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Extra-curricular activities

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

Which classes are good start 3 year old on

12 replies

Mommaof2x · 06/03/2019 16:10

My dd age 3.5 is at an age where I would like to start thinking about extra clubs to get her involved in which she can continue in reception and further

By the time she is say 8 I would be happy for her to enjoy doing one sport/dance and one musical instrument after school, maybe drama/swimming if she enjoy to continue it (as doing it now) as an extra.

Which sports/clubs have your children continued in long term, did you start them young? Did you just continue and push a class you wanted them to do and they got into it or did you try a few and gradually see them phase out others and continue one?

OP posts:
WatcherintheRye · 06/03/2019 16:26

I wasn't even thinking of after-school clubs till my dc were in
Year 1. Full-time school is really tiring for them. I never really 'set out' to join them up for anything in particular. There was an after school football club available at school, which two of them joined. They all did Beavers and Cubs, and had swimming lessons. Two of them had violin and keyboard lessons respectively, until they lost interest/preferred to carry on under their own steam. It was all very low-key and child led. Over the years they would try activities sometimes because they had friends who were already involved, or who also wanted to go. No harm in encouraging them to try different things. If they're keen, they'll want to carry on. If they're not keen, there's not much point in pushing imo!

wendz86 · 06/03/2019 17:55

My eldest started ballet just before she was 5 and is still going plus doing modern and she’s just about to turn 8.
She did gymnastics at 3 and hated it but recently started again and loves it so I wouldn’t force anything too young .

BackforGood · 07/03/2019 00:09

What Watcher said.
Mine started swimming lessons at 4, but other than that, waited until they were 6 to join Beavers.

StylishDuck · 07/03/2019 00:16

My DD is 4 and has been doing dancing and swimming lessons for about 6-7 months. Both on a Saturday. I wasn't planning to think about any after school things until she was actually at school and then only if she expressed an interest. I would love her to learn an instrument when she's a bit older, I loved studying music in school and regret not keeping it up.

AlexaShutUp · 07/03/2019 00:36

The only thing I "pushed" was swimming. However, dd didn't start early as she suffered with a lot of eczema when she was very little.

The one activity that I did start her on when she was a toddler (around 2 and a half) was dance. Not because I particularly wanted her to do it, but in response to the observation that she never stopped dancing! She is still doing it now more than ten years later - just lots more of it!

I did have ideas about activities that I thought would be good. Playing an instrument was one, karate was another. DD had no interest in either so I let those thoughts go. I allowed her to sign up for lots of things early on in primary school, as I thought it was a good opportunity to experiment. However, I didn't push any of them, and over time, they all petered out.

She discovered a new interest in drama when she went to secondary school - started off by signing up to a school club and then asked to do it outside school as well. However, it is still the dance that is her real passion. She loves it, and has benefited from it in so many different ways over the years. I could never have imagined all the positive experiences that have come out of it for her.

The thing is, I don't think you can force these things. Kids will have their own interests. It was evident that dd was going to be a dancer (as a hobby, not as a career!) from before she could even walk - no exaggeration! She had an instinctive physical response to music even as a tiny baby. No idea where she gets it from, none other dancers in the family!

The thing is, the vast majority of children who learned dance with her in the early years subsequently gave up and found other hobbies/pastimes instead. Only a very few who truly loved it kept going.

I guess what I'm saying is to keep an open mind and take your cues from your child. Expose them to lots of different possibilities but let your child take the lead and discover his/her own passions.

Isntthatalwaystheway · 07/03/2019 00:43

My DD has just turned 3 and she goes to her Swimming lesson, Toddler Rugby and Forest school - all once a week for 30mins each.

NeleusTheStatue · 07/03/2019 10:41

Probably swimming was only activity I definitely wanted DS to take up early on. Piano and team sports were introduced later on as a nice thing to do. Luckily he loved them so continued. Meanwhile I kept letting him try many other activities in mind to let him narrow down at some point. I would have done differently if he hadn't been so energetic and enthusiastic as some children would feel exhausted with his non-stop experiments and commitments. He loved all he tried. But gradually he had to make a choice as each activity got more demanding as he progressed.

He is now 11 and still enjoys swimming, team sports and piano but none of them aren't his main passion. He's discovered his thing while exploring available opportunities. I think I introduced him to the world of extra-curricular activities, but let him take the lead what to try, how much to try etc.

Pythonesque · 07/03/2019 11:03

If you have a good children's music or singing group near you, that can provide a great foundation for learning an instrument later. I'm pretty sure that good ones would allow you to visit and observe, to work out whether it was something your child enjoyed.

I agree with swimming lessons being something I prioritised; though actually I was disappointed with the lessons (at least 3 separate places) I took my two to. I don't think swimming is well taught in the UK, certainly not what I've seen.

I knew of a children's choir organisation local to me, but "parked" it in my mind until my eldest expressed an interest at the age of 5. Like a previous poster who put her toddler into dance lessons, singing has proven to be an ongoing passion for my daughter. So there's a lot to be said for following your child's lead if there is something they are interested in. Mind you, they may need to be exposed to a range of possibilities to find or express those interests. My youngest (13) is turning into a good organist; we first suspected this at the age of 4!

elQuintoConyo · 07/03/2019 12:23

Ours tried judo, hated it.
Swimming, hated it until we changed pools, now loves it.
Started rugby last September, dicks about a bit, but enjoys it and likes his team mates.
He did summer classes at a stables last July, went down well, but we can't afford to do weekly lessons or anything. He'll do it again this summer.
He is not musical, doesn't like dancing, doesn't like dressing up, hates football. Loves Lego, cycling/scooter, the beach, hiking, picnics, Minecraft, playing with the dog. And going to the park with his friends.

He's 7yo. Keep an open mind but don't be pushy. Plus delegate: DH does mid-week rugby, I do Saturday morning rugby while he does the weekly food shop, we alternate who goes to each rugby away match. I take DS swimming on Fridays (my mate also takes her son do we catch up while the boys swim Grin). There's no way we'd do more things especially during the week.

Hollowvictory · 07/03/2019 12:28

Swimming. Key lifeskill
Dancing won't save your life.

Ilovewillow · 07/03/2019 12:29

I think the key is don't plan but give them the opportunity to try plenty of activities - they will find their own pace/interests. For information my now 10 yr old swam from a few weeks old and has always had lessons - she now swims for a squad, she is also in a gym squad but she only started gymnastics two yrs ago having given up ballet which she started at 4. She has also loved rainbows/brownies and is now in guides. She rock climbs too. Instruments we waited until she was at school and she plays the violin and clarinet. She has also tried and given up karate and drama. My son started rugby at 2.5 and still plays now at 5, he also does gymnastics, swimming and judo. He has recently started playing the violin but again we waited until he was at school.

Travelban · 18/03/2019 09:22

Dd1 started ballet at 3 and is still going strong now, age 14
Dd2 started swimming age 3 and is in a competitive swim squad now age 9 and loves swimming
Ds1 and 2 started their respective musical instruments age 4 and still going strong with them now, age 11 and 12
They have done lots of other things alongside later, but they seem fonder/ keener on the one thing they started very young... Probably because they are good at it and feel some sort of affi ity there?

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