Is this too much activities?

[CurlyTop1980]

I need some perspective... I have 11 year old twins they are in Yr 6.

One of them currently has this schedule and I'm worried its too much and may put her off developing her sport.

Monday" football academy training (1.5 hours)

Tuesday nothing-

Wednesday- Sunday football team training (1 hour)

Thursday- district football team training (1.5 hours)

Friday- nothing.

Saturday & Sunday matches.

She doesn't do any other activities. But we do go swimming/badminton as a family.

The other one does this

Monday- Gymnastics (1 hour)
Tuesday- play rehearsal (1 hour)
Wednesday- nothing
Thursday -ballet (1 hour)
Friday (Gymnastics or play rehearsal 1.5 hours

Saturday 4 hours stage coach.

I feel like I'm over loading them with activities as I NEVER did anything as a child.

Is this too much?

Honestly it sounds exhausting on top of a full week of school. When do either of them get time to relax, read play or just chill out?

When do they do any homework?

It does seem a lot.

Is it their choice or yours? I just can't imagine many 11 year olds actually wanting to do that many activities on top of school.

Sounds similar to me at the age, not too much if they're enjoying it all

I am actuallu considering pulling the footie one out of her academy place as I think it's too much pressure. The seaosn ends in May so not long to go. But she plays with the same group of children for her Sunday and district team so that is where her mates are.

The play rehearsal for the other one is only for 5 weeks. That's not usually part of her routine. She used to only do Stagecoach but decided last month she suddenly wanted to do ballet and Gymnastics. She is quite lazy usually so I have gone with this. I'm not sure how long it will last.

School holidays are very quite. We tend to not do much and just chill.
I find it quite hard myself as I am peri menopausal and get very tired.

It seems a lot to me.

I'm never confident to say what's right but I deliberately left a lot of space for mine to amuse themselves and it worked out well (mine are all older than yours).

It's all thier choice. They do actually enjoy it.

I presume football DD is quite good to be on that schedule. As long as she knows she can cut back, ill let her chose.

Ballet/gym/acting DD... I think she will naturally give up the ballet or gym at some point soon.

The other question.. can you accommodate it all?

(My nearly 10yo finds the 90mins of practice for her sport on Friday and Sunday exhausting! Plus Cubs and school drama club. )

Yes she is very good at football. I'm not sure what to do next year as she Will naturally move onto the Junior Premier League division with a new team she has been scouted for and then they train 2 times per week. Its so hard to juggle.it all.

The opportunity with the academy is so good tho....

I think it is good for children to engage in Sports and team activities. My Foster son did Stage Coach for 5 years. Now he does Monday 3 hours Sports in daytime,Tutor 1 hour English, 1 hour 1-1 cricket training in evening, Tuesday 1 1/2 hours karate, Wednesday 1 hour cricket training in day time, 1 hour swim then 1 hour Crav Magar evenings, Thursday 1 1/2 hour swimming, Friday 3 hours cricket training in daytime then 1 hour swim, Saturday 1 hour cricket training and a 2k run. Sunday 1 1/2 hours cricket training and 1 hour on exercise equipment. He is at college in Year 12 doing BTEC in Sport with cricket specialism. At the moment winter training but come April he will be playing in 3 matches each week, Under 17 one week day evening, Saturday 40 Overs and Sunday 30 Overs. Plus summer training which is less than winter training but I'd be surprised if he agrees to cut back on other Sports. I'm just glad he does not spend his life gaming.

For children good at sport and wanting to compete at a higher level than just local events it's normal.

Swimming, gymnastics, dance, tennis - just the few sports I know that tend to have hours of training at that age for competing county level and above. And of the child wants to do it then I can't see the issue. As long as they know they can back out anytime they change their mind.

There's 11yo in ds swim club who are training 10-14 hours a week in a the pool with 1-2 hours gym - including at 5am!

Yet others that age train 3-4 and sometimes less.

I don't mind driving him to Sports grounds and gyms. In the summer I sit and watch his cricket matches and take a picnic and a nice social day out. You should ask your girls if they would like to go to Girls Cricket too.

I like the schedule does not sound too much, kids need to keep busy. I think the only worry I would have is if all of the week day activities finish late.

Personally I would drop to one football team for the footballer, see whether they get a place next year in the better team though as it might not be an issue anyway if they don't get an academy place offer.

I would suggest the other twin chooses 2 from ballet, gymnastics and play next school year

Sounds normal to me. One problem you have is that you have two at the high intensity activities stage at the same time. Without twins you'd have one younger, who would naturally have fewer activities. Or one older who could bring themselves at least some of the time. You've got both at once! But the activity level sounds usual and holidays and weekend evenings are a good time for chilling.

It sounds fine to me!

Thanks. Were very busy!!!

Just be aware how much it can get.

My ds now trains for 21 hours a week and competes all over the country and needs driving to camps all over the country too.

I would never had suggested he drop training and will never refuse to support him.

But be aware how much of your time elite sport can eat up

Thanks all.

If it is their choice and they like it i dont see a problem. Just reassure them if it gets too much or if they need a break they should not be worried about telling you.

At the moment my DD, just 13, does 9.25 hrs a week, spread Monday to Friday. Nothing at the weekend. Prior to half term there was another 3 hours on top, but that was temporary and has stopped now. It's all her choice, and she doesn't want to quit anything. She tends to get up early and do homework before school and at the weekends. I keep wondering when she'll decide to stop, but if anything she wants to add more in.

Wow. Similar to us I’d say, I thought this was normal…

DC1 (11):

Monday - sport club after school 1 hour
Tues - swimming 40 mins
Wed - piano 30 mins and hockey 1 hour
thurs - nothing
Friday - nothing
Saturday- drama 4 hours (sometimes more)
sunday - hockey 1 hour

DD2 (8)

mon - art club 1 hour
tue - piano 40 min
wed - choir 1 hour
Thurs - sport club at school 1 hour & drama 1 hour
Friday - gymnastics 1 hour
saturday - gymnastics 1 hour
sunday - sport club 1 hour

I think DD2 is doing way too much but she won’t drop anything!