To cut down to one or two activities per weekend

[Carinattheliqorstore1]

During the week DS goes to afterschool club to 5pm, 3 out of 5 nights. The other nights we have a “hot chocolate” date or his grandparents take him out. He also does a couple of sports classes.

Later last year we seemed to spend our weekends going to activities all the time. Eg one weekend it was swimming, and 3 birthday parties. Another weekend it was swimming, play date at the trampolines, a birthday part. The next day another play date and a Santa visit.

His behavour wasn’t always great, but I didn’t want him to miss out on anything.

But the weekend before Christmas he had a cold and we ended up staying in all weekend. His behavior miraculously improved.

I was speaking to my mum about this, and she thinks I over schedule him, and the poor love needs downtime.

Would i be unreasonable to try and cut it down to just one or two activities per weekend so that he gets to chill at home? I’m just worried that he’ll miss out on stuff or be left behind; but I think his busy schedule is knackering him.

Roughly how old is he (you don't have to say exactly but the stamina of a 5 year old is very different to that of a 10 yo)

6 years old!

Seems the obviously sensible thing to do. Prioritise the things he gets most out of and reduce the amount of commitments overall and I doubt you'll regret it. I can't see why you wouldn't do that.

Swimming is important. I would stick with that, but if he is in a reception class of 30 and they are all doing whole class birthdays it can get a bit much. You are doing high energy play dates too. If he is reception age I think a get together doing Brio trains at home might be enough

Sorry, crossed post was assuming reception,

I'm exhausted just reading about it. I'm not surprised if he's tired.

Oh for gawds sake let him be...
The best lesson any child can learn is how to entertain and occupy themselves.
He needs downtime.. just to be.
He does not need stimulation all the time.
Boredom is a great teacher.. he will learn to use his own imagination.. not rely on someone else providing entertainment.
'What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare'
Apologies to W H Davies...

Sounds very tiring, he needs some down time too. Definitely cut fown

Down

He’s in p2, but because his first year at school was little socializing and parties due to COVID, there have been lots of whole class parties. We also have a few different groups of friends with kids his age (I went to lots or toddler and baby classes etc, and our friends all started procreating at the same sort of time as us: so we are often invited to parties and group events.

Children need to chill out as much as adults. Cut out something. He sounds over subscribed to me

What times do his activities finish? Is he doing activities after he has been to after school club? That would be too much for my little one. My DD1 is in year 1 and she is allowed a max of 3 activities a week other wise she gets too tired.

Oh my goodness, yes he’s way over scheduled! Kids need rest and recuperation time.

Is after school club necessary? Could one of those days be cut in favour of the grandparent trip?

If possible I'd try and pull the swimming into the week, if need be prioritised over another sport for now. And try to cut down the weekends activities. So he only does 1 or 2 max, and not early mornings. Give him time to catch up.

We have protected weekends since mi e were small. We do do birthday parties as I think those are important socially. And sometimes that makes for a manic weekend. But mostly we try and keep weekends for low key family activities.

One of the few positives of the first lockdown for us was realising we didn't NEED to leave the house every day. DC quite happy playing in the garden or our v quiet culture de sac. We won't be going back to the extra curricular chaos. 2 activities during the week and 1 at the weekend (but not every weekend!). Much happier all round.

My 6 year old goes to school (P2) and then after school care til 6 two nights a week. One of those nights he then has beavers at 6:30 so it's a long long day, but he loves beavers.

At weekends he has football on a Saturday morning and rugby on a Sunday, plus all the neverending parties that seem to be happening these days.

My younger son also does football, plus drama and gymnastics but he's at home more (I work part time) so it feels more balanced. He also loves parkrun and we did that for a few weeks with both boys but the older one was exhausted and still had rugby to go to.

Basically, I'm in the same boat. He has asked for all these activities but I'm worried he's got too much on and he's often tired. We have quite a bit of downtime at home some weeks after school, but others it feels a bit much. No answers really but I totally get how you feel.

I think it’s just quite normal for lots of people we know to have their kid at lots of activities. Most of the ones we know have their children in multiple regular activities on the weekend (ie swimming and dancing on a Saturday, tennis on a Sunday). Some are at so many parties they have to leave early to
Get to the next one!

And are all of these kids of the lots of people you know happy kids? Or are they burned out like yours?.
Think about it.. adults work Mknday to Friday and consider the weekend to be downtime.
Your son is working Monday to Friday.. so when is his downtime if he has a full on schedule at the weekend too.
You could just stay at home as a family, have a lazy day, make pizza together.. bum around and watch a film...TALK....
More is not better nine times out of ten.