We've recently moved back to the UK and my DC have joined a very nice local primary school where their classmates are very busy with extra-curricular activities after school and at weekends. Just yesterday one mum was telling me between her 2 DC they have just one evening a week which doesn't have activities. My DC (age 6 & 8) used to go to an international school where pretty much everything they did was part of the school day including CCA clubs.
My DH and I both start full time work soon and I will be out the house for work, my DH partly at an office and partly at home. On his days at home he will collect them from school but will need to bring them home and carry on working while they play/eat.
Since they've started school they've both asked if they can do lots of things in September- brownies/karate/dancing/horse riding/netball etc etc. I'd love them to do it but my research tells me all this stuff seems to start early evening - by the time I'm back from work, they've done reading and homework, eaten something, I don't see how this can all fit in. DD already joined a competitive swim club who train 2-3 evening a week (after 7pm) and me and DH are able to take her to these sessions because they're a bit later. But otherwise, how do you make all this happen around the school day and around work?! Do you just have to make them choose? I've managed to find a karate class for DS on a Saturday morning but most things seem to start between 4-6pm on a weekday which is tricky for us. I think extra stuff is fabulous and I want my DC to have every opportunity but I'm just not sure how everyone does this, particularly with more than one DC.