Extracurricular activities - How much is too much?
Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Fun & Activities, Education
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My older daughter's soccer coach called last night. I groaned when he told me he'd set soccer practices for the same day of the week that my daughter has dance. Now, one evening a week, she'll go from one dance class to the other, then directly to soccer practice. It's too much, in my opinion. But she's adamant that she doesn't want to give either activity up. Luckily, soccer season is short-lived.I know that, down the road, we'll have this conversation again. We're lucky that there are so many great programs out there for our kids to take part in, but yet there has to be room in the schedule not only for family time, but for downtime too. It's got me wondering, how does a parent know when to say when to after-school activities?
According to Scholastic, extra-curricular activities benefit kids in a myriad of ways -- academically, emotionally, and socially. But kids need to play a role in deciding what and how much they want to take on. (In other words, trying to turn an uninterested child into Tiger Woods through early and intensive golf classes isn't really going to do anyone any good). They've also got a grade-by-grade guide to after-school activities for little ones. According to them, our two extra-curricular activities are perfectly appropriate... I just wish they didn't all happen on the same night.
What about you? Where do you draw the line when it comes to extracurricular activities?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ame s 8-26-2008 @ 10:27AM
I have 2 daughters, 8 and 10. We only do one activity per season. With homework and studying, I think that is plenty. Until soccer season ends towards the end of October, one has practice on Mondays, the other on Tuesdays. Wednesday feels like my "Friday"! I have enough trouble keeping up with their homework, studying, and bedtime schedule. Additional activities would interfere with those, and I'm just not going to go through that.
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Nicola 8-26-2008 @ 11:11AM
We, like many parents, just had this discussion as the first day of school rolled around. Our guy (aged 4) does music and swimming. He has a real talent for music and its something that we feel should be cultivated as long as he's enjoying himself. He LOVES swimming and is only one class away from being eligible to join the swim team. Many years prior to most kids. He's a bit of a fish. However, he decided that he really really really really really (please, oh please!) wanted to play t-ball. Meaning three after school activities on top of attending school five days a week. That's a lot for a 4 year old. In my opinion. However, t-ball only runs for ten weeks and he's had so much fun at his first few games. I'm glad that we decided to give it the "ok". For us, we balance his energy level with his talents and desires. I don't want to hold him back or to deny him fun extracurricular experiences. Nor do I want him to be too tired to enjoy them. Its a balancing act!
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sandyquinn 8-26-2008 @ 12:28PM
That would be too much for our family. But everyone has different
energy levels and personalities.
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Sabrina 8-26-2008 @ 12:40PM
When I was in high school (never joined extracurriculars before that other than dance one year) I was allowed ONE activity per season, until I could drive. Then I was allowed 2, and only if I kept up with my household chores and homework and was responsible (phoning mom to let her know when practices were and what time I'd be home every day like clockwork).
My daughter is currently in year 2 of PreK and she's going 5 days a week full time this year. She's begged me to let her take dance, so she's also enrolled in a dance class once a week. I think this is plenty for her age, she's only 3! My husband and I talked about allowing another activity in the spring for her, maybe soccer or t-ball is she really wants to join. But until she's older we've decided one activity every other season is enough for her, and for our budget.
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Sandyone 8-26-2008 @ 9:31PM
My kids are only doing one activity that interferes with my dinner hour. I get four of them to class, one night per week (and on Sundays during the day). I know that 6-9pm is when the moms and dads can coach, but that would be swapping one great thing for another. When it comes to enrichment OR family life, family life wins. (Ahem...not that family life isn't enriching....)
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Heather 8-26-2008 @ 4:50PM
Our son is 6 and in 1st grade. Last fall he did soccer for the first time, then again this spring. He is in soccer again this fall along with cub scouts. We leave it up to him to decide which activities he would like to do. If something comes up we ask him if he would like to do it or not. He really wanted to do t-ball, but we never got any info on it. I think as long as he keeps up his school work, and show he is responsible enough, he should be able to do what he would like to.
Next spring our then 4 yo daughter is starting soccer.
I was never able to do any kind of after school activities (due to lack of income), so I feel I should give my kids at least the opportunity to try new things. My husband and I have always said that if they wanted to try something we will do everything in our power to let them. I don't want them to feel like they have missed something like I/we did.
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tamk3 8-26-2008 @ 9:50PM
I have 3 and for the sake of my budget (and sanity!) we do one sport a season. Right now both boys are playing LL football which is ALL CONSUMING at 3 nights a week (was 4 until school started) and then games on Saturdays which doesn't leave any room for my daughter to do anything anyway. We play into November and then take December off. In January we'll start basketball and gymnastics and then when those finish (about April) we take another month off. You have to realize that while you're trying to keep them balanced, remember to keep yourself balanced as well or you'll burn out before they do!
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