Those of you that work full time, how many activities do you LO's do and how do you manage it?

[funkypumkin]

Just wondering as currently dd1 is doing swimming at 5.30pm (which is proving a bit late) on day I work from home, so I can leave on the dot of 5pm and be at pool for twenty past. And then ballet on a Sat. But can't really see how I could facilitate more and just wondered how anyone else does it?

I manage it because football is on a Saturday and because husband works flexible hours so he can take ds to gymnastics and swimming 2 afternoons a week.

Flexible hours
Choosing activities that happen directly after school, at school
Swapsies with other parents

I have flexible hours, so start at 7am, which means I can usually finish early enough to pick ds1 up at the end of the school day.

Monday I pick him up at 3.30 - then home for something to eat/homework while I work another hour or so and then take him to football training 6-7.

Tuesday again 3.30 - go to maths club 4-5.15 (at local supermarket so I do the shopping while he's there), and then on to ski training.

Wenesday his grandma picks him up and takes him swimming (so I work a longr day on Wednesdays).

Thursday he goes to after school club for an hour, then I pick him up for a tennis lesson 4.30-5.30.

Friday there's football straight after school, so I pick him up after that at 4.30. Then usually ski training again.

Saturday is usually a football match in the morning during winter (his friends dad sometimes take him to that), or a ski race in summer.

It only works because I work early morniings and evenings to fit around it. Without flexible hours it wouldn't be possible - and once ds2 is old enough to want activities too we'll definately have to rethink some of them.

We share between me and DP and otherparents. Between them our 3 dds do quite a bit, even though we try and limit it - I am quite a fan of them having a lot of time just hanging around at home, and they like that too.

We REALLY encourage any activities which happen at school, either during school hours or as after school clubs. It's just so convenient.

I also encourage all 3 dds to have the same interests. None of that encouraging individuality rubbish, it's football for all or ballet for all or sewing for all.

And I just say no if it's something which involves driving across the city after work.

Mine both do Tae Kwon Do and Irish Dancing - and it involves me in mad 30 mile dashes to collect them from kids club and then rush them to the activities which start at 6.30 and 6.15!
I finish work at 5. It does leave the weekend free for family stuff though.

Some childminders will be able to take chn to after school activities if you ask around. I know of a couple of childminders that are married, so they often drop chn at things like that for their parents.

I too work full time well up until few weeks ago going to a four day week, but it is hard to fit everything in, Friday afterschool club tennis, then over the road for two Kumon subjects. Saturday French 10.00-10.30, dance class 1.00-2.00 and Sunday 10.00-10.30 swimming lesson and lastly violin lesson 11.30-11.50. I do like her to do the extra activities but fitting them in during the week is just not possible DD is 6 BTW. Is it too much? I don't know she loves it all and certainly doesn't complain.

We do swimming on my early finish (it starts at 4pm) and then ballet on sat and riding on sun. Weekends are the key!

I work full time so most of ds's activities are at the weekend. He does piano lessons during school time and a music class at straight after school (at school). At weekends we do music class on Saturday mornings and swimming Saturday afternoons. Sunday school every other week.

He would love to do tennis and horse riding but I think that is too much to try and cram in at the weekend without dropping something else. We may have a rethink for next term as he is bored in swimming class and they don't seem interested in putting him in a more challenging class.

activities aren't vital if you either can't do it or you or your child doesn't want too.
None of mine ever did anything until ds1 reached 14 and wanted to learn piano.

My husband I work full time. My son does swimming lessons, kip McGrath, and music. I start work quite early so I can pick my son up from after school club at 4.45. My son also does cookery and French at school. He does the music on saturday morning which means I get the chance to go to the supermarket in peace.

We don't do any activites that involve travelling a significant distance.