To get ds to do after school clubs when I’m at home?

[kpopdemonhunterz]

Ds is reception and honestly I find the after school slot (330-630 ish) a real slog, especially in winter.

School have got wraparound which I don’t technically need but was wondering about signing him up anyway a couple of times a week. Or is that mean?

Our school does both after school activity clubs like sport, choir, Lego etc for 1 hour and a wraparound club until 6pm. Everyone is encouraged to sign up for the activity clubs (they are free for children on FSM), they are seen as positive enrichment beyond the curriculum. So yes I would have no hesitation, providing your child isn’t the kind who is shattered at 3:30 (some are, esp in reception).

My children have been in wraparound until 6pm 5 days since reception but that’s necessity due to work, but they have always enjoyed the time with friends.

I’m going to go again the grain here and say I’m a big fan or after school activities/ wrap around.

DD is calmer and in better spirits if she doesn’t come home at 3.15. I think it’s because school is so cerebral and actually running around like mad in the playground for a couple of hours blows off steam at the end of the day whereas if she comes home straight away she’s kind of still bamboozeled by all the learning and just wants to stare at the tv!

Absolutely fine as long as it is something he would enjoy.

I put middle in after school clubs that I know he’ll like or find interesting and think will help him with his ADHD. I do talk to him about it and he’s happy about them.

It’s usually 3:15 - 4:15 pm. He gets to explore something new once a week that he can’t at home or something he likes with his schoolmates and the clubs are free.

After-school clubs, activity based things he'd enjoy, go for it.

I’m currently not working and I’m keeping my DS in his after school activity clubs (Lego, Crafts and Drama) which run to 4.30 but not using the wrap around care which runs until 6. He loves the clubs and gets to do so many fun things with his friends - it’s like an extra play date for them.

My son used to get cheesed off if I turned up early from work to pick him up when he was in wrap around clubs

I’d absolutely take advantage of the school doing activity clubs based on his interests so 100% I’d sign him up for lego and the sports one. I wouldn’t use the generic wrap around club if I didn’t actually need the childcare as it’s a bit rubbish and in our case seems to generic playing with toys whilst being supervised by bored looking teens and getting fed a jam sandwich!

My eldest has done enrichment clubs after school since reception and I don't need it for childcare - it's a way for her to do activities like dance, martial arts etc that we might have considered anyway (but it's all the more convenient for being on site at school). The activity finishes at 4.25pm and then she's home by 4.35pm, so it's not a long addition to the day. It was definitely handy when my youngest was a baby & toddler as it meant I only had to deal with 2 dcs at once for a shorter period (DH gets home at 5.30pm).

Wraparound care is different, it runs until 6pm and they don't pick up new skills or have any adult input. I wouldn't send her there except for childcare if we needed it, or perhaps if a friend was going and they wanted to play together.

I think the half term before Christmas is the hardest for them - so much going on and so overstimulating that it is a hard one in terms of after school entertainment and meltdowns/tiredness. My LO has done one day a week since starting school because we have to and he does love it but I’m not sure I would if we didn’t have to. Especially as homework etc starts to increase and there’s less time for play.

can you set up a game for him during the day that’s ready fur when he gets home to play independently?

That’s kind of what our after school provision is like but it’s not like I I’d be reading Shakespeare to them at home or something - they’d just be playing with toys at home (or whinging for TV!) and they get the benefit of lots of social interaction with friends and running round the playground.

Honestly, I don't know many kids who go home and stay home after school?

They have swimming (they ALL seem to have swimming 😂), various sports, Beavers, and all the school clubs - lego being one.

Add playdates and meet-ups in soft plays with other mums, I don't think my kids ever spent 1 afternoon at home alone. As soon as the weather is better, at worst it's meet-ups in parks straight after school so you don't have to come home until 5 or 5:30 so theres' time for "homework" (which wasn't much in reception)

Thanks. I don’t feel as guilty about it now 😂

I called it wraparound as that kind of is what the wraparound provision is. It isn’t a very big school so they have an after school club until 430. An external provider (a sports company) does it two days a week and the other three are run by school staff: Lego, crafts and film club. He wouldn’t be interested in crafts and I’m trying to reduce screen time, but I think Lego and the basketball would be enjoyable for him.

A short club doing an activity he enjoys with his friends sounds great. He will decompress and have fun. I do the same with my reception child whilst having a young baby at home. I collect my DD at 4:30 after having done tennis or drawing club and she’s had a much nicer time than she would with me whilst I’m juggling with the baby!

Depends on your child. My dc1 did it no problems two days a week when I was at work.
Dc2 struggled (youngest in school year) but luckily they made him a nap corner so he could power snooze which worked well as 30min nap and he was raring to go.
Dc3 coped just fine too
And they did enjoy it as it was only twice a week so didn't get repetitive

WHY would you ever feel guilty?

If the poor kid is sobbing going to the club, then yes, remove him, but doing fun stuff after school, possibly meeting new friends? Thats' brilliant.

Clubs are a treat, not a punishment, They never start too early.

I read somewhere that in Primary school we should encourage them to do as many and as diverse clubs as possible, so they find what they like and hopefully stick with 1 or 2 in secondary school.

Playdates are great, but it's easier for parents to stick with clubs 😂

If it’s a club that he’d like then go for it.

I guess because I keep reading about how tired they are in reception. And it’s not as if I have no other choice.

I do think you have confused people by implying you were going to put him into wraparound school provision.

What you are talking about is allowing him to go to a 'hobby' / 'sports' / 'interest' club after school for an hour, yes?

Which is quite different.

Personally, (having been a Reception teacher) I think most 4 yr old are tired enough by the school day. I know many of us (me included) needed to use wraparound care because we were at work, but if you don't then most dc would be better off at home and not doing additional learning after school.
The reason he has been grumpy is almost certainly because he is exhausted, as most infant - but particularly Reception - age dc are at the end of the Autumn Term. By taking him home, you have the flexibility to run around with a ball or build something with lego or just flop down with the TV or a story when that is what he needs. By signing him up, you are committing him to an extra hour of learning on those days which is not what most 4 (or 5) year olds really need.

Of course there are exceptions. But I've worked with a lot of Reception age dc.

@RecordBreakers - well, that is the schools wraparound 🤷‍♀️

He isn’t grumpy so much as a bit manic, and he does tends to get a bit destructive when manic. I feel guilty as I’m also managing a toddler and trying to sort dinner etc. It can be a long slog and in the new year I’m just looking at breaking it up a bit.

My daughter gets cross when I pick her up early from after school club! (Yr 1). If he's happy enough there then why not, if he hates it I think I'd feel bad doing it if it wasn't needed.

I’m a SAHM, but mine stay a bit later to do extra-curricular clubs run by their school. I let them know what’s on offer and give them the option. My youngest is about to start some in Reception, so I will keep an eye on how tired she is, but she is really keen to join in!

I needed to book both mine in for a few paid ASC sessions temporarily. My eldest (Year 2) absolutely loved it, so has actually continued to go 1 day a week until 5pm, and is put out friends are still there until 6pm 😂 I would not take this spot if it was needed by a working parent, but our ASC numbers are very low.

You could always try it and see how he gets on. If children are happy and enjoying these activities/social time and aren’t too tired, then fab!

Don't feel guilty about this if it makes you a better person and parent!
I've done the same and the after school clubs mean less screen time, more activity and more social time for kids. My child likes after school club less now as they are in yr 6 and is the eldest with lots of little ones, but still has to go some days and still asks to go when the after school club do themed afternoons like bake offs 😂 But when she was younger she'd happily go and didn't understand me having a day off in the week sometimes!! As a single parent with lots to squeeze in working full time, and working the weekends she was at her dads I very rarely felt guilty!

You don’t need anyone’s approval. Do what you like. If your son dislikes it then reassess.

Lots of schools do clubs and hobbies for their wraparound provision. Our school does cooking, art, sports etc.

100000% send him to after school clubs. Year 1 DS is a million times easier if he has been to one of the clubs his school offers (term just gone it was dance one night and drawing another) for an hour. He’s also bouncing off the walls and a bit manic if we’re home by 3:30pm!