How many sports/activities does you child participate in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

Huh? My 10yr old started travel sports at 8, for both of my children, the only full day we have off from sports is Mondays. They are home doing nothing structured, except some homework between 245-530 each weekday. Games on the weekends are spotty and all over the place, but it's 2 games per child, 3hrs each total max commitment over the entire weekend.

You have some strange ideas that you think a few hours a day of unstructured time on weekdays is not enough.

[Anonymous]

7yo
1hr tennis
1hr art (PTA after school)
1hr science (PTA after school)
1hr Kumon (30 min twice per week)

5yo
1hr science
1.5hr nature class
DS did soccer last session and hated it so we are giving him a break.

I plan to enroll boy kids in t-ball/baseball in the fall. Was too late for spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling guilty after reading PPs.

6 yo - swim once a week. That's it.

Don't feel guilty. At all. Many would say you're doing the right thing. I posted our list of several activities, and I question if it's too much all the time.

Definitely do not feel guilty. When I read these lists all I think is "Jack of all trades, master of none"

The only thing my child has to master is education. The rest is just for fun. I'm not raising professional musicians or athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling guilty after reading PPs.

6 yo - swim once a week. That's it.

Don't feel guilty. At all. Many would say you're doing the right thing. I posted our list of several activities, and I question if it's too much all the time.

Definitely do not feel guilty. When I read these lists all I think is "Jack of all trades, master of none"

+1
Perfect quote of kid's today.

says the typical neurotic Type A parent.

Why would my kid need to "master" lacrosse? He's there for exercise and to have fun and to make friends.

To each their own, but I don't need to put your kind of expectations of "mastery" on my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

huh.
My kids each play a travel sport.
They get home from school at 3. Their practices are 6 to 7pm daily.
That makes 3 hours of free time each afternoon.

I'd worry more about the 90% of their classmates that are in aftercare daily for 3 hours from 3 to 6pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling guilty after reading PPs.

6 yo - swim once a week. That's it.

Don't feel guilty. At all. Many would say you're doing the right thing. I posted our list of several activities, and I question if it's too much all the time.

Definitely do not feel guilty. When I read these lists all I think is "Jack of all trades, master of none"

Shrugs. My kid is one of the tops in the country in his activity for his age. He does it because he REALLY likes doing it. You try forcing a kid under 10 to put in that much effort. He gets the motivation from himself.

Also, if he didn't put so much effort into this activity, he would probably just be playing Minecraft

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

huh.
My kids each play a travel sport.
They get home from school at 3. Their practices are 6 to 7pm daily.
That makes 3 hours of free time each afternoon.

I'd worry more about the 90% of their classmates that are in aftercare daily for 3 hours from 3 to 6pm.

Most schools get out at 3:40 pm so it's 3:40 pm - 6 pm. and they snack for 30 mins so is 4:10 pm - 6 pm if you stay until the end and most the time is spent doing homework and running around so not sure what there is to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

huh.
My kids each play a travel sport.
They get home from school at 3. Their practices are 6 to 7pm daily.
That makes 3 hours of free time each afternoon.

I'd worry more about the 90% of their classmates that are in aftercare daily for 3 hours from 3 to 6pm.

My kids are home at 250, but I'm not sure why you are so worried about kids in aftercare. What exactly do you think goes on there? I'm guessing it's homework, snack and free play. Isn't that what happens at home minus the video games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling guilty after reading PPs.

6 yo - swim once a week. That's it.

Don't feel guilty. At all. Many would say you're doing the right thing. I posted our list of several activities, and I question if it's too much all the time.

Definitely do not feel guilty. When I read these lists all I think is "Jack of all trades, master of none"

The only thing my child has to master is education. The rest is just for fun. I'm not raising professional musicians or athletes.

You definitely aren't originally from here. This is the DC Motto. Start at 1 for D1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

huh.
My kids each play a travel sport.
They get home from school at 3. Their practices are 6 to 7pm daily.
That makes 3 hours of free time each afternoon.

I'd worry more about the 90% of their classmates that are in aftercare daily for 3 hours from 3 to 6pm.

My kids are home at 250, but I'm not sure why you are so worried about kids in aftercare. What exactly do you think goes on there? I'm guessing it's homework, snack and free play. Isn't that what happens at home minus the video games?

+1. I do not know why you are ripping on aftercare. My kid, who does not normally go there, begs me on Fridays to go. I let her because you know why? It is unstructured play time. The kids are thrown out on a playground or blacktop, different ages, different grades, and have to make their own fun and navigate the interpersonal relationships. Sort of like kids roaming around in a neighborhood. I want my kid to be kind of scrappy and resilient, so I do not coddle her 24-7 like my sister does her kids. Instead, I let her go to, gasp, aftercare. You know, with the other parents who "don't care." ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

I'm with you. I often wonder why parents are signing their kids up for so much but then there is always the excuse that they are bored or need to burn off energy. So let the kids be bored and figure out how to entertain themselves. Let them go out and play. I don't get it, most of these kids won't go to college on scholarship and almost certainly they will not become professional athletes so what's the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

I'm with you. I often wonder why parents are signing their kids up for so much but then there is always the excuse that they are bored or need to burn off energy. So let the kids be bored and figure out how to entertain themselves. Let them go out and play. I don't get it, most of these kids won't go to college on scholarship and almost certainly they will not become professional athletes so what's the point?

They have fun and develop friends and skills like the importance of time management and discipline. It also builds confidence, develops focus, and teaches kids about emotional control. Also, research shows that children who play organized sports are frequently healthier and physically stronger than their less athletic peers — and they are smarter as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

I'm with you. I often wonder why parents are signing their kids up for so much but then there is always the excuse that they are bored or need to burn off energy. So let the kids be bored and figure out how to entertain themselves. Let them go out and play. I don't get it, most of these kids won't go to college on scholarship and almost certainly they will not become professional athletes so what's the point?

Organized sports helped build my wall flower's confidence ten-fold. Best thing we ever did was have her judo, swimming, and basketball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holee crap. Where is the unstructured time?!

There isn't. Have you seen your neighborhood? Where are the kids? Not playing, not biking, not running around in the woods, parks, getting dirty and creating new games. Learning how to navigate life, friendships, and more. You know, being kids!!! They are in academic classes, religious classes, language classes, travel sports at age 8. Swim lessons, piano lessons, private instrument lessons, private sports lessons etc.... Parents want to guide their kids like puppets into some bizarro perfect life they have in their mind. That leaves kids in organized activities or planned care for 10-12hrs a day? And they wonder why kids have ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and can't handle being on their own until they are 13+ years old. College suicides have quadrupled in the last 10 years. But they know a 2nd language, can follow a cult, and get straight A's so they will be just fine.

I'm with you. I often wonder why parents are signing their kids up for so much but then there is always the excuse that they are bored or need to burn off energy. So let the kids be bored and figure out how to entertain themselves. Let them go out and play. I don't get it, most of these kids won't go to college on scholarship and almost certainly they will not become professional athletes so what's the point?

Fact is, most kids are indoors in front of screens most of the time. Nobody is playing outside because they are playing video games. There comes a point in time whrn you cannot dictate what little tiny Larlo does with his time and it's better that Laro loves playing a sport more than he loves Call of Duty.

Here is a hint, playing a sport has absolutely nothing to do with scolarship or professional athletes. In addition to baseball, my son plays piano. Is there no point because he'll never attend juliard or play for the NSO at the Kennedy center? Are you really that dense? Or is it ignorance?

[Anonymous]

7yo. Only scheduled activity is cub scouts. DS is super active - we spend a lot of time outside, at playgrounds, biking. During the school week he's in aftercare, which is awesome - lots of outside, running around, interacting with other kids time.

We'll start music lessons (probably piano) at some point, and a sport if DS is interested, but no rush.