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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Too many activities

26 replies

Ghanagirl · 25/01/2014 15:21

Hi just wanted some feedback from other parents. I have 6 year old twins and I'm finding the amount of homework they are expected to do overwhelming as they also have extra curricular activities, at present DS does piano and Spanish after school once a week then football and tennis on Saturday DD does the same except not football but gymnastics on Sunday, my husband wants them to have tuition in maths and English for 2 hours on a Friday after school is this too much? They constantly moan about piano
practise but otherwise seem happy with the amount of things they are doing.

OP posts:
Groovee · 25/01/2014 15:48

Why do they need to have extra tuition?

My dd used to do lots but her temper was coming out a lot. So we cut down to 2 activities a week which made a huge difference.

yourlittlesecret · 25/01/2014 15:54

They are only 6 Shock. Give the poor things a break. They will be worn out and resentful.

Original poster
Ghanagirl · 25/01/2014 18:07

I'm not keen for them to do extra tuition but it's very common here in northwest London, my DD was doing really well at school but she was recently moved to lower maths stream and the two girls who were moved up both do extra tuition Hmm

OP posts:
lljkk · 25/01/2014 18:10

Lots of things are popular, doesn't mean you need to copy.

Original poster
Ghanagirl · 25/01/2014 18:24

Not "copying" but if my DC are disadvantaged because the majority are having tuition feel I need to address this, they are already disadvantaged by being among youngest in their year

OP posts:
lljkk · 25/01/2014 18:25

I guess that's the world you choose to move in.

ChilliQueen · 25/01/2014 18:31

My DC Year 3, currently does no after school activities (their choice)... there's a normal amount of homework (private school). There is no way they would cope with 2 hours of extra tuition after school. Not even an hour. Not even half an hour. It would be cruel in my opinion. They are worn out. They need to play too. We do an extra hour of private tuition (necessary as struggling - it is not to whizz ahead) on a Saturday. Why not try that. Or perhaps a different school if it's not meeting your needs. Are they falling behind? I only did as was struggling, and didn't want DC to feel bad. And funnily enough... now not behind! They all get there eventually. Wait a while. I was told they all catch up by Year 3/4, my DC almost youngest in year. Wait until end of Y2, then sort something if you need to.

Original poster
Ghanagirl · 25/01/2014 18:35

I don't "chose to move in" anything it's a fact, wish we could afford private school but not option at present, maybe when they start secondary school

OP posts:
yourlittlesecret · 26/01/2014 09:35

If they are truly struggling in maths I would forget whizzing about to all the extra curricular activities and spend the time yourself with the children doing fun maths stuff. You don't need a tutor for 6 year old maths.

Original poster
Ghanagirl · 26/01/2014 19:15

Thanks yourlittlesecret, find it really hard to motivate them in maths, they love reading, but maths real problem

OP posts:
nonicknameseemsavailable · 28/01/2014 20:58

can you practice maths verbally on the way to activities? do homework whilst waiting etc?

DD1 is 6 and in Yr1, she did no activities until she was 5 and a bit, then started rainbows. In November after her birthday she started dancing and does 2.5hrs a week! she is also starting swimming for 8 weeks and drama and still does Rainbows. Currently her only homework is reading and 10 spellings from mon-fri, only reading at weekends. DD2 is nearly and in R and she does 1hr dancing on a saturday and will soon be starting rainbows and drama after school. She only has reading to do. I am worried it is too much (it is for me with trailing them around!) but they seem to thrive on it at the moment and whilst they don't have homework to do I suppose this is the time to give them these opportunities. As time goes on and they start to get more work then they will have to make choices or become incredibly efficient.

morethanpotatoprints · 28/01/2014 22:05

OP if you are really considering that much extra tuition on top of school then they are going to need the piano lessons for some light relief.
That's a lot? If they are struggling yes of course they need support, but kids are learning all the time and as others have said play some games. Sing some songs, learn times tables whilst marching round the kitchen banging a wooden spoon on a tin.
Enjoy them they're not little for long Thanks

Picturesinthefirelight · 28/01/2014 22:54

Music is great for maths, all that counting & fractions.

Original poster
Ghanagirl · 30/01/2014 16:37

Schools on busy road so until year 3 teacher won't let kids go out to cars alone.
She's rang me three times today but I've just seen calls as phone was on silent!

OP posts:
Sparklymommy · 31/01/2014 09:38

My six year old does :

Monday street jazz,
Wednesday Classical Greek dance, ballet
Friday modern dance, tap, song and dance
Saturday ballet.

He is fine with that and not behind at school. I wouldn't even consider extra tuition at this age. Dd1 had one hour a week for a year to prepare her for the 11+. She always moaned but always came home smiling and it did improve her school work. She is advanced in all areas.

Ime children who do a lot of extra curricular activities thrive in school too and usually have brains like sponges. It conditions them to learn quicker!

Madrigalgrey · 31/01/2014 10:47

I agree that you don't need a tutor for maths for six year old children. Otherwise, as long as they're happy doing it (and your're happy taking them to activities) I personally think it is fine. My DC do ballet four days a week (plus workshops).

Starballbunny · 31/01/2014 11:17

They are SIX! NO HW! NO TUITION, Get out of London!

Starballbunny · 31/01/2014 11:22

Or at least, get out of the London mindset it will do you, your DCs and your relationship with your DH no good.

Believe it or not DCs who go to nice village primaries with little or no HW and no tuition go on to ordinary comprehensives, Get As (A*&Bs) and go of to RG universities.

Our comp. is in special measures we still sent two DCs to Oxbridge last year!

pootlebug · 31/01/2014 11:22

My daughter will be six in a couple of weeks. I live in London. There is no way on earth I would want a tutor for her after school whatever set she is in. She is a child - she needs to play and relax after school.

Starballbunny · 31/01/2014 11:56

Exactly Pootle it just seems a shame there is a section of London and I'm sure other areas parents who think being massively ahead in maths and English at 6-7 matters, it doesn't!

Getting L5 in Y6 isn't that hard and L6 in most cases is a con. Yes you can cram 11yo to L6, but only the best natural mathematicians won't have to redo the work in Y7.

Real solid core skills for life come with age and maturity, understanding concepts comes with practice, pauses to reflect and revisiting that subject in a different way when the child is older.

Music and MFL are useful to learn from a young age in a gentle way, but I really think maths, English and science need to develop with the child.

Madrigalgrey · 31/01/2014 12:54

Well said, Starball!

Fraxinus · 13/02/2014 19:50

Talk to your school about the streaming.... I find it weird that they have overt streams in year 1. I can understand how you don't want your kids to be at the lower tables, as it is not a good feeling. However children learn at different rates, and need to be allowed to learn thoroughly at their own pace, so try not to allow parental anxiety to make them stressed over their level.

You make the decision about how much extra curricular stuff fits into your timetable and budget. It sounds like quite a lot to me.

bastardcandycrush · 13/02/2014 20:09

Maths tuition at 6? Fair enough when older and struggling in certain areas. My dd does swimming on Saturdays and Brownies in the week. I find this to be plenty.

RussianBlu · 20/02/2014 13:12

2 hours of maths and English tuition on a Friday night??? For a 6 year old????? How did your husband see this taking place? I would be surprised if a tutor would agree to 2 hours of tuition in a row for a 6 year old. 6 year olds do not need tuition in maths and English. Let them do their homework and their sports activities if they are enjoying them. If the sports get too much then drop them, they can always restart at a later date if they want to.

Save the tuition for when they are older if they need it.

kslatts · 22/02/2014 11:01

When my dd1 was 6 she did rainbows, swimming and dancing twice a week, she loved all the activities. She is 14 now, went from Rainbows onto Brownies and then to guides for about a year. She swam for a club for a couple of years and still dances now, it got to the stage where

Dd2 joined Rainbows but didn't really enjoy it so only went for a couple of months, she do go to brownies but then didn't go onto guides. She liked dancing but didn't really want to go twice a week so she went once instead. She liked swimming as a family but didn't really enjoy the lessons, we made her continue until she was able to swim and then she gave up. She does still dance but is not as committed to it as dd1.

I think the amount of activities a child does should really depend on them, I know dd2 would burn out if she would made to do lots
of activities, whereas dd1 thrives on it.

I agree with others that a tutor is not needed for 6 year old maths, we never had a tutor but played maths games when they were younger.