Unsure which activity would be more beneficial to DS 6

[BigFatFurryCatPuss]

DS is 6 and currently has swimming lessons, he hasn't been able to do anything else until now due to us only having one car and DH needing it for work. Anyway we now have a 2nd car and so would like him to take up another activity but I'm unsure which would give him the most benefit.

There is a local Beavers group which I think he would like, particularly the activities and the social side of things or a mixed martial arts class which I think would help him in confidence and also to defend himself if the need arose. I worry about him being bullied in the future as he is quite small and sensitive.

He would like to do both. We can only afford for him to do one as both DDs also have activities. Can anyone whose DCs do either of these activities tell me if any pros and cons?

Mine did Beavers/Cubs/Scouts and I would recommend it without hesitation. There may well be a waiting list, here it was over a year's wait to get in. He did so many different things both in the Scout hut and away from it, making pancakes, visits to airfields and the fire station, air rifle shooting (that one was Cubs), climbing, archery. It was not expensive and if they were in the Scout hut then it was walking distance for us. There were some activities that my DS didn't like but there was enough variety for there to be something for everyone.

If there's a long waiting list you could put his name down and then do the martial arts, by the time he got a place at Beavers/Cubs he'd have more of an idea what he wanted to do. I don't think that relying on the martial arts class for defence is a good idea, bullying is not always a 1:1 situation and school take a dim view of physical retaliation. I think you're right about building confidence though, anything that helps with that is good.

Pros - cheap, local, gives them a wide range of experiences, encourages friendship groups outside school (our pack covered three junior schools, when DS started secondary school he found people he knew from scouts). Cons - you need to buy a uniform, help out a couple of times a term and turn out to a parade twice a year. Some packs will have a more full-on schedule than others because it comes down to the individual leaders.

Beavers, no question. And it will be far far cheaper than any other after school activity too.

Beavers without a doubt

Small and sensitive ds has gained oodles of confidence through beavers, cubs and scouts.

Beavers

Beavers - lots of opourtunity to try many things/activities. Very social. DS (6) likes it because he gets to mix with children from other schools and higher years too.

Beavers - without a doubt.

Mine have been through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and into Explorers.
Week by week it's always been by FAR and away the cheapest, and yet best value for money thing they've done.
It's given them the chance to try so many different things, and learn so many skills and make so many friends.
As they've got older they've traveled all over the place (incl abroad) with Scouts, but much of that travel has been paid for by fundraising. They can all do things like cook, navigate, camp, as well as having done all sorts of activities from kayaking, climbing, skiing, firelighting, pioneering, abseiling, stand up paddle boarding, sailing, archery, chess, first aid, community service, fundaraising, learning to plan events, learning things like what to pack and how to pack it for going away, Leadership skills, etc.etc.etc.
It's also got the eldest two jobs - which you won't be thinking about now, but they are chuffed with!

Pretty unanimous then OP!

I'd say Beavers too.

Beavers and Cubs has been amazing for my DS. He's about to go up to Scouts this summer - he has done so many different things and got a great little circle of mates through it who are not from school. Unbelievably good value.

But I would say let him test drive both perhaps and see which sticks?

Other friends' kids are also really into Judo etc - great for physical confidence, concentration, burning energy, and there's also a social side to it as time goes on.

Let him do a trial session at both and see which suits him best.
My DD was desperate to join guides went to a trial session and hated it. Ultimately she joined a musical theatre group which 6 months previously I would have never thought she would enjoy.
IME the trial session is really important.

I would probably get him to try a few different things.

I have girls who went to Rainbows so Beavers sounds great but having said that it isn't for all children, some prefer to be focused on learning something rather than the social side of a group activity.

Martial arts - loads of different ones to choose from - all will be good for physical development and a sense of achievement.

Drama or musical theatre is very popular with kids, girls and boys and boys are always in demand in groups. Hard for some children to get over the initial hurdle of joining in but the impact on their confidence is huge.

if he is quite small he might be good at gymnastics, lots of children enjoy it.

Go for yourself & see what the martial arts is like. If it was choice between our local judo club & our local Beavers I'd go for the Judo without hesitating. Because I know how great Judo is (Beavers is good, but not as good).

I'd say the martial arts. It will instil confidence and discipline (so no random retaliation outside). It will also help with balance etc for future school sport such as football/rugby. Most of the stuff they do at beavers/scouts a decent primary school does now eg. befriending, yr6 play leaders to KS1, outdoor activities, baking, map reading, few nights at an activity centre in yr5 or 6.

I'm not a fan of football but look at that too. Football skills do make for popularity in the playground. Make sure to find a friendly, everyone gets to play set up.

Beavers. All three of mine are in scouting and get so much out of it...
And I disagree about a school providing it they certainly can't come anywhere near it at least with what our packs offer...obviously they vary though. And the value for money is astonishing. My middle DC is off to cub Camp soon for two nights with a construction theme where they will be brick laying, having fun with guttering, drains and doing a carpentry project for the princely sum of £50. subs are £90 a YEAR...
I have no experience of martial arts but I know loads of people love it.

I'd choose Beavers for him but the sensible thing would be to let him try them both.

Swimming won't last forever, unless he's really taken by it/talented it will get "boring" once he can swim well enough, so he could switch to the martial arts for exercise then.

help him in confidence and also to defend himself if the need arose. I worry about him being bullied in the future as he is quite small and sensitive.

Do you have a rugby club nearby? It is very inclusive because it needs a large squad of different body-types; there is a place for the small ones too. DS got a lot from the camaderie of it, the one-for-all-and-all-for-one.
I think Beavers/Scouts is a bit of a marmite thing. DS never really got into it because the rebel in him never liked being told what to do - hated CCF at school too!

the thing about martial arts, what they gain is less the physical skills to repel someone, but rather the self confidence to stand up for yourself and to face conflict.

Whereas Scouting is much more about team work.

Both are big on responsibility in my experience.

... both big on fun, too, at least the good groups are.

You need to see what the waiting list is before making a definite decision. Waiting list for Beavers round here is at least a year, and can be longer. Dd2 waited 4 months for Judo.
Beavers is also probably about half the price (or again is round here)

Thanks for all the replies, i've put his name down for Beavers but there is around a year's waiting list i've been told so that will be something to try next year perhaps.

School also run different sports courses from time to time, he's just done a 5 week dodgeball course and apparantly Judo is also on the list at some point so i might try him on that (£20 for 5 weeks) and see how he likes it, then look into a local class if he enjoys it.

Musical theatre/drama was met with a resounding NO! from him, both DD's dance and eldest DD also does musical theatre and Lamda but he has no interest whatsoever.

Thanks again everyone