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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

How are all the committed children doing?

48 replies

KatyMac · 27/09/2012 20:21

I started a thread a while back for children with significant hobbies; we decided 'committed' children described them nicely.

So how are you all?

DD is back at school GCSEs have hit with a vengeance; but she is still dancing copious amounts

ps not sure if "a vengeance" is right.....but I think I spelt what I say (even if it's wrong)

OP posts:
pianomama · 28/09/2012 11:29

I guess they are all too busy to go on MN :). We are back in the swing of things - choir, orchestra, 2 instrument lessons.One piano exam in Nov...DS seems quite relieved the holidays are over.

3nationsfamily · 28/09/2012 11:37

Well my DD (13) the swimmer is up to 7 sessions a week totalling 12 hours in the water plus 3 hours in the gym. So we are both up at 5am twice a week and taxi driving around the city almost every night. However, she is loving it more than ever and is making steady progress. The main difference I notice now is her taking ownership of her own training and performance with focus on targets- alongside the huge social element in the team where great friendships have been cemented. So far, she is managing to fit in homework on her one free weekday and over the weekend if she is not competing but she doesn't have any formal exams for another 2 years yet (we are in Scotland)

Original poster
KatyMac · 28/09/2012 19:43

DD is relieved the holidays are over too; I'm knackered

& half-term is looking very busy

OP posts:
TantrumsAndGoldAndOrange · 28/09/2012 19:48

Ds1 back at football 6 times a week now, on top of homework etc.

Ds2 only twice a week thank god.

UniS · 28/09/2012 20:58

The end of the road bike race season is here. Due to weather and family commitments DS didn't race all that often this summer, he did however manage to place 2nd in his last 2 races and earn his first ranking points. He also passed his bikeability 1 test last week, saying it was "easy peasy lemon squezzy " afterwards. Some of the year 6 boys are a bit gob smacked that a Yr 2 kid can have done the same bikeability test they did last week.

His race speed went up a lot during the summer, after we took him on a 100mile in 4 day cycling holiday! so we have kept up training rides of 5 miles or so at least 1 day a week.

His week is back to school plus 1 dance class, 1 school club and a training ride during the week & Bike club OR a ride at the weekend. Fitting in swimming and body boarding as the opportunity presents.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 28/09/2012 21:22

DS 2 (9) is now a full chorister, so that's more hours. Easy for the rest of us in some ways because we just drop him at the Cathedral and pick him up several hours later. Also Piano and Trombone exams in November, school choir, school orchestra and ensemble and the music service junior wind band band. He has had to drop one of his music groups and his swimming lesson because of the choristership, but he is still fitting in Cubs and a taekwondo lesson a week, I wanted some physical activity for him somewhere!

So far he is doing OK, but the homework seems to have stepped up a bit and we are not quite in a routine with it. I think this will be a little easier when its darker and he is not also playing outside when he can.

DD and DS1 have quietened down a bit, but both are still fitting in 3 instruments and a variety of bands in and out of school, plus Scouts/Explorers, ballet (DD) and taekwondo and D of E (DS1). DS1 has just started Y10 and the GCSE work is beginning to bite so we will have to see how that progresses.

katymac did you sort out your GCSE homework problem with school?

Original poster
KatyMac · 28/09/2012 22:53

Well I never sent the letter; but I think we are having problems already with over night homework

It is nice that they are busy but the effort!

& why does everything conflict, Nationals are the day after end of course show & 6 hours away starting at 9am

OP posts:
RaspberryLemonPavlova · 28/09/2012 23:55

Overnight homework makes me really cross at any age. I want the DC to learn to manage their time effectively and its not on when school dumps it on them all at once. Even if they had a homework slot timetabled in already, they might have pre-assigned it to work already known about.

DS has been hit hard this week but at least he has tomorrow (Saturday). He did an extra taekwondo lesson tonight so he can have a clear run at it.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 28/09/2012 23:56

Sorry, so he can have a clear run at it tomorrow without going to his lesson.

Wafflenose · 29/09/2012 16:47

Can I join?

Mine is a bit younger than most, so her activities probably don't take up as much time as the others, but she is super-duper committed.

She's 6 (nearly 7) and plays the recorder (Grade 3+), flute (Grade 1+) and piano (nearly Grade 1). We have just started on music theory, as I can tell it's going to be necessary before too long. She plays in the school orchestra weekly, in church occasionally and wants to join the town's children's orchestra, but is too young. This term, she's doing five classes in the festival and a music exam. Practice is usually 30-40 minutes on school days, but sometimes we actually have to get her to stop at the weekends - on one recent Saturday, she did over 2 hours. Other than that, she's a normal, well rounded little girl who loves climbing trees, running around with her friends and going to school. She only has 1x20 minute music lesson a week, and I help her with the rest, so she manages to fit in two dance classes and an hour of swimming (usually about 50 lengths! Shock) easily. I don't think we could manage serious dance, or competitive swimming, on top of all the music, so somewhere along the line she might have to choose what she really wants to do...

UniS · 29/09/2012 18:37

Hi waffle. I think your DD is about same age as DS, school year 1 in the English system. Good she is willing to do that level of practise.

Wafflenose · 29/09/2012 20:25

Hi UniS. She's just started Year 2, and turns 7 next month. She actually wants to be a writer when she grows up!

pianomama · 30/09/2012 16:03

Wafflenose - she sounds super!

Original poster
KatyMac · 01/10/2012 10:03

Poor DD woke up with a rotten cold; but she "had to go to school, as she didn't want to miss Ballet"

OP posts:
pianomama · 01/10/2012 10:58

I kept my DS home for 1 day last week as he had fever, sore throat and looked terrible.He resisted but then ended up doing 4 hours of piano practice.. (he did spend the rest of the day playing on the computer :) )

Original poster
KatyMac · 03/10/2012 07:43

She managed school & then managed class (all three of them!). Some things are too important to miss (obv. dance class & piano practise)

OP posts:
orangeberries · 04/10/2012 08:43

Another dancer/musician here!

DD1 is 7 and doing ballet (grade 2), modern (grade 2) and tap grade (2). We also have Grade 1 piano and violin exams coming up in November. She also does a swimming class and a tennis class at the weekend. Glad to see she is not the only "committed" child. My DS1 is 6 and also does piano and violin, tennis and swimming. He is on a waiting list to start gymnastics. Fortunately my other two children still don't do any activities (3 and 4).

We do find it hard to squeeze in all the practice and the homework as well as all the classes. They do sometimes complain that they don't have enough time to play, but when I suggest dropping something they say they don't want to. I think my DD1 will have to choose between dancing and music at some point, but I am hoping she will have at least learned an instrument or two to a level where she can pick it up again when she is older.

iseenodust · 04/10/2012 09:18

A secondary teacher was telling me they have introduced new homework policy. Only 1 subject sets homework per week so it is much more substantial and 'projecty' but the kids get the whole week to do it in. So far, popular with teachers, parents & kids.

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/10/2012 20:51

I'm guessing that's not in GCSE years Sad

OP posts:
HSMM · 04/10/2012 20:56

DD is doing:
Mon - school dance followed by GCSE dance
Tue - tap and modern followed by LAMDA
Wed - ballet and more ballet
Thu - homework
Fri - ballet and festival dance practice
Sat - dance college all day
Sun - panto rehearsals

All her own choice in yr 9 with 5 GCSEs started. She is keeping up so far but I am watching her closely for signs of an imminent crash.

(My fuel bill is through the roof)

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/10/2012 21:16

I did that last year

This year:
Mon 1.5 hrs Ballet .5hr show choreography (30 mins each way)
Tues 1.25 Contemporary 2 Salsa (train & walk = 1.75 car = 45 + 10)
Wed Homework (she has put in a bid for 1hr Ballroom)
Thurs 1.5 choir (at school) 2 hrs drumming (15 mins each way) (plus a bid for 1hr Modern)
Fri 45 min Tap, 45 min Jazz 45 min Ballet (45 min each way)
Sat 1hr Ballroom (45 mins in) 1.5 Ballet, 1.5 Contemporary, 1 creative (45 min train each way plus 45 min home)

Never mind the fule - I am knackered

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 04/10/2012 22:02

Except she won't be doing anything tomorrow as I just found out she 'forgot' to take her medicine today

OP posts:
HSMM · 04/10/2012 22:49

Keep an eye on your DD Katy Mac. Mine knows I will pull her out if necessary (as I'm sure yours does). The mad girl also joined the school choir today! She's supposed to be taking her lamda exam in December and I've pulled her out, to ease the pressure a bit.

Original poster
KatyMac · 04/10/2012 22:52

Sometimes, despite being sensible, they are total numpties

OP posts:
picturesinthefirelight · 04/10/2012 23:08

We've changed her stagecoach day to add an extra ballet class.

Monday (nothing unless you count line dancing at lunchtime at school)
Tuesday Ballet, Tap & Modern
Wednesday lunchtime choir
Thursday lunchtime girls pop/musicals singing group. Piano lesson at school. Street Dance
Friday Stagecoach (Drama Dance Singing)
Saturday Ballet
Sunday (currently nothing as show rehearsals have ended but possible monthly RAD associate classes from December)

She actually does a lot less than some of her peers & she is concerned she will get behind when it comes to auditions.