I have 2dd going into yr3 and yr1, plus toddler. Both girls are doing well but I think esp dd1 would benefit from more one on one help from us, but we are busy enriching their lives! They do brownies/rainbows one evening and swimming another evening, then might go to a concert etc another night in the summer. On the weekend we often go to castles, museums, beach, exploring in the woods. When we go to castles etc we talk through its past, and they both really enjoy history. Dd1 can read well so we get her to read guides etc, and we count steps etc climbing up spiral steps. They both write in journals on holiday.
I just worry that we don't do as much of the formal stuff as we could. Dd2 only just gets through her reading books each week as evenings are quite hectic. Dd1 does bare minimum homework after much nagging and reading, she prefers to choose her own books rather than the school books. I think both of them are above national average on most things, dd2 more self motivated, but dd1 would probably do better in class if I pushed her more, it is quite a high achieving class, and I'm know lots of parents are doing much more than I do in terms of workbooks, educational computer games etc, as they talk about it in playground etc.
Just wondering particularly from teachers, what balance is best for them academically, would you rather have a child who does all their homework and workbooks, or who has been off exploring? At what age do you think sitting down and doing formal learning should take priority over enrichment stuff? Would like dd1 to go to grammar (top 25 percent), think she is probably capable (clever but not a genius) but not sure if she or we have the stomach for all the extra work just to keep up with peers, let alone the extra tutoring.