To not do extra curricular activities for a 5 year old?

[Mollylikestodance]

We have two dcs - one age 5 in Reception, and a little one still in nursery. For our 5 year old we don't do any extra curricular activities. AIBU?

It seems that most of her class do tennis/football/drama/a faith school/music/something once or twice a week.... and we just... don't!

We both work - my DH full time and me 4 days. So she's in after school club at her school 4 days which makes week nights impossible.
On the day she's not, I wouldn't want to tie ourselves down to a planned activity as we go to the park with friends/have play dates etc.

At the weekends, we are very very active - we love family days out to farms, zoos, museums, attractions etc. and will do that at least one of the days. The other weekend day we will see friends, family, go to the park, go out to eat. In the holidays we go away a lot. I feel like at the moment the kids are so young they benefit more from this than being tied to a schedule of classes?

What's normal? We are starting to feel bad that she's one of the minority of children not doing all of these extra classes and courses - but surely there's so much time for that in a couple of years..?

AIBU?

All kids are different. My ds is 5yo and does Tennis, Drama, Swimming and Football. He absolutely loves it all. They offer it in school though. He wanted to do one more but I felt he needed one down day during the week. I found socializing with kids outside his group also benefits him.

But if they're in after school then they are doing extra curricular activities!
And swimming.

Our eldest started in Reception in Sep and we'd put off activities for fear of less flexibility at weekends, but when classes started again after the latest lockdown we signed up for science classes on a Sat morning. We now tend to balance the weekend with science class til 10.30 and then travel from there to the park/a day out. Sunday is then our day to be at home, get sorted for the week ahead etc. We're on waiting lists for swimming and as the science class is suitable for both our 3 and nearly 5 year old in the same session, it saves the juggle we'd have for dance/sports lessons that are staggered times. The topic of class definitely seems more suitable for our eldest too.

Mine did swimming lessons
A year or so of Brownies

Nothing else....oh one had a musical instrument lesson around the age of 11 for a year.

Thanks so much to all for all of the responses - it sounds like a real mix and depends on what works for each child and each family.

I agree with everyone that swimming is a must. Her last term of lessons had finished and we go as a family but I think we should continue the lessons 👍🏽

At after school club it's a variety of play, crafts and sports. She will also do some holiday clubs over the summer for a total of three weeks (barracudas etc.) which I think will be a great opportunity to try some new things and see what she likes.

Perhaps now she has settled in school (it was so stop and start with the lockdown) she will be ready to start something else once she goes back in September. She'll be 5 1/2 then and might feel more confident to try things.

Really appreciate hearing everyone's experiences!

Ps thank you to @anxietyanonymous who kindly dispelled exactly what I was fearing - that we are 'depriving' her of something. Appreciate your post.

Despite no clubs we do work hard to ensure the kids have loads of variety...

Also, someone mentioned science club which sounds amazing!! Think she would love that.

One thing that does interest me, why do so many parents encourage kids to take up extra curricular activities and then complain that their DPs have 'hobbies ' which they don't want to give up.

Do you not realise that the hobby is just the grown up version of the extra curricular activity.

@sweeneytoddsrazor

One thing that does interest me, why do so many parents encourage kids to take up extra curricular activities and then complain that their DPs have 'hobbies ' which they don't want to give up.

Do you not realise that the hobby is just the grown up version of the extra curricular activity.

I think it always depends on the amount of time and money spend on activities.

I don't mind a hobby but if it eats into time and means other family members have to step back all the time then it is worth re-thinking.

I wouldn't be happy for DD to have a hobby where she would be off all weekend and evenings. I also wouldn't want DH to do it and neither would I think it would be fair me having such a hobby.

This is one reason I am always against DD even considering for a loan horse as it would be just impractical for all of us.

It's fine! If you do swimming as a family then water confidence will come and that is the key to swimming..my DD never had lessons. ,we just went together for fun.,she's a great swimmer now . I took my DD to tap at age 6...but she was an only child and not overly confident...it really helped. ,but honestly I speak to some mums at dance and they are rushing here there and everywhere..class after class after class. .its all a bit mad tbh