

Gardening club just after school on Wednesday. Other than that nothing. I’m working and can’t do extra drop offs / pick ups... we do fun stuff on weekends

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 07/05/2021 14:55

At the moment just Cubs. Cricket starts soon. Joing watersports club as a family, they alread canoe with DH but we want them to have proper lessons as well. Plus swimming when I can find them lessons (we recently moved and in new town they aren't accepting new pupils into council swimming school, so looking for alternatives).
They have skiing in the winter (was dry slope before, but might be Snowdome now that's a lot closer). DDs are 8& nearly 10.

I recommend Guiding/Scouting as good all round activities, but they don't suit everyone. Beavers in mixed sex from age 6, Rainbows is girls only from 5.

FishyFriday · 07/05/2021 14:55

My DS now just does swimming. It's 7 sessions over 5 days (each 90-120 minutes long). So that's enough.

He used to do Cubs and piano lessons but there wasn't the time and he loves swimming.

So it very much depends on the time spent per activity. I've got friends whose kids go about 15 hours of gymnastics a week. You're not going to have loads of other activities alongside that.

emmathedilemma · 07/05/2021 14:57

I think swimming is important as a life skill even if you don't stick with it for long, being confident in the water, able to tread water and swim a length or two is going to set them up well for life.
You could try junior parkrun if you have one nearby. That's free and you just turn up so no need to commit to anything in advance.

Original poster

Burnt0utMum · 07/05/2021 14:58

They do the swimming at the weekend. I work all week but could take them to things in the evenings after work. I feel like they get bored quite easily when we're not doing much and do get plenty of down time at the moment. I'm working from home so pick them up from school then they have around 2 hours of free time before I finish work.

OP posts:

georgarina · 07/05/2021 15:00

3yo DS does a football class and a gymnastics class. Loves them both

BootsScootsAndToots · 07/05/2021 15:00

10 yo plays netball which is 1 x training and 1 x game per week as well as piano.

5 yo does ballet.

Never mind what's too much for them, it's what's too much for me! And this is my limit of juggling their stuff and working.

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