To not let my son take up Urdu

[Reallytired]

My already has the following hobbies, recorder, French club, cookery club and a swimming lesson once a week. Now he wants to take up Urdu. The Urdu lessons are free and an after school club.

Don't want him doing the Urdu because I feel that I won't ever see him and I have told him that if he wants to learn Urdu then he will have to drop one of his other hobbies. Apparently I am mean and unreasonable as he has made it clear that he wants to carry on with all his hobbies.

I have also said "no" to him doing horse riding and taking up the violin, at the moment.

No, YANBU

I've said no to dD for things as she does a lot of after school stuff too. They need time to just play and use their imagination too

Does the Urdu lead to a qualification, eg Asset?

Dont want to come across as thick and i know i have heard it somewhere before, so please remind me What is urdu

Just say "you can have 4 activities" (or 3 if you are like me and swimming is non-negotiable). Let him pick his 3.

for me it would depend on the following:
the age of DS?
why does he want to learn it?
Does he stick with his interests or chop and change?

Urdu is the language spoken in Pakistan, and in many Asian communities in this country, Mooog.

Thankyou squeakypop.
How old is ds in question, I have never heard of a child wanting to take up a language like this before?

So this would be the third thing you've said no to?

Do a complete review of aferschool clubs.
Throw in ALL the activities he can take on the table, including the violin and horseriding (unless the cost of the riding is forbidding) Let him chose 3 + swimming.

When my ds did Chinese, it was a lot about culture, such as dance, history and art, and less actual language teaching, aside from a few phrases.

That's a great idea QS.

Why does he want to do it?

If reasons are strong enough YABU,

would he be prepared to drop another activity? - like french ?

and swap violin for recorder ... sorry to any recorderists but that instrument never sounds good

, though i can still remember how to play 'jesus hands are kind hands'

Yes I agree with swapping violin for recorder - he is unlikely to carry on playing the recorder for the rest of his life (Jesus hands are kind hands excepted obviously) but he may do with the violin - with the added bonus of possibly becoming a top violinist and making your fortune...

I like QS's idea. Can see it working with an actual table and post-it notes or postcards.

Isn't QS's suggestion not what I said?

I like LostProphet and QS's idea.

...

Yes, I like Edams take on it. And of course LostProphets.

Table. Post it notes / Cards.

The choice is his.

I just wanted to congratulate LostProphet on an excellent thread. Well Done!!!

LOL@ NoooOOOOki - I can still play Jesus' hands are kind hands nearly 30 yrs on!

WRT violin, it is possibly a year before you can remove you earplugs during home practice.

Anyone who thinks recorders don't sound good haven't heard them played properly, they're beautiful instruments when played by someone who can really play. I also know people who have made a living out of the recorder and not just teaching it!

I love the recorder. We werent allowed to play it as children because my Mum hated the sound.

My DD plays it beautifully.

I can play "3 blind mice"

well obviously none of you have ever heard the recorder played well.......I'm 29 and I still play on a fairly regular basis (though mainly treble rather than descant).

Yeah but FAQ you play the organ so your eardrums are completely stuffed (only joking and actually I do like the sound of the recorder...just not the way it is played by your average primary school child).