Is this too much for a year 2 child?

[PregnantNowScrewed]

It’s another one of these threads.

DS will be in year 2 in September and wants to do the following. It feels like it might be too much to me but is less than many of his friends and he is super keen.

Mon eve: Swimming
Tues eve: Beavers (new)
Fri eve: cello lesson
Sat am: orchestra (new) and football training
Sun am: football match (new)

He also practises cello every day. School only sets homework once per week (other than reading).

He’s an enthusiastic footballer but not great at it so I’m wondering whether I shouldn’t sign him up for the matches (he can still attend the training)?

It depends on the child. One of mine is a homebody and likes to do a couple of clubs a week (a sport plus something else), the other would sign herself up for everything going!

My middle Dd is just finishing year 2. This year she has beavers on Mondays, gym club on Wednesdays, swimming on Fridays and went to a ballet class on Saturday mornings. She coped with it all quite easily but decided to drop ballet at the start of the spring term because her beaver group are really active and have lots of extra activities at trips at the weekends and she didn't want to miss out on the camps, kata- canoing, st George's day events, sailing, night hikes, manning the charity car park, litter picking, zoo trip etc... she now wants to find ballet on a week day instead or go horse riding.

@PregnantNowScrewed it is incredibly busy, but fortunately everything slots together and they do Saturday activities together. They were just happy to be out and about again after lockdowns. 7yo DD doesn't really remember life before covid very clearly, so she was like a kid in a sweet shop when she was suddenly able to get out and do new things. She's making up for lost time!

It's potentially a lot for a Y2 but it's a great mix and sounds really fun. He does have some free evenings after school too to chill out. It depends entirely on his energy levels and logistics/ travel time will also play a part. When my two were in the first years of primary, they were exhausted by school and we kept extra curriculars to a minimum but by Y3 they were very busy and the logistics became insane for a while.

Just to add, see how he goes with football. Some kids are naturals and super keen and the more casual players can get left behind. DS got way more from Beavers, then cubs, then scouts, then cadets. He is 16 now and takes himself off camping and hiking with friends. There is loads of time to try different activities where your DS can shine. My DC are rubbish at most team sports, but great at martial arts/ dance. Don't let your DH's experience colour things. Plenty of boys are not into playing football. It is not the only way to make friends/ fit in.

Why can't children just relax after school and at weekends. Does no one have fun at home anymore.

I would wait longer before starting orchestra at his age. The Saturday morning sounds pressured and I suspect he will soon favour football over orchestra. Ideally, he should have some time to do a bit of socialising after orchestra practice, which seems unlikely on your schedule.

Three new activities is likely too much at once.

@Iloveeverycat I do think having time at home to play is really important. On his current schedule he will have 2 days a week with nothing after school, and Sunday is relatively free (1 hour football on the weeks he is asked to play, which won’t be every week and only for the “season”…whenever that is…). I have been concerned it’s a bit much though.

Swimming is very much just a necessity rather than a hobby (he does enjoy it but I would never encourage a child to do competitive swimming!), so he can drop that at some point. Hes just got his 10m in all the strokes so maybe in a year or 2.

@Lifeinlists i think I disagree - he really loves music whereas only joins in with football because his friends do it. If I/DS had to pick between orchestra and football, orchestra would win, not least because that would free up Sundays as well. But I’ve been persuaded by many posters on here to keep the football for social reasons. I think we will see how it goes and revisit after a term.

It really depends on the child. We did activities 6 days a week at that age, as did my DC.

We didn’t do anything on Sundays though until the DC were at secondary school and at a high level in sport. I think having a day for family activities, spending time together and relaxing (and being bored sometimes) is also important.

Are you sure there will be frequent and regular matches in this age group? Weekly would surprise me.

It sounds great that he's getting to join an orchestra this early - music brings lots of joys but the social side of playing with others is just so good and once you get to some minimum standard you will always have opportunities to return to it even after breaks.

My summer born DS signed up for after school activities every day at the start of Y3, and within weeks we had to cut back as it was too much. I think we made sure he had two afternoons free. Can't remember what Saturdays were like back then any more. Your overall plan seems pretty reasonable to me, very well balanced!

There is a little league with weekly matches but not for the whole year (not exactly sure of dates as I know nothing about football), but it’s 5 a side and I think 9 kids have signed up so DS wouldn’t be playing every week.

@BobandRobertaSmith i completely agree re the Sunday thing - I treasured our free Sundays! But at least it’s early so will leave most of the day free.

My DD 6 does

Mon - Singing lessons in the day and Gymnastics after school
Tue - Dance followed by netball after school
Wed - LAMDA at school and Brownies in the evening
Thurs - lunch time dance class followed by Swimming after school
Saturday- Dance

She loves being busy and constantly asks to do other clubs!

My DD5 does

Wednesday - Rainbows
Thurs - Swimming
Saturday - Dance

She just likes being at home.

Doesn’t sound too much. My DC did a lot more in year 2 and managed, although I had to be strict with practice times for 2 instruments (they insisted on adding piano to their string instrument in Year 2, had to do piano before school - using headphones!).

Only thing I would say is first term back is a long one and Christmas is a busy time (year 2 normally lead roles in KS1 nativity) and DC was really tired. We then did too much over Christmas so I did cut back on one sport class for a term.
This year (year 3) I’m being really careful how much I start with and trying to keep several nights completely free for rest and Christmas will be at home, relaxing!

Depends on the child. DC1 has just finished y2 - they did an activity each day plus practice for the instrument and swim practice for school team on top of gets daily written homework but this doesn’t phase them. Any signs of resistance to an activity and we would stop as don’t want to push hard.
DC2 is about to start y2 and won’t cope with a fraction of what their sibling has done so we will adjust according to what they enjoy and want to do. They will have the same opportunities but I have no intention to force more just because DC1 did

Sounds fine - mine did swimming, gymnastics, rugby, tennis, and German Samstagschule. He still had plenty of time to go to the park after school, have play dates and play Minecraft.

That would be beyond my limit as a parent, do you not have a job? Mine is at after school til 6 most days anyway.

I’ve explained in an earlier post I think?

I work full time but finish early on Fridays to do pick up. DH does pick up 2 days and we have a nanny 2 days. The kids aren’t in after school club at all because I do think time at home is important.

On current schedule DS would have 3 weekdays with activities (beavers 1 hr, swimming 30 mins, cello 30 mins), 2 weekdays with nothing after school. And then stuff on both Saturday and Sunday.

Our DC2 is only 3 so doesn’t do anything yet (will be at school preschool in sept) but I can see that things will be more of a juggle when they start activities as well.

It sounds unbearable to me. But he won't be alone in having so many clubs and will no doubt be good at what he does.

I'd drop scouts till he's older (I love this club for my son but he started at 9) and could cello be done during school time?

My son now 10 does 5 clubs some in school and some evenings.
My DD 12 does 4.

I trialed her doing Sunday football matches and hated it, she was shattered and I need my weekends - so no regular clubs allowed Saturday or Sundays and I prefer them not to have clubs fri after school.

I really get the no weekends thing @Mayhemmumma. We will be doing the football strictly on a trial basis as well.

He can’t do cello in school but luckily his teacher actually lives on our street so it’s minimal effort.

In our local area beavers, cubs etc are massively oversubscribed so I’d worry if I waited he might not actually get a spot.

This was why I posted really as I can justify each one individually but taken together it does seem a lot! Anyway I’ve had enough reassurance from others on the thread that their kids have done similar and enjoyed it. If it turns out to be too much for DS we can review things at the end of term.