What activities/hobbies/classes do you recommend for kids?

[StrawBlueRas]

This might seem like a weird question but I have two young kids aged 6 and 8.

They currently play football once a week. They enjoy playing, learning, exploring, etc.

I really want to nurture their brains as honestly this might sound mean but I feel like they’re just turning into zombies half the time. They go to school, come home, eat, read a book or two, watch tv, play together and go to bed.

What kind of activities or hobbies or classes would you recommend for young kids to get their skills increased and confidence improved etc?

I’m looking for something affordable but willing to spend a bit extra if it’s worth it for the kids!

Do you have a circus school in your area? Its been brilliant for my children, teaching them new skills and increasing confidence with performing.

I'd also try another scout group if you can, see if its any better.

My youngest is 8 and is doing all the activities he can this year - football, ice hockey, circus school, wrestling, and scouts, and loves them all!

If it is affordable (and you have time), I'd try to encourage one sport, a music lesson, dancing, some kind of self-defence and maybe something social like Beavers/Boys' Brigade/Cadets/Woodcraft Folk if they're in your area. I read that you've already tried Beavers before, but groups vary, depending on the leaders.

DS 3.5 does climbing and gymnastics; he’ll start swimming lessons this summer and football in September.

Mine do Beavers, swimming (I see this as an essential skill), drama, guitar and one does rugby, other does gym. I think it’s a good idea to let them try things and see what they enjoy!

Drama. Stagecoach if they are good, and Perform is v inclusive for kids who aren’t confident

Mine do orienteering, climbing and fell running. Well we all do. We’re very outdoorsy. These sports are great as we all take part together as a family.

In terms of skills they do Italian, musical instruments and engineering club.

Mine have to do a club every school day - and before anyone jumps in, they finish school at 3, some clubs are barely 1 hour, so being home by 4:30 or 4:45 is nothing outrageous, other countries barely finish the school day by then 😂even in primary.
Half the clubs are free because they're after school clubs taken by a teacher, so they start pretty much immediately after school hours.

swimming is mandatory
one musical instrument on the day they have PE at school (I am not sure why to be honest, school PE is not exactly taxing 😂)
then they have to pick 2 sports they want to do, they do martial arts, dance, and football
and then they can pick a club they like, could be drama, dance, beavers etc.. or another sport if they like. It varies, there's a science club at school at the moment, one of them is really keen on that, so why not.

Saturdays and Sundays they tend to have part 2 (or part 3) of one of their clubs, with matches, competition

Swimming was non negotiable in our house but luckily the kids loved it. Think it was £25: a month, so £50! for my two.
Kickboxing my daughter loves that, she's been doing it for 8 years now. Not too expensive £4.50 for an hour lesson. At the one my DD goes to you only pay when you attend so if you're on holiday/ill there's no extra cost.
Cubs is also a good idea, although I have to say my niece and nephew didn't really enjoy it until they went in to Scouts which they said is better. Bit disappointed my DD missed out on that (she did rainbows, brownies and guides) because I think she would have preferred it but I'm sure it was only for boys at that time.

Mine does swimming lessons, cubs and learns guitar through school.
The only thing I wanted him to do no matter what was swimming lessons. Cubs and guitar are more tailored to who he is as a person, he wouldn't get on with football.

During the school day, my daughter is enrolled in choir, chess club, and piano, and she is also learning French. After school, she takes part in archery, coding, theatre, and cheerleading. Outside of school, she does swimming and tennis.

Activities and clubs she has tried and enjoyed include cooking, knitting, football, cricket, gymnastics, golf, and Spanish lessons. Activities she tried but didn’t take to were Brownies, taekwondo, modern and tap dance, and violin.

At school, my son participates in archery, Lego club, football, and science club. Outside of school, he does swimming and tennis. He has tried taekwondo and enjoyed it, and he is currently on the waiting list for piano and Beavers.

The enrichment clubs at school usually finish around 4:30pm, so it doesn’t run too late. Each summer, the children learn a new activity. Last year it was golf, and this year it will be horse riding.

Other activities on our list for them to try include guitar, drums, fencing, sailing, skateboarding, and street dancing. At this stage, we think it’s great for the children to explore different activities, learn new skills, and see what they are really interested in and maybe in time a few of these activities will develop into long-term hobbies.