Extra curricular activities for elem/MS/HS kids -- do you have any input/requirements?

[Anonymous]

How many activities do your kids do?

Age/grade?

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school?

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

[Anonymous]

How many activities do your kids do?

*2

Age/grade?

*8 years old in third grade

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school?

*No, doing nothing is not an option at this age. She did nothing in K and 1st grade- at that age school was enough (when she was younger she went to bed really early- 5:30- so there was only time for playing, HW, dinner and bath)

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

*One of her activities has to be physical. the second one can be anything that she finds interesting. She's a member of competitive cheer team which is VERY physical- and she loves it. Her other activity is drama- only one hour per week.

[Anonymous]

This really just depends on the kid, right? For my DS 13, we have to limit what he can do because he loves activities and would like to do everything. We have ongoing discussions about what he needs to cut out to make his life sane.

My DS 11 is more even keeled and does 2 sports and chess club.

My only requirement is that my kids get exercise but I'm fine if it's a walk or on my treadmill - they are too old to be pushed into stuff they don't like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

It is not tiring, it just means the he can't count Pokemon tournaments as a "activity". We are really only talking about one activity that covers all the bases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

It is not tiring, it just means the he can't count Pokemon tournaments as a "activity". We are really only talking about one activity that covers all the bases.

(hit enter too soon)
And younger is an introvert and needs to be stretched a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

It is not tiring, it just means the he can't count Pokemon tournaments as a "activity". We are really only talking about one activity that covers all the bases.

(hit enter too soon)
And younger is an introvert and needs to be stretched a bit.

says Tiger mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

It is not tiring, it just means the he can't count Pokemon tournaments as a "activity". We are really only talking about one activity that covers all the bases.

(hit enter too soon)
And younger is an introvert and needs to be stretched a bit.

says Tiger mom

LOL, not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2-3

Age/grade? HS one is in 12th and the other is in 10th

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No, we have said to our younger son, if he wants to quit "X" he has to find something else that satisfies the same issues that "X" does.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

They have to do something. It can be one thing or a mix of things. In total, they have to satisfy a social component, a skill building component, a leadership skill building component and a movement component.

That sounds complicated! (and tiring). Do you ever want to just let go and let the chips fall where they may?

It is not tiring, it just means the he can't count Pokemon tournaments as a "activity". We are really only talking about one activity that covers all the bases.

(hit enter too soon)
And younger is an introvert and needs to be stretched a bit.

says Tiger mom

If making my SN child stay in Scouts so he doesn't play Pokemon the entire time he is outside of school makes me a "Tiger Mom". Then the definition has changed.

[Anonymous]

11:18 -- does your child like scouts or does s/he moan and complain about every meeting/event? Just wondering how much you have to push your child vs. the child willingly going along with something you selected?

I only ask b/c I'm feeling tired today -- tired of trying to encourage, nudge, advise and otherwise "push" my kids into being engaged outside of the house. If they had their choice, it seems they would do school, minecraft and pokemon. Sometimes the lack of joy/appreciation for all the things I put effort into is discouraging. (by effort, I mean paying for the costs of classes/teams/shoes/etc., driving them to the events, volunteering to help with or lead activities, etc., etc.).

Do you ever get to the point where the benefits just don't come close to the costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many activities do your kids do? 2 -- softball, fall and spring, and 3 hours of ballet a week.

Age/grade? 9, 3rd grade

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? Possibly, but she's always wanted to do both of these activities.

What input do you have or rules do you apply?

I would want her to do something physical, but I also wouldn't force her to do an activity that she didn't want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:18 -- does your child like scouts or does s/he moan and complain about every meeting/event? Just wondering how much you have to push your child vs. the child willingly going along with something you selected?

I only ask b/c I'm feeling tired today -- tired of trying to encourage, nudge, advise and otherwise "push" my kids into being engaged outside of the house. If they had their choice, it seems they would do school, minecraft and pokemon. Sometimes the lack of joy/appreciation for all the things I put effort into is discouraging. (by effort, I mean paying for the costs of classes/teams/shoes/etc., driving them to the events, volunteering to help with or lead activities, etc., etc.).

Do you ever get to the point where the benefits just don't come close to the costs?

Moans sometimes but not every time- but then he moans about school too and I still make him go to school. He is 16 and moaning is part of his persona. He has done the badges and is working Eagle project. We told him he could quit Scouts at any time ( and we meant it and still do) if he found a similar activity. We let him opt out of sports after he tried them willingly, we let him opt out of music without trying an instrument. He says no to every other activity available -arts, theatre, student government, Model UN, Lego, chess, math or science clubs... Our rule is he has to say yes to one- he chose to stay in Scouts. It helps in the long run as he is an introvert and needs to be pushed out of his comfort zone so he doesn't end up in our basement post college.

[Anonymous]

How many activities do your kids do? karate, (2 X week), gymnastics (1 X week), choir at school, theater when it comes up (our park district does 3 children's shows a year. My kids usually do the fall show and the spring show). The younger child also does after-school enrichment through his chool.

Age/grade? 12, 6th grade; 10; 4th grade

Would you let them choose to do nothing outside of school? No. They have to do dance or a sport.

What input do you have or rules do you apply? If you ask to do it and I pay for it, you have to finish the class. You can quit after the class is over, but if I paid for it, you'll finish it.

[Anonymous]

I strongly suggest DC find at least one enjoyable activity outside of just school, and I advise and model finding a physical activity at least a few days a week for health reasons, but I don't believe in requiring it.