Not to let my kids do after school clubs

[GodzillasBumcheek]

Ok i am tackling this problem in advance, as they haven't asked yet, but;

They have a 35 minute walk home, and the clubs finish at 5.30. If they do the 35 minute walk they go through some pretty quiet short-cuts, which while fine at school closing time, when busy and it's light, i would be quite worried if they were walking home down the same places when it's dark in the winter. I can't pick them up at this time as i have a toddler and no car, and their school is well away from anywhere i am likely to go during the day.

AIBU or just cautious?

Of course ynbu! What about getting them to team up with someone who's parent does have a car and will drop your lo's off?

what about looking for other clubs in your area, closer to your home.

Not from your area, but around here there's alot of kids clubs outwith schools. Try the local community centers & sports halls closer to your house.

M - good idea but i/they would presumably have to know someone first, lol! They are only in Year 7 so don't know many people.

If they ask me if they can join a club i will make sure they ask around though, as i hadn't thought of that (being very independant, we usually think 'if we can't do it ourselves, we can't do it').

It won't take long for them to have new friends and they will probably be the reason they want to join a club anyway!

TIMDI - we have tried it.

Girl Guides is boring (well, the local one here is pretty badly organised)

The Youth Club is only one night a week and they have decided they don't like it any more!

Only other thing is Girls Brigade - and we are Aetheists, lol!

Maureen - ooo that could be another thread entirely! They are getting Very Annoyed with people.

Oh dear! Why are they annoyed with people.

@ Guides being boring! I am a Guider and we are not boring!! Although, I agree, if you don't get the right group leader, it can be pretty dire!

Can they cycle instead of walking?

Oh i used to go to Guides, and i didn't find it boring, but apparently they let the Guides choose the activities, and the activities are then without fail 'listening to music' and 'standing around talking'!
So when they got too old for Brownies, they just didn't go up.

They are very annoyed because they are a bit unusal and people are noticing!

No Scouts/ St John Ambulance/ sports clubs?

Pre booked taxi to collect? until they know someone. Pardon my ignorance but how old? Primary or secondary? Is there no bus?

or leave it til evenigns are lighter?

I was in Girl's Brigade from when I was 4 and it has changed a lot. I remember a lot of people who didn't go to church and missed out on certain badges, but they changed the system and it doesn't happen now. Most of the work isn't Christian based anyway.

I've been in St John since I was 12 and highly recommend it. The Proficiencies cover a lot of things, plus the duties are fun and of course the first aid skills they teach are invaluable (and even at 12 what you learn in FA is far better than what the office FA'er would have done).

as they are year 7 there is plenty going on for them new at the moment as it is - leave it.

or how about scouts? quite fun

Oh and because of the relationship you end up building in St John you can nearly always guarantee someone will give you a lift. You need to be able to trust the people you work with, even when you're talking about young Cadets, so there is a lot of social to it and looking out for each other.

Hard to say wiothout knowing your area but I think you might be being unreasonable

Good point about the lighter evenings actually. If they don't 'gel' with anyone for a while, then suggest they wait for the spring/summer after school timetable. The evenings will be light again and you may feel slightly more at ease about them coming home together at that time in the afternoon.

I know I was petrified of DD doing anything after school the first term of yr 7, but by the summer term, I didn't mind so much and now she's in Yr 8, I don't even question it!

Good points all, thank you.

Right, will wait until they are coping a bit better with school i think (homework is only just getting done at the moment), and try them with some of the suggestions.