How many extra curriculars does your summer born Y1 child do?

[Oneandanotheroneistwo]

DD turned 5 at the end of August and just started year 1. Her school offers a number of clubs but we're not sure if/ what she should sign up for. At the moment she has swimming lessons on a Saturday morning, goes to after school club twice a week and has just started piano lessons which take place in school time. That simulatinously seems like a lot and I don't want to overdo it, but also don't want her to miss out on doing something else.

For context I work 4 days a week, DH 5 and we also have a toddler, so realistically we can't ferry her around in the evenings so at the moment the clubs need to be school based.

In year 1, my summer born year 1 did football after school and swimming. She’s just gone into year 2 and has started Beavers one evening a week. That feels enough to me, we have 2 other kids.

My DD turned four this summer and just started reception. She has boundless energy and has always done clubs so it’s been tricky working out the balance! She goes to wraparound three days a week, dance lessons not long after school on a Monday (she’s been doing that a year already), and a new club on a Saturday morning. After half-term we might swap her morning wraparound on one of the days with a club before school that she’d love, but I’m hesitant to add anything else for her just yet.

The only thing that would convince me is swimming lessons (for the safety aspect), which she’s on a waiting list for.

DD1 was 5 at the end of June and is Y1. Our setup sounds similar to you. I work 4days (although i finish at 3pm on two days). DH is FT. We also have a 2.5yo who is in nursery 4 days a week.

DD1 does two nights after school club (currently just the free play one as our clubs haven't started yet, but when they do it will be a club until 4pm and then free play + snack from 4pm-6pm).

Then outside of school we do swimming one night, rainbows one night and ballet at weekend. These are all on different nights to after school club so it means we can avoid really late nights.

School offers music lessons in the school day so we will probably do those, but i don't want to add any other weekend or evening activities for her at the minute. I think it would be too much for her - ive noticed that she needs a lot of free play time to wind down.

My DS only does swimming. He’d like to do the multi sports club after school but didn’t get a place in it this term. I was thinking of adding football but we’re about to have another baby and I don’t think I want to have to do the extra ferrying. When I’m not pregnant I take him cycling a lot on his own pedal bike, I think that teaches lots of skills and perseverance.

He’s too young for formal music lessons with an instrument. I think some of that is personality though. His sister will probably be fine with an instrument at younger than he is now.

He’s most likely dyslexic so we probably spend more time/effort on reading and literacy than other families because we need to! That makes it harder to fit things in time wise.

I might send him on some sports camps during half term as a way of topping up the sports skills a bit, it’s something he enjoys.

But really for him I think we’re waiting until year 2 before we add anything else. They’re still quite little.

Thanks all - a bit of a mix. It's hard to know what's best really - I might see what teacher clubs are offered after half term and make a decision. I don't want to overload but there seems to be a lot more emphasis on clubs than when I was younger so also don't want her to miss out

Mine does a lot - 3 after school offered by her school, and 2 that I take her to. But she doesn't do any breakfast club or wraparound after school, and we live 5 mins walk from school, so it doesn't feel too tiring and leaves plenty of time for relaxing at home.

Football, after school gymnastics and a Scouts-type equivalent in NI (not sure if Girls Brigade is on the mainland?)

Edit: forgot swimming once per week

He has to go to two after school club sessions (which are free play) because of work and apart from that we do nothing extra. Swimming I've done as intensive courses in holidays. We might starts drop in Saturday morning football if he wants . But he's quite shy and goes off stuff easily and we are busy at weekends seeing friends and family. I honestly think at 5 they have years for extra curricular stuff. Swimming is the only thing I think is a non negotiable and even then I'm reluctant to commit to weekly!