How many extra curricular activities does you 8yo do?

[foxtong]

Ds is 8, in y3. Currenybhe does cricket and judo at after school clubs at school, then cubs, Piano and football on evenings at places other than school on weekday evenings, and swimming on a Monday.

He wants to join the football team as well as just training on a weeknight. My parents have also bought him a season ticket along with theirs for next season at the local club but it was only £20 for the season so they have said they will understand if he doesn't make every game, even if he only goes to a few it will be worthwhile.

Dh hates football and doesn't think he should join the team which has sat and Sunday commitments although I'm not sure exactly of the amount. Dh thinks it will eat into our family time on a weekend and would mean our entire weekend would be taken up with football in one way or another and we would never see each other or spend time as a family.

We also have ds2 who is 5, he only does swimming atm. It will probably want to do more next year.

I have spoken to ds1 about dropping some of his activities and he said he loves them all and wouldn't want to stop any. He really wants to do the football team thing. He can swim so that would seem like an onboois one to drop but ds2 does that and it's convenient that both lessons are same time and place, so we'd still need to take ds2 as he is not a strong swimmer yet.

Ds1 really loves football. I think we should let him join the team as it's a real passion and a good form of exercise. Dh thinks it will
Mean we lose our weekends but isn't that just par for the course when you have young dcs?

I work ft and dh works PT and does most childcare stuff, for context.

How do other people manage??

So many typos sorry!!

Anyone?

My son isn’t in school but does 3 activities and goes to a tutor 3 days a week. It’s annoying not having the freedom to just decide to do something else on that day but that’s partly because I don’t drive so can’t go to the beach and be back in time for activities etc
Having said that I would let ds do however many activities he could manage and if football is a passion I’d say go for it. Just try to make a bit of time for family time even if it’s a movie night once a week etc

Ds did karate twice a week, footie twice a week, and swimming twice a week. We only have one dc so it was much easier. We found with him and most of his friends/our nephews/nieces they dropped things between ages 8-11, when the activity became less fun and more serious/competitive, they became more independent and could go out to play alone, and they then focused on one activity that they enjoyed the most. Try to let them pick the activity based on what they like rather than your pick as you'll want them to continue with something they enjoy into their teens.

He dropped to swimming once a week when he passed all the levels and started rookie lifeguard age 9 once he'd done 10 weeks and got his bronze award he gave it up. Then dropped out of karate as he didn't like the competitions and just did footie 2 nights with games on a Saturday. Games are usually in the morning so means you still have Saturday afternoons.

He is 15 now and he still does footie and gym/circuit training so has something physical 5 days a week, but if we can't get him there and weather is ok he sometimes cycles as they are only 3-4 miles from home.

Sounds a lot already! Mine did beavers/cubs, swimming and one sport at 6&8.
Now at 8&10 they are currently just down to one sport. In September they may do an after school activity too.
We also now have a toddler who does ballet and will be starting swimming in September.
I find the cost and constant ferrying them around is just crazy!

My 6 and 7 year olds do gymnastics and athletics on a Monday, swimming on Tuesday, football and drama on Wednesday and spannish on Thursday. Violin used to be on a Friday but the tutor has moved away so until I find a new one, that's off.

DD did lots of performing Arts stuff from 2- 8 years old but is 9 now and has traded that for Swimming Club (4 x 1 hr sessions a week + weekend galas), rookies life saving at a local pool, bushcraft and a surf club at the beach. She loves all her groups but says bushcraft and Surf are fun because they involve her friends and playing more and swimming is fun but also hard work. I think its important to have the balance between solo, instructional activities and one where they can play and have fun. Dd is an only so I don’t have to think about anyone else, I’m sure its trickier with a partner / other DC.
Any activities with a competition element whether dance, swimming or football will start to eat up the weekend. We tend to incorporate the area we are visiting for a gala as part of a day trip unless its an all day one so it doesnt feel like its all we are doing.

My daughter is 8 and does a ridiculous amount of activities.

In at school she does choir, keyboard, chess and ballroom/ Latin dance.

Out of school she swims for club so needs to do a minimum of 4 out of 6 sessions which are 1 1/2 hours each.

She also does gymnastics and another ballroom/ Latin dance session.

She is an only child but her schedule is increasingly time consuming as she progresses into her swimming

Yikes! My 8yo just does a pottery class on a Saturday... tried Brownies, dance, etc as well but she hated them. Will happily do a double session with the clay, though.

Am I putting her at a disadvantage?

BlackForest if she is happy, no she is not at a disadvantage. Although personally I've always wanted ds to do something physically active outside school for health and wellbeing. He's 15 now and the activities he does have positive role models at them with coaches he respects/listens to and it means he does less of the teenage hanging about doing nothing and saying how bored they are.

I dont count activities done in school as its so mych easier and ds would be in after school club anyway. Outside of school ds(8) does football training monday, boys brigade on weds, piano friday and swimming on Saturday. This is copeable. Unfortunately when foitball matches start sgain in September we wkll have to swim on Monday or weds and do 2 activities in one day as i try to keep Tuesday and Thursday free.

I wouldn't count going to matches with your parents as an activity so much as leisure time.

DD1 has just turned 9 and in yr4, she did until recently swim on a Mon, have music on sat and rugby sun.
Then any school lunch or after school depending on what was available each term.
Plus a mysuc lesson during school.

We thought that was quite a bit so she dropped swimming as she was strong enough and didn't want to go on to club level.

DD2 nearly 4, so far just does rugby but we want to get her swimming soon and eventually music but mainly as DD1 will already be there.