to NOT want my DC to go to lots of after school activities?

[leogirl]

clinging mother or reasonable?!? I just don't fully understand why there is so much pressure on children going to this and that after school activity. And before everyone starts posting about the social side of it etc, I do get that - but surely even one activity is enough? what do other people's children do?

Doesn't it depend a bit on what they are and where they happen?

My DC's school finishes at 3pm and the after school clubs are from 3-3.45pm. When I was at school, we never finished until 3.45pm or 4pm anyway. For my DC, therefore, it is pretty much like choosing what your last lesson is. Ds does computer club and DD does ballet, each once a week, and it feels like a pretty painless way of doing each, rather than shlepping off somewhere at 5pm or whatever. School is very close, so even after a club they are home well before 4pm.

I think clubs are good for mixing them up a bit, tbh. But I think it is all a question of how tiring or otherwise they are. DS also does football at the weekend, which we like because it gets him to mix with other children than at school, but if he is tired or we have other things to do, then we just don't do it.

Riven,
my ss used to go to Cubs and he has CP, in a wheelchair etc.

The only stipulation was that either his mum or someone lese stayed so that they could help him on the loo!

He also did horseriding for a while, again with someone staying to help him.

DaphneMoon "Hmm let's see now, what's more important education or the ability to tie a knot or build a camp fire - that's a difficult one"

Learning to tie a knot/build a campfire is education. There's a great deal of very important stuff to learn beyond what they're taught at school, and not necessarily through clubs and stuff either.

I think it depends how old they are.
Mine were too tired after school to do anything when they were little but from about 8 years old they have gradully increased what they do ( now 10 and 12). Keeps them off the tv and Runescape for an hour.

I thought they were just for children that had an interest in the subject.

I run an after school club, and my aim is to increase children's interest...I know some are there for other reasons, but usually they drop off if they aren't really interested.

I believe in children keeping up with something for long enough to find out if it's for them or not.

Some do too many, and some too few. Get the balance/subject right for your child and they'll be as happy as Larry. Each child is a different kettle of fish. Ooh full of cliches today!

I've got 4 and basically let them do whatever activities they want. I work part time and the little money I make helps towards their activities. I think it's great for them to have lots of hobbies and interests. It really does develop amazing social skills and their confidence is great, also it takes the pressure off school and results a bit. I was quite a hyper child but never did much out of school as my mum just couldn't have managed it but I feel I really missed out.

Interesting this I was suggesting to a work colleague today that children could do 1/2 hour of sport after school each day to replace the exercise they have lost.
Sport could of course be applied loosely I'm sure the cello at 5 is hard work!
I was assuming school finished at 3/3.15 I'm sure I finished later than that as a child

riven/fio I suppose it depends how much you want to push it, I'm under the impression round here they can't get enough volunteers to do beavers/rainbows for the NT children (I'm assuming you're dds would need extra supervision just for them, have you thought about approaching the local headorganiser (not sure of name sorry) suggesting how you could make it work and asking them to find you a willing group

Riven- I've just read a couple of your posts re. rainbows etc not being v accommodating of your dds cp.( on your behalf) I'm sure there is funding available which enables disabled kids to attend activities by paying for 1:1 support. Not sure if it covers regular activities or covers things like holiday clubs - may also be an initiative in the area which I live... would be happy to get you more specific detail for you.

DD does 2 classes a week and that is more than another IMO. She is 6 and in Y2. DD goes to Playball on a Monday, which is ball skills and takes place at school after school. On a Tuesday she has just started a Drama class out of school. Trouble is it finishes late at 7:30pm, so I am not sure if we will keep this up - we will see but it may just be too late for a school night.Then another 2 nights a week either I collect a friend's DDs after school, or DD goes to a friends house (due to work committments on parent's behalf). So, this leaves only one other after school night free - and that is mine and DDs time.Weekends are no go for us. We are often away and it is our family time. I started a thread not long after the recent thread on activites/costs children these days go to - mine was about what WE did when little.. I am sue it was far less on the whole, and I don;t think any of us are relly much worse for having done less TBH.

In Cheshire there is something called Friends for Leisure which helps children with disabilities have access to clubs and activities.