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

@AnEpisodeOfEastenders

That’s what happens at private school. He could always go to the local comp, start at 8:45am and finish at 3pm with no extra curricular activities, I know which I would prefer for mine.

Thank you Sometimes I lose sight of this reality

My DD does similar at her prep school several days a week. My advice is to think really carefully about food - food is fuel! High protein breakfast, high calorie snacks (not rice cakes and celery sticks) and then I collect DD at 6.30pm with something high calorie and yummy. Then home to a big meal. On some days the class teacher or nurse will prompt her to have extra snacks which I send in so they can have them on hand.

Water polo every single day seems a bit excessive, even if he likes it. If you're worried about the length of the school day, on the face of it the answer is either for you to make other arrangements to collect him straight after school, or to put him into a non-physical after-school activity.

Does he ever get time to do homework?

I have a child out of the house 7am until 7pm at a private school. Not quite as much sport as that but it’s a very sporty school. They do adapt. They’re tired at first but he loves it. I think they get down time towards the end of the day.

Other DS (long story- didn’t want to go to private school) is home at 3.08pm every day. So that’s far worse in my eyes. So much time to kill after school.

I think try it and see how he gets on. I would always er on the side of too much sport than too little. Especially sport they enjoy! There’s so many benefits for them.

Try it. Let him see what it’s like.

Agree with the fuel comments. He will need to eat loads.

On the advice of a nutritionist I use a protein powder suitable for teenagers (DS13) just to bulk up protein and calories.

@Whatayear81 most local comps have a wide range of extracurricular activities after school.

@Soubriquet

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

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

This.

Just send him with a lucozade for breakfast!

[quote Benjispruce5]@Whatayear81 most local comps have a wide range of extracurricular activities after school.[/quote]
None of the 3 that I’ve had children / stepchildren at have had anything more than netball, football and science club. Not a wide range at all - and two are on the same day!

Go for it. Mine both went to a sporty prep and hated sport, I'd have been delighted in this level of activity.

He's been given an opportunity that he may not get given again and he's very keen to try it. Just let him. He'll soon discover if he hates it, and what are they reasonably going to do if he quits after week one? Nothing, is the answer.

I understand your concerns but I’d let him try it and see how it goes. Some kids are just ultra sporty, his stamina will increase with more activity. It’s no bad thing unless he finds it too much. If he does then you can withdraw him from it.

I am a swimmer! Early sessions a part of the package once they are at squad level. Let him do it! He sounds really motivated (might change as he becomes a teenager). So great to hear about a kid happy to miss sleep to do sport rather than be awake at unholy hours on a phone or console! Good luck to him and his team!

I think he'll be fine, my 10 year old does school- after school club, then tkd at 530 followed by football at 7pm. I just make sure he's well fed.

Yes send him to the local primary where you’re lucky to get a place at an £8 an hour before and after school club where they just run round the hall and get a couple of pieces of toast if they’re lucky 😂 sorry to be facetious but you send your kids to a school with all these facilities and they’re going to want to use them!!

DS tired and hungry but fine after his sporty day. If it’s once a week go for it!
His is only once a week- his other clubs are choir and nature club. He has PE/ games/ swimming on Thursdays and Fridays as well so does get two school days with no sports. He also has two free lunchtimes a week.

@AnEpisodeOfEastenders

That’s what happens at private school. He could always go to the local comp, start at 8:45am and finish at 3pm with no extra curricular activities, I know which I would prefer for mine.

Yep, I'd give anything for my two to want to do all that sport and have those opportunities. School is 8.30-3.00pm here with no after school clubs (that they're interested in)

I would let him try , it’s only 1day , I find if they love an activity then nothing stops them doing it , and if he then feels it’s too much then drop it.

Would be too much for my b active and healthy 9 yr old

I would let him try. My 6yo copes with going to breakfast club (leaving the house by around 7.45am), a full day at school, after school club and then being picked up from there to go to football training from 6-7 twice a week and 5-6 another night. You never know what he can shoulder. And if he is naturally sporty which it sounds like he is, he will enjoy it.

Would be too much for my 9 year old too. However she would know it was too much and wouldn’t ask / want to do it. The opportunities at his school sound amazing so you should let him have a go and see what he thinks.

Maybe get a dry bag or a wet bag for his morning swimming trunks at least if not his towel - just otherwise sometimes it can make the other lot damp which is grim.

He's a kid and should have tons of energy. Just needs a good nights sleep and snacks galore. It'll be the making of him if he turns out to be a talented swimmer. Let him try and see how he gets on for a term.

That's a late start for morning swimming training! We had DS in the pool at 6.30 twice a week from 9 onwards- the level of commitment needed from swimmers and families is pretty mad. DS retired from the sport in the autumn and I don't miss the hours.

However, there is a lot of good to come out of it. Just load up on carbs the night before and have a milkshake ready for coming out the pool. The sugars etc need to be replaced in the first 20 minutes after training in an ideal world.