After school activities for early elementary students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in 2nd grade and has always picked one activity, sometimes none in the fall. He is also in aftercare. He needs down time at home and has a sibling that needs to come to all of this. DH works a lot so I'm doing all the driving.

I should add his activity is a sport involving one practice and one game per week. My younger child in preK started a weekend dance class this year.

[Anonymous]

Kindergartener is in Girl Scouts and in February is starting an after school Audubon Naturalist program that is run through the school. Will likely add swim lessons when the nature program ends in March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are only in kindergarten, but I think I will do a 2 activity rule next year. One sport at a time, plus we plan on adding piano. And honestly, we may not even do that. Does she do aftercare? Any activities with that? How about summer camp? Maybe the extra dance class during the year cant happen, but you can do spring break camp or summer camp with a dance program.

So we are finding ourselves over scheduled, but with two kids and two activities per kid, that ends up 4 nights of activities during the week (we both work and want to preserve the family specialness of weekend, though we do have church on sunday).

Our kids are VERY different so combining activities won't really work, any ideas for how to manage this?

[Anonymous]

K child here. We do zero activities during the week. He gets off the bus, we hit the park, free play.

Soccer on Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What activities are your kids involved in and how to do balance that with your work schedule/homework/dinner? I'm asking because my child is currently taking one dance class and she wants to add an additional dance class plus take swimming lessons. She's in the first grade and I'm wondering if that's too much at her age. I'm a single mom and I work full time and I'm trying to figure out how to balance all of this if I allow her to do it so that it won't affect homework time or just overall be overwhelming for her.

Honestly, we have an AuPair. My kids have activities 4 nights a week. Kids come home, play, have snacks, do homework, and then we come home and start chauffeuring them all around town. If they were in aftercare it would be wayyyy too much for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are only in kindergarten, but I think I will do a 2 activity rule next year. One sport at a time, plus we plan on adding piano. And honestly, we may not even do that. Does she do aftercare? Any activities with that? How about summer camp? Maybe the extra dance class during the year cant happen, but you can do spring break camp or summer camp with a dance program.

Why the plural? Are you also in kindergarten with your child?

Not PP, but wanted to point out you are an ass

Or extremely stupid.

[Anonymous]

My DC had two activities per week until second grade, then moved to three activities per week: one arts/music, one language, and one sport. Each activity meets once per week, enough time for 30 mins of homework then downtime before bed. DC is happy, enjoys the activities, and is not overtired.

[Anonymous]

Kids are in aftercare so they can do all of the after school sanctioned activities they want (one kid did drama and one did dance.)

Both kids do soccer 2x/week + weekend games. Practice is at 5:45 so while it is a rush, we make it work. When I have to work late and/or DH is out of town, a friend who has their child on the same team picks up (so far only 1x this year.) Most of those nights are take out for dinner.

[Anonymous]

My K DD has one dance class during the week. In fall and spring she also plays soccer. One things might be added next year but nothing we couldn't cancel if it proves to be too much. She goes to bed by 8 every night and doesn't go to extended day. I share your concerns about when things become too much. Leave yourself flexibility. Don't add things you can't stop.

[Anonymous]

My DS is in 1st and we both work full time. He is not in aftercare (GM picks up from busstop).
We typically do 1 activity per semester, his choice. Afterschool classes only to minimize driving. We also do swimming lessons (not team) on Sun. This semester we are doing 2 things though, as he couldnt pass up on Minecraft class .

[Anonymous]

My 7 and 9 year olds are signed up for a lot because they are in aftercare until 5:30 anyway, we have a beautiful field, the school hosts a bunch of activities and there were a lot of things they want to try this year. This spring we started with 2, and it grew to 4-5 things (eg: school play, T-ball.) I don't think it's too much to do an arts or culture related class as well as a sport.
I posted on another thread, but I'd agree, you do not have to do too many different things if it doesn't work for your family. With DC schools I am happy to see the kids get some more physical activity and learn about music and teamwork.