If you could go back in time, would you put your kids in fewer structured activities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am seeing a lot of posts about kids not being able to entertain themselves. Such as the gaining weight post where people said their kids are usually in xyz classes and now without those classes they are couch potatoes.

I have a preschooler and I want her to be able to self-entertain (even outside of physical activity) without requiring classes. She is only in one class a week (music) and I am wondering if I should keep it at a minimum. I know we’ll probably never have another pandemic situation, but maybe having to self-entertain will make her more resourceful? What do you think?

You’re talking about apples and hippopotamuses here. To self-entertain has nothing to do with learning skills and activities that will serve her in life. My kids are great with being self-sufficient and resourceful. They are also playing tennis, playing violin and doing great in remote school (thanks in part to their love of the library and books since infancy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's more work for you as a parent, but I think fewer scheduled activities are better, especially for preschool-aged children. Hard to be imaginative and (as you say) learn to occupy yourself when everything is so structured.

Structured? It’s a 45 minute class or 20 minute storytime! Lots of other hours to explore, develop an imagination and be self-motivating.

If anything, your comment is slamming daycare.

[Anonymous]

I’m happy we haven’t relied on tablets in the past. Our kids (7 and 5) are handling being at home pretty well. They now both get an hour of ABC mouse at the end of the work day which is when I think they would normally start to want more attention since I’m working from home. They are super excited to do ABC mouse so it holds their attention well My DS is in FCPS and we do not have school assignments yet so I am just giving some activities to keep them busy during the day.
Otherwise we had a “normal” amount of activities (rec soccer, ballet etc). I do think if we used screens more in the past it’s possible they would have more difficulty coming up with things to play to pass time during the day.

[Anonymous]

PP again- I think there is a happy medium with your kids being over scheduled and just enjoying regular kid activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, nada, not even close.

+1

All our classes are 10 min or less from our house though. I might feel differently if I had to drive all over creation (and sit in bad traffic) to get to them.

[Anonymous]

I think as much as scheduled activities is how quickly you hand your kid a screen if they’re bored or fussy. If they can sit through a meal at a restaurant without a screen in hand, that will help them deal with boredom in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have a little one, OP. It has nothing to do with not being able to entertain oneself. It is different when they are older. You can't expect a 17YO to "go run around the back yard" and get enough exercise.

I disagree. I did not do many organized sports as a child. Just soccer. But I biked and rollerbladed a lot, mostly on my own, through 8th grade.

Plus, the posts about kids not knowing how to be physical mostly refer to elementary schoole prers, not 17yos.[/quote

Me as well. There were video games and tv and activities. But, kids had way more time to just play or hang out with friends. I also don't understand why it seems so many elementary and middle school kids don't do do that. We aren't talking about older teens

[Anonymous]

Nope. My kids love their activities (sports and Scouts for all three). They’ve learned valuable skills, made great friends, and made great memories as a result of their activities. I wouldn’t change a thing.

[Anonymous]

I can’t say. My kids have never been all that excited about activities anyway. The ones they did have they miss slightly, but they enjoy having the free time more.

What I am glad that we did was institute a no-screen rule Monday-Thursday. I think, more than the no classes, this is what’s made it easier for my kids to learn to entertain themselves.

Also, really, we have a nice sized house with a big yard out in the suburbs, and I have five kids six years apart from oldest (12) to youngest (6). They are playing baseball and having squirt gun fights in the yard. I can’t say at all what it would be like living in an apartment in the city with one child or two who weren’t especially close. It would be a completely different life, and classes with friends would likely be a much bigger part of it.

[Anonymous]

No way. We miss our travel sports and dance and in person instrument lessons. I'm grateful so many coaches and instructors are making the effort with zoom lessons. It's been heartwarming seeing how they are still trying to maintain a connection with our kids through all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have a little one, OP. It has nothing to do with not being able to entertain oneself. It is different when they are older. You can't expect a 17YO to "go run around the back yard" and get enough exercise.

I disagree. I did not do many organized sports as a child. Just soccer. But I biked and rollerbladed a lot, mostly on my own, through 8th grade.

Plus, the posts about kids not knowing how to be physical mostly refer to elementary schoolers, not 17yos.

You weren't in a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

No. We had a good blend always. Kids are happy and thriving even in this time and are not bored.

Make them readers. Your problems will be solved.

[Anonymous]

The DCUM crowd is never going to admit that they are overscheduling their kids. But they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DCUM crowd is never going to admit that they are overscheduling their kids. But they are.

Perhaps. But they enjoy it and we don’t mind taking them to classes. Works for our family.

[Anonymous]

No! This pandemic has made me appreciate them even more.