how do you manage activities for your early elementary kids

[Anonymous]

Reading some of these activities schedules, no wonder kids can’t self-occupy anymore. They’re never given the chance to learn the skill.

[Anonymous]

I have an only child, 3rd grade, so my capacity for events is higher than parents of multiple kids. But I still can't handle more than 3 weeknights a week. I don't mind activities on both weekend days, but with two working parents the weekday shuttling is rough. And we are in Fairfax so activities usually start at 6pm and my kid sleeps early so that is also hard.

Anyway, we currently do one sport and one music lesson, but have previously done 2 sports and 2 music lessons. As long as it fits in 3 weekdays im ok with whatever he prefers.

I9 sports is great for low commitments sports btw! I will let my son do one "real" sport that involves practices and more time and one i9 sport for fun.

[Anonymous]

For the younger ones, through second grade:

Church.
Sports, generally 2x week (1 practice, 1 weekend game)
AHG (ie Scouts) 1/week. Occasional weekend.
Afterschool activity 1/week.

Playdates and so on as they come up.

This is close to the maximum tolerance I have for driving around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?

I work from home and we essentially live across the street from the elementary school - it’s 1/4 mile. I sometimes leave my desk at 3:45 or 4:30pm and have to wrap up work after dinner. I often start working at 7:30am while my husband feeds them breakfast and take a 20 min break to walk them to school and back at 8:40.

[Anonymous]

We rotate. For example:

Fall and Spring = soccer. Summer is too hot and winter is too cold
Fall and Winter = swim class. Summer we swim on our own
Fall Winter and Spring = ballet
Summer = gymnastics
Violin is all year round and is my only non negotiable (kid would drop this in favor of karate, which thus far I have said no to)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?[/quote

I went to work at 6:30 and was home when school let out. DH went to work at 9 after DC went to school. Now DH works from home so I go to work later but am home for dinner and activities. It is easier with one child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading some of these activities schedules, no wonder kids can’t self-occupy anymore. They’re never given the chance to learn the skill.

I grew up doing at least one or two activities each day (including weekends) and felt like i had plenty of time to faff around my bedroom, playing with my toys, reading books, drawing, playing with our dog, making up games with my brother, jumping rope, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?

I start work at 6am and am done by 230pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising 2nd grader will do this fall: gymnastics, dance, ice skating, piano, singing
Rising K will do this fall: swim, dance, gymnastics, basketball

Even if they have a class from 4-5pm after school, then they still have tons of time before bed that's down time. But I don't really worry about that. I was a kid who was on the go all the time, and both thrived that way, and also felt like I had tons of time to draw and read and dance around the living room. Do whatever works for your family. I think it's great for kids to try everything that piques their interest when they're little.

Where do you do singing.

[Anonymous]

My rising 3rd graders dances 3-4 days a week, tumbles on an additional day. It sounds crazy, and it is. We've slowly gotten to this point. However, she had a couple weeks off and hated it, so I think it works best for her to stay busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?

WFH is a gift.

[Anonymous]

For everyone nay-saying activities -- go read the thread started today in this forum called "bullying hangover". The OP explains in a later post that the friends her DD has from her activities (which do not overlap with school peers) has a been a life saver for her DD. I put up with the chauffeuring of my DD so she can have her "ice skating friends" and her "soccer friends" and her "theatre friends" more than any other reason or any other value in those activities. (Although I think there are plenty others.)

[Anonymous]

^ outliner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?

WFH is a gift.

WFH can also be a grift. We have some WFH in our organization who run out for a “quick drop off” yet never seem to finish the days work. I hate parents who do this because it endangers the WFH situation for the other employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these parents who have time to chauffeur their kids to various after school activities multiple evenings a week? Do you not work?

WFH is a gift.

WFH can also be a grift. We have some WFH in our organization who run out for a “quick drop off” yet never seem to finish the days work. I hate parents who do this because it endangers the WFH situation for the other employees.

I agree. Fortunately everyone at our company is much more productive in WFH so the company is more than fine with the arrangement.