Is my 8yo doing too much?

[4point2fleet]

DS is 8, in Y4. He does 2 extra curriculars, both of which he shows potential for. He goes to a prep where he has hotel style breakfast with the boarders every day and stays for 'prep' (homework) most nights.

He doesn't ever say he's tired or that he doesn't want to go to activities and plays out like a street-rat on weekend afternoons and in the long holidays.

His schedule:

Mon school 7.30- 5 Activity 1 6-8
Tue school 7.30- 5
Wed school 7.30- 4.30 Activity 1 7-8
Thurs Activity 1 6-7am school 7.30- 5, Activity 2 6-8.30
Fri school 7.30- 4.30 Activity 1 8-9
Sat Activity 2 9.30 - 12.30
Sun Activity 1 9.30- 10.30

He doesn't get much down time but I guess if he doesn't complain, then why change it?

My suggestion would be drop a morning and an evening, he's never home and he has longer days than I do!

For me yes, way too much. But that's me, whatever works for you and DS (as PP said if he doesn't complain)

School starts at 8am, so if we drop breakfast he only gains 30mins. He wakes up at 5.30-6am every day (and has since he was a newborn, regardless of our best efforts) so has quite a while gaming etc. in the morning.

I am considering dropping an evening, hence asking. It's hard though, when you have coaches expecting attendance.

If he enjoys it it's fine. My kids did/do similar at prep and loved it and it set them up well for boarding secondary school and all the activities that had to offer. So long as they have a good nights sleep and eat well then what's the problem imo

7 days a week. Even God took one day off!

So if i read it correctly, You are only seeing your child for about 5 hours in total during the entire week. (And that is mainly before bed or going to and from activities)

She seems him every morning and evening and Saturday and Sunday? Isn't that the norm with most kids Why would she pull him out of activities he enjoys just to have him sit at home with her

I just read that he is up at 5.30, sorry I misunderstood.

If he is up that early then go for it. He obviously doesn't need much sleep as me!

Two of my DD's have somewhat similar schedules, although they wake up at 6.30 most days aside from one 5.30 (due to activity before school), start school at 8 (Prep) and on three days go to bed at 10pm (again due to activities) . Saturday is packed with activities until 6pm. However, they do absolutely nothing on Sunday's not even homework. I have worried about it being too much, but as you pointed out OP the clubs expect consistency and a commitment especially the competitive ones, so we decided to stick with things as they are. No complaints from either girls. DP's son however struggled and had to cut down on tennis from 4 days a week to 1. I guess it depends on the child and it's worth discussing with your DS.

I do talk to him and he is mortified if dropping sessions is suggested, but I think he is a bit brainwashed. He has friends at both activities and clearly enjoys the camaraderie.

3luckystars either his dad or I sit at every single training session he does, so it's not like he can feel that we've dumped him there so we can do other things.

It sounds pretty excessive to me and DD would hate it but we can’t judge if it’s too much for your son or not, only you can.

Well that sounds lovely then! I didn't think that at all.
I just thought sometimes I only see my kids for 2 hours before bed time and everyone else got the nice bits that day. They are too tired to get any decent news out of them.

What you are doing sounds like it's working great. Sorry if I came across wrong.

My 8 year old is at state school but his "schedule" is:

Mon - Fri 7:45am - 5:30pm at school (plus breakfast and afterschool club - he does art and computer club during this time too)

Fri 6.30 - 8pm Activity 1

Sat 10.15 - 10.45 activity 2

Sun 9.30 - 10.30 activity 3
11.30 - 12.30 activity 4. We also try to fit this in during the week in the evenings if possible.

In between all this we have dd's extra curriculars too.

It's nuts but I never did a single thing outside of school as a child so I'm obviously trying to live vicariously through my own dc's activities.