Reception aged child - after school activities.

[Duxelle]

Just wanted a bit of a sense check tbh.. I'm a single parent to DD5, she has just started reception.

She's full of energy at the moment.

I work full time but lucky enough to do 2 x wfh days and 3 days in the office.

On my 3 office days she goes to breakfast and after school club and tends to be a long day for us both.

On one of my wfh days she has a 5pm swimming lesson, she's been swimming for a couple of years now and really enjoys it.

I've had her name on the waiting list for Rainbows for close to a year now and got contacted today about a place at the preferred unit. It takes place on the other wfh day I have at 5pm.

I'm wondering if it's too much for her to be doing something every single day after school?

She is very energetic and is constantly on the go and sometimes finds it hard to go to bed straight away..

I'm trying to justify it to myself by thinking its no different to her week when she was at nursery as she was in 7.30am to 5.30pm every day 5 days a week.

Should I take up the place for her or does it seem too much?

I think 2 activities is fine, but more than that would be too much. My DS4 (August baby so only just stopped being 3) just started reception and he is doing after school and breakfast club 4x a week and swimming on a Saturday, and I wouldn't add another activity for him, he's definitely at his limit, but your DD is a year older so probably more ready for another activity. I'd try it and see how it goes for 6 weeks then re-evaluate.

Mines at Breakfast and Afterschool club 4 days a week until 5, our schools have a half day on a Friday and so she goes to gymnastics then and swimming on a Saturday morning.

She'd like to do a dance class but I'm holding off until the New Year to see how things settle.

Every child is different though and I know lots of other reception children doing 2 or 3 activities in the evenings, could you give her a trial and see how she is for a couple of weeks before committing to Uniform?

I think its fine, after school
club they can choose what they want to cant they? My DD is at Rainbows and its an hour of calm for me as i can drop her off, no need to stay.

My 5 year old does Rainbows, Drama, Squirrels, Ballet, Acro and Swimming. 2 days a week she does double activities. She's still brimming with energy. She still gets plenty of time at home with her toys and she bounces out of bed for school.

I'd try it and see how it goes, especially given the size of the waiting list. She can always stop going if it's too much for her.