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Parenting

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Original poster

How many activites do your 6 year olds do after school?

45 replies

Amanda1 · 20/09/2005 19:56

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Lonelymum · 20/09/2005 19:58

My dd (also year 1 but still 5) does ballet on Mondays and has just started swimming lessons on Sunday. That is enough for me, but then I do have three other children, two of whom also do after school things and I do like to have some days when we don't have to rush off somewhere. Oh but she does want to start Rainbows...

paolosgirl · 20/09/2005 20:00

Gosh, she sounds busy! How do you manage homework etc? My DD has Rainbows and ballet, and the rest of the time it's homework and chill-out time. I've also got a DS, so if they both had too much I'd spend my whole life in the car, which I point blank refuse to do.

Eaney · 20/09/2005 20:00

Do you think she is tired? One of the problems with doing a lot when you are young is that you may not learn the skill of quiet contemplation. You know when there is nothing to do and you are left alone with your thoughts. You could find that she grows up and find they get bored easily.

My DS who is nearly 6 does Tennis on a Tues and Dance/Drama on a Saturday.

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Original poster

Amanda1 · 20/09/2005 20:05

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spidermama · 20/09/2005 20:07

I limit them to one activity each for reasons of practicality, expense and because I like to have them around doing stuff at home as a family.

I would probably let them have two if I didn;t have so many kids. (4)

Lonelymum · 20/09/2005 20:07

You should be able to keep up her activities when the baby is born and that will mean she won't feel the resentment of losing time with you to the baby. It does sound a lot to me, but if she is happy doing it all, I wouldn't worry about it.

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Amanda1 · 20/09/2005 20:10

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Aimsmum · 20/09/2005 20:13

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trefusis · 20/09/2005 20:15

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Eowyn · 20/09/2005 20:18

my dd is 5 & doesn't do anything, is this abnormal nowadays? I've not given it much thought as I didn't do anything after school at that age & then only Brownies when a bit older.

She did want to do ballet but when I was looking into it changed her mind, so I really don't want to commit to something expensive if she's not sure.
Also, I quite like the time at home together, or out or whatever, nice & peaceful usually.

Original poster

Amanda1 · 20/09/2005 20:21

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vickiyumyum · 20/09/2005 20:22

when my ds1 was 6 he used to do karate, football, trampolining, beavers after school and swimming and horse riding at the weekend. this was all his choice, generally he had a friend who went to one and he wanted to go with him/her. and karate was three time a week with his dad. so he was very busy, too busy i would def say, but if i ever suggested not going to one of the clubs he would get really upset and so i would always let him go, but in the last year (hes now 8yo) he has given up all of his activities.

i find this very sad as i kow he needed to cut down, both interms of his time and the finacial and time cost that was involved, i think approx three activities a week are enough for most children of that age and i probably wouldn't include the lunch time activity as these are in school time and most of her friends probably go to them too.

i would say that if she was happy then let her continue as long as you have the time and money for her to do these activities, just don't be surprised if as she gets older she may want to quit one, some or all of them. apparently its a phase that a lot of older kids go through.

spidermama · 20/09/2005 20:24

My dd did ballet but it actually killed her love for ballet. Before doing classes she had been flaoting beautifully around the room with her own version of ballet putting on shows for us now and again.
With that in mind, I think too much structure can be stifling.

Gobbledigook · 20/09/2005 20:24

Interesting thread. Ds1 has just started reception and he's 4.5.

He does gymnastics 4-5pm on Wednesday and swimming lesson 11.30-12 on Saturday.

Just been talking to a Mum today and she has suggested ds1 join her son at football on a Monday 4-5pm. Would this be too much?

Ericblack · 20/09/2005 20:31

I think it can also depend on the classes - how they are run, whether they are good fun or boring and not properly geared towards younger children. My 5 year old boy does tennis with lots of games and not much actual stroke play, gymnastics and something called Enjoy a Ball which is teaching general ball skills and seems to be really good fun and not overly competitive. Although I reckon that the not too competitive can be taken too far sometimes...We are lucky as we live in Glasgow (obviously we're not actually lucky to live in Glasgow) where the council subsidise lots of sporting activities.

Aimsmum · 20/09/2005 20:33

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roisin · 20/09/2005 20:38

DS2 (6) does nothing. (He does swimming lessons at the weekend.) Occasionally he does a short course at school - football or tennis weekly for 5 weeks.

Generally he's just too tired still, and there's not enough time. He still goes to bed at 6pm, light off at 7.

flashingnose · 20/09/2005 20:40

DS is 6.5. He does swimming on Tues, Beavers on Fri and football on a Sat. This is plenty for him - I've got two other kids and want them to be able to do things too when the time comes. Plus he does get tired if there's a party as well at the weekend.

DD1 who is nearly 5 does swimming and ballet - I enrolled her on a 7 week gymnastics course in a fit of enthusiasm but it's too much for her - poor little lamb has only just started going full time .

I count swimming as a necessity - the only thing they have to do.

swedishmum · 20/09/2005 20:44

My children at that age needed time just to relax and do fun stuff with us. It's fun just to play in the park, the garden etc. The girls both started ballet and tap quite young.
They have increased activities as they've got older but I try to make sure they are spaced out during the week. I know some children who do three activities on the same night!

flashingnose · 20/09/2005 20:45

Exactly swedishmum and they also want to have friends back sometimes or go to friends' houses.

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Amanda1 · 20/09/2005 20:46

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magnolia1 · 20/09/2005 23:14

With 4 girls I just can't afford to let the girls do all that they want to

Dd1 (age 10) does kick boxing and I am starting the girls at dance on a friday.

They all want to do horse riding but with 4 kids its just too much money

Feeding the ducks, walking the dog and going to see nanny will have to do

Original poster

Amanda1 · 21/09/2005 08:05

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unicorn · 21/09/2005 08:15

Sound like she is coping fine now - but you will need to watch her as the term progresses.

My dd always gets rundown (ulcers, colds, viruses etc) so I don't believe she has enough stamina to do too much.

Having said that she is doing gym on Mon/fri and Sat at the moment and loves it.

Have told her though that if her school work starts to suffer,or she starts getting more stroppy than usual she will have to give it up.

Miaou · 21/09/2005 08:32

Amanda, I'm shocked at your dd's teacher telling you she needs to socialise - what is she doing at school fgs? And with your medical history I would have thought it was a little insensitive to suggest that you take on more obligations.... grrr on your behalf!

dd2 (age 6) has just started to go to ballet on Wednesdays - her sister (8) goes to youth club on Thursday and gym on Friday. dd2 would like to do gym as well but we think it's good for dd1 to do something by herself! Because of where we live we only have a limited amount of activities available to go to, or travel much further, which is not practical/too expensive. However we find the girls do like to arrange playdates and do lots of craft activities (at home) after school.

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