Which activities are, in your opinion, worth it?

[Sorelip]

I never took part in any extra-curricular activities when I was a child. DS1 only turned 2 in December, so obviously he won't be starting any activities just yet, but I want to do my homework before signing up for anything in future. I'm not sporty, musical, or anything really, so I have no real bias.

So, in your opinion, which activities are worth doing?

[Nocomet]

Mine have always swam because it's the only form of exercise I have any patience with and I love water parks.

DH was brought up by the sea, so keeping dry isn't an option in our house.

Other than that, you try things and keep the ones that work out.

DD1 sings fairly seriously and has been a Brownie - Ranger, she also does cold outdoor watery things.

DD2 did ballet until the teacher retired and loves gymnastics. She does lots of sport at school. She was a brownie and a scout, but the new leader/personalities at scouts didn't suit (she isn't mad in camping or hiking which didn't help)

Both have played instruments, badly and given up.

[BackforGood]

Swimming, without a doubt, not just for its own sake, but because it opens up so many opportunities to them as they get older, if they are confident arounf water.

Then defintely Beavers/ Cubs/ Scouts / Explorers - my dc have so many skills gained from going to camps and meeting nights, as well as great friends, confidence, and overall, have just had so much fun.

If you can afford it then a musical instrument is a great thing to take up.

With most things though I'd say dont start the too young.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Diving - being able to jump off a 5m board has done wonders for my 10yo DC's self-esteem and confidence.

[teacherwith2kids]

Swimming.

Other than that, when they were end pre-school to end KS1 sort of age, the main thing in aimed for was a reasonable variety - so DS (sporty but many ASD traits at that age) did football, swimming, tag rugby, Beavers whikle DD did swimming, Rainbows, dance. Both also had loads of running round the park'-type free time.

In KS2, both took up a musical instrument through school, and to our surprise, that has becoe DS's main 'thing' in secondary. Both have also had 1 thing in which they became very immnersed - for DD it was, and is still, dance (10-13 hours per week now in Year 6), for DS it was football with a professional club's academy for a couple of years, but being dropped has returned him to a much greater variety, which he is very happy with.

[teacherwith2kids]

(Both did Cubs - great leader - but for DD dance commitments got in the way, and for DS the transition to Scouts, which has much weaker leadership, meant too much chaos for his order-loving character to cope with, so he left)

[funnyossity]

Neither of mine was able to swim before 6. Getting them used to the water was the only benefit of earlier lessons.

I did singing / music groups because I rather liked them too. And introduction to ball sports from pre-school year up to age 7,because we didn't do that much at home.

Putting names on waiting lists for volunteer-run clubs like Rainbows and Beavers is a good idea, contact your local group.

[cheminotte]

Swimming here as well. Tried in reception. Stopped. Have just started again in Y2 but have made effort to go swimming as a family in the meantime.
Beaver - took some perseverance to get into the habit, really enjoys it now. Good to have friends outside of school and they do lots of different activities.

[iseenodust]

Swimming agreed.
Beavers I wonder about. It seems to me with the forest schools/ veg patches/school adventure trips that it doesn't provide much different.
Tennis is the one that stands out with DS. He started young but it was his choice & now has very good hand/eye co-ordination for many sports.

[QueenofLouisiana]

Swimming. For so many reasons- even if you just say they can give up when they can do a length. We did gym as it developed co-ordination and core strength which can be applied to any sport. Also did Beavers, which has become Cubs (and left me running Beavers). Beavers is just a good starting point for Scouting as a whole which opens up so many opportunities as they get older (although I may be biased!!).

[TheRaniOfYawn]

A musical instrument, a dance or martial art, maybe another sport, Brownies/cubs/woodcraft folk. And anything else they express an interest in learning. I'm not convinced about swimming either. I hardly know anyone my age who had formal swimming lessons and we all managed to swim. DD has some lessons at school and I'm planning on getting a few individual lessons for technique once she can swim a couple of lengths of the training pool, but I'm reasonably convinced that going swimming with me is enough for the time being.

[MyNameIsKenAdams]

Swimming.

We will also be taking dd to a kiddies rock climbing club. Hopefully she will enjoy it. Co-ordination, knots, technical skill and to hopefully avoid any fear of heights.

She can pick whatever else she wants to do as long as (1) it doesnt require her to go every weekend and (2) she commits for six months minimum.

[NancyJones]

Definitely swimming. I was quite determined to make sure that all my boys could swim before starting school for both safety and social reasons. My ds3 (2.5) has SN and is having one to one lessons at the moment and they're doing him the world if good

Yes to beavers too. Waiting list will depend on area. If you ever have a dd, get her name down at birth as I've heard friends say there was a 3yr waiting list in their area!

We also started piano at 7yrs. My eldest learnt the basics then switched to cello which he's doing really well at.

Both older ones did football from toddlers. One still does football and the other now does cricket. Both play tennis.

We just followed their interests with the exception of swimming which was non negotiable.

[lljkk]

Swimming but only from age 5 (I don't think value for money before then).
Footie (age 6+) is very good value for money usually, lots of cheap local clubs.
Scout movement good, too.

[Nocomet]

Both my DDs could swim by 5, although neither did very expensive water babies. DD2 did toddler lesson simply because it was a very convenient time for us to swim.

[kslatts]

Both my dd's had swimming lessons as I think it's important they know how to swim. Dd1 went on to swim for a club for a while and dd2 stopped after she had completed the levels at the local swimming club but is now able to swim.

They both also go to Irish dancing classes. DD1 (14) has been dancing 9 years, loves it and it's great for keeping her fit. DD2 (12) started at age 4, stopped dancing when she was 9 and then has recently restarted again. Obviously enjoys it as she asked to go back, however doesn't love it as much as dd1. I think it helps with their confidence.

I think the right activity for your child is the one they really enjoy.

[yorkshirepuddings]

It's important that they enjoy what they do. Learning to swim is vital.

Now DS is older I am happy with a sport club, an instrument and a social type activity (in his case scouts). When they become teenagers it is easy to let things slide, but it's nice to have hobbies that you can carry through to being an adult.

[Timetoask]

Re swimming, lessons are a waste of money until they are at least 5, but it is important to take pre-schoolers to the pool (I would say once a week) so that they start enjoying the experience.

For me: Thinking long term it is a good idea to find at least one sport that your DC likes and that will help them get socially involved with peers not only as children but also as adults, be part of a team and all that. Whatever sport you dc fancies. Beavers is fantastic as well.

[pigsinmud]

Mine all learnt to swim with the school, so never bothered with lessons outside of school.

A sport and a musical instrument. Learning to play an instrument has all sorts of benefits for academic learning - dh is musician/teacher so we had a bias towards that.

[Meglet]

Swimming. But I agree with lechers that a few private lessons are worth their weight in gold. Mine (7 & 5) have normal weekly lessons and I top up with a private lesson each every month or so which has really brought them on. (We're allowed to book the odd private lesson as and when we want it).

[Badgerlady]

I think singing in a choir is a good one once he's a bit older. It's the one extra curricular activity I did that I've carried on into my adult life. It provides a ready made means of socialising when you move to new schools/university/area and it doesn't require the expense of buying an instrument.

Also develops musicality and sight reading, discipline and team work. And is good fun!

[NancyJones]

Why are swimming lessons a waste of time before 5? Mine all started one to one swimming lessons at 3yrs and could swim proficiently by the time they stated school. This was great from a safety point of view and socially in that when they started swimming with school in reception Rhett enjoyed it more plus when we went if holiday they could enjoy all the water sports.

Why on earth is it a waste if time of money? I don't understand that at all!

[NancyJones]

Rhett??? They

[teacherwith2kids]

I found pre-school swimming lessons - from 3.5 or so, the age when they were allowed to take part in group lessons without me being in the water with them - invaluable as a training in 'being part of a class under the tuition of a teacher', as well as teaching the children to swim....

[needtobediscreet]

Swimming - it's a right faff though esp when they're small and if changing rooms are crap. I did swimming 'lessons' with my 18 mth old when he was a few months old and he hated it! Water too cold was the main reason. Gonna start taking him again soon though.

Gymnastics - semi structured i.e. more than just soft play. Great for all round flexibility and energy burning off and a good basis for almost any other sport they may want to do when older.

Something musical as most little ones love music and respond v well to it IME.

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

My dd started swimming lessons at 3.5. She's now just 4 and in that time she's come on hugely - she's gone from refusing to let go of me/ dh to swimming confidently with a noodle float and starting to swim independently (only a couple of meters so far). Most of all, she's gained confidence in a way she just wouldn't have through going swimming as a family. So absolutely not a waste of time and money.