how do you manage activities for your early elementary kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do 2 weekday activities max. With working driving them is hard and i also value downtime and time as a family.

Do they rotate what they do? Do you make them do any certain activity (swim lessons, learn an instrument etc)

One athletic activity (of choice) and an art/music activity. We are doing piano for one kid and art for the other as they have shown interest and some capability. Trying different sports for both as neither is athletic. We have done ice skating to learn how to, swim in summer (can swim now), tried soccer but didnt like it, did gymnastics for a couple years and will now try a martial art. I have no desire for my kids to be on any travel sports unless they themselves say they do and have some ability. But they are short and while reasonable athletic, probably best for individual type sports. I want them to have exposure to a variety of activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't really have weekday downtime after school. It's a lot with two working parents, but honestly, at home she is generally clamoring for TV, and I would much rather her do an activity than get sucked into that.

Ah. Pp here. Different for us. Downtime is all creative play and crafts, legos and reading whatever the latest book the oldest is into and playing with her sibling. By choice and very much like her parents at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't really have weekday downtime after school. It's a lot with two working parents, but honestly, at home she is generally clamoring for TV, and I would much rather her do an activity than get sucked into that.

Ah. Pp here. Different for us. Downtime is all creative play and crafts, legos and reading whatever the latest book the oldest is into and playing with her sibling. By choice and very much like her parents at that age.

Ah mother goose knows best

[Anonymous]

Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

[Anonymous]

I only have a rising 1st so I realize much will change but I'm really surprised folks are aiming for an activity each day. I used to work with teens and saw a lot of burnt out kids. Part of it is the racing to and from, the go go go mentality. Grab you from school, let's go we need to get to piano, etc. etc. The constant buzzing. But I do recognize some families prefer to be busy and the activities on their own are fun! And I can totally see already how hard it is with so many fun options, how to pick? How to prioritize?

With our rising 1st we won't go beyond one sport per season, maybe this year or next add scouts since it is not every week. We're waiting on instruments until a little older. And we try new sports/activities during one week summer camps here and there for a taste of things without it bogging down our schedule with weekly commitments during the school year. That gives an idea of what to do a season in. And we just try to accept he doesn't need to try everything, we try to really hone in on what he is truly interested in and we don't pursue every single thing he mentions if it doesn't make sense with our schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I think the people with the craziest schedules are the most quick to respond to these threads. None of our friends have schedules like this in early elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I think the people with the craziest schedules are the most quick to respond to these threads. None of our friends have schedules like this in early elementary.

Of course thar is it

[Anonymous]

OP here - wow this is way more than I'd been thinking. For my rising 1st grader I'm planning activities too afternoons a week + one game on weekends. He's pushing for a 3 activity and I was debating fitting in swim lessons but both of those would probably also be on weekends and i'd only add in one at most.

Not saying that's the right answer (or there is any right answer) - I tend to think of things negatively and only see the down side in every option (eg if they don't do enough activities they won't have the change to find what they like / build the skills in time to keep up when older / explore things beyond sports like scouts / music / art etc....but if they do too many activities they'll be over programmed and not know how to entertain themselves and spend too much time being shuttled around in a car etc etc....so its good to hear all perspectives and why you feel they're right for you)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I grew up having activities every day of the week and lived in New England and New York. It's not the area, it's the family lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

We're in Loudoun and school lets out at 2:10. Activity buses pick up the kids and kids do an activity after school every day until 4:30. They do martial arts, ballet, gymnastics, tutoring.

No one is happy about school starting at 7:10, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I grew up having activities every day of the week and lived in New England and New York. It's not the area, it's the family lifestyle.

Same. I don't understand why it's insane. It's not like the activities are boring academic lectures - it's ice skating, gymnastics, soccer, art classes, musical theater, etc. I looked forward to my activities after school growing up because it was a fun treat at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I grew up having activities every day of the week and lived in New England and New York. It's not the area, it's the family lifestyle.

It’s weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't really have weekday downtime after school. It's a lot with two working parents, but honestly, at home she is generally clamoring for TV, and I would much rather her do an activity than get sucked into that.

This is us. Downtime for her equals iPad and so I'd rather her be busy in an activity so I can avoid that fight. I think there's plenty of downtime on weekends, even with the two sports plus swimming lessons that she does.

There are other alternatives for kids besides an iPad or an organized activity coordinated by another adult. Maybe try spending time with your child -cook dinner together, have them help with the grocery shopping, read a book together, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I grew up having activities every day of the week and lived in New England and New York. It's not the area, it's the family lifestyle.

It’s weird

It was actually totally normal in both areas where I grew up. I also thought everyone went to camp for eight weeks each summer. I was in 9th grade before I made friends with someone who'd just hung out at home all summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yall are nuts and glad I moved out of this area. Activities every day of the week is insane.

I grew up having activities every day of the week and lived in New England and New York. It's not the area, it's the family lifestyle.

I had activities every day of the week in the Western PA suburbs. Most of it was club swimming but when I was younger I did other sports layered in there as well. It was great for me and kept me out of trouble as I got into middle and high school. Different strokes for different folks.