To say no to my DS as I think too long a day

[Whatayear81]

My children go to a very sporty independent prep school.

My almost 9 year old DS has been selected for school swim squad. He needs to be in the pool by 7.30am at school. We are a 15 min drive to school.

During the day, he will then have a double lesson of PE (would be rugby or hockey)

And then at the end of the day he has water polo club until 5.45pm.

So out the house from 7.15 to 6.20pm ish. And a very full on day.

He needs to stay on for after school water polo to fit worn my work.

I am not keen on him doing the morning swim squad but he is absolutely and utterly desperate to do it. Logistically I could do it, my question is - is it too long and full a day for a just turned 9 year old?

Normal school day - drop at 8am and pick up either 4.30 or 5.45pm

Needless to say he’s keen but this is a child fast asleep by 7.30pm every night without fail!

Tia

The reason why back at 6.20ish is that always waiting around after swimming and traffic on way back is always poor

Let him do it. He will manage or he won’t.

If he doesn’t, he won’t want to do it again.

It does sound like a super long day but if he wants to, I think you should let him try it. Just make sure to pack lots of snacks!

Could he try it for a few weeks and see how he gets on?

Can’t he try it and see how it goes?

Life of a swimmer tbh, i used to be at the pool at 05.30 and my poor parents had to facilitate it.

Let him try.

Is it every day?

If he wants to do it then let him .. make the most of it!! My kids were keen at that age - now teens and sat doing not a lot!!

Give him the opportunity to try it, you'll soon know if it's too much.

I’d let him do it. He will thrive.

That is actually quite a late start for a swimmer. I would give it a go and see how he (and you) handle it. It would be a shame to not be in a team he was selected for due to his ability.

The issue is that once you commit
You commit to the term

Ok so consensus isn’t… go for it?

Seems fine tbh. If he doesn't enjoy it then he'll stop. Plenty of kids do similar - all the others in the squad for a start..

@Whatayear81

The issue is that once you commit You commit to the term

Ok so consensus isn’t… go for it?

Yeah- definitely do it for a term.M and see how it goes.

If it was just that - I would t hesitate

But for a just turned 9 year old

To have 45 min swim
Then double rugby or hockey 2 hours later(and very full on!)
And then an hour water polo (exhausting sport!) at the end of the day

It was the combo that I was condensed about

If its just one day a week go for it. If every day its too much

Mine at 9 would have done that easily.
What’s the point in choosing and paying for a school that’s “very sporty” if you don’t want to have the advantages of that?

It’s a lot but I think you have to let him try

He'll be fine OP. Knackered but fine. He'll eat well and sleep even better. Go for it.

Definitely go for it. DS has had 7am swim squad twice a week since that age, followed by school PE lessons and then an after school sports club. He's fine - and very fit. As PP said, this is the reality of having a swimmer! The top club swimmers at DC's school are in the pool early mornings 5-6 times a week, it's completely normal.

Today DS (9) has swimming at lunchtime, rugby lesson, hockey after school club then swimming again (outside lesson but in school pool).
His day won’t be as long, leave house at 7.30, home at 5. I will see how tired he is tonight!

@Cocomarine

Mine at 9 would have done that easily. What’s the point in choosing and paying for a school that’s “very sporty” if you don’t want to have the advantages of that?

Fair point

@SilverontheTree

Today DS (9) has swimming at lunchtime, rugby lesson, hockey after school club then swimming again (outside lesson but in school pool). His day won’t be as long, leave house at 7.30, home at 5. I will see how tired he is tonight!

Let me know!

Oh he’s not a “swimmer”

I mean he’s very good
But not remotely his passion
It’s a school squad, not county