Not so much the activities, but not knowing we were poor, served us all well.
We didn't know we were poor. I rode horses competitively, went to a free boarding school, and took 6 languages as part of curriculum.
At the same time we had holes in shoes, no daily hot running water, and definitely nothing beyond basic in the store.
Being able to roam around freely was even better than being able to ride horses. Being active and wondering aroung added greatly to everyone mental and physical health.
I don't even know anyone from my generation who struggles with mental health.
Good mental/physical health leads to great life.

I did a lot of activities and it made me a well-rounded person with a lot of interests. And it made me used to being busy and juggling multiple priorities. That's been helpful juggling my daughter's activities. Which have made her a well-rounded person.

Anonymous wrote:I was offered "the rich kid sports package" despite not being from a really rich family and declined most of it because I never liked sports.

I am comfortable in water, can ride at a beginner level, and ski at intermediate level. I never mastered sailing, powerboating, or waterskiing. Or any ball sports.

I became passing familiar with three instruments but they didn't stick. Free high school choir did. Along with extracurricular free swing choir.

I also did various things such as ballet, baton, trampoline, pottery, drawing in 8th grade MCPS art class, technical theater, a bit of acting, Model UN, and newspaper writing.

The only things I currently engage in are theater attendance and occasional skiing. To my sons, I passed on some interest in theater, Model UN, swimming, and skiing. I made them try a hip hop dance class. They went for string instruments and orchestra and had no interest in choir. They also skipped ball sports although I sent them to a basketball class for elementary schoolers. In general, they've done less than I did.

From trying a bunch of extracurriculars, I learned to be enthusiastic about trying new things and I'm capable of relating to people who really like the hobbies I tried. It hasn't been that much of a life asset otherwise.

Reading a lot (for free) was the biggest help to my academic career.

It probably would have been good for networking if I had learned/played any ball sport. But I never had any interest. Talking about ball sports is actually pretty common at my company and I can't even fake my way through a conversation.

Wat does this mean

Anonymous wrote:For those whose parents put them in many activities growing up -- like swimming, music, ballet, sports, etc. -- I'm curious how that's affected your development.

Do you feel like that's made you a more well-rounded person, and if so, how? More extroverted? Adept at picking up more skills and forming connections?

I dabbled in piano when I was younger, but I'm always so jealous to hear about kids who took part in a bunch of activities growing up and didn't just rot in front of the television.

Swimming and tennis gave me lifelong sports. Campfire led to volunteering throughout my life. Band gave me a social life in HS and college - and friendships that have lasted 40 years. Theatre me a love for it and we regularly purchase series from several of the local theatres.

Anonymous wrote:It makes me comfortable trying things I think. I’m not trying to be a pro but if someone needs a doubles partner, I am comfortable saying sure! Same with golf, water activities, a tap class my friend wants to try but doesn’t want to go to alone, etc.

I’m also comfortable trying and then saying yeah, not my thing.

It’s not only sports but book clubs, an art class (which I am notoriously horrible at in general), attending artsy events…

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those whose parents put them in many activities growing up -- like swimming, music, ballet, sports, etc. -- I'm curious how that's affected your development.

Do you feel like that's made you a more well-rounded person, and if so, how? More extroverted? Adept at picking up more skills and forming connections?

I dabbled in piano when I was younger, but I'm always so jealous to hear about kids who took part in a bunch of activities growing up and didn't just rot in front of the television.

Swimming saved my life when a ferry I was on in Indonesia capsized. Ballet helped me to stand on tip-toes when I attended sporting, musical or artistic events and could not see well. Soccer helped me to kick a grenade away when I was serving in Iraq. So far my violin-playing has not proved useful in any life-threatening situations, but it may just be a matter of time.

I like you

PP here - one thing I think was hugely valuable that my K-12 focused on was that we all had to do an art, a sport, and at least one difficult academic thing every semester. It really helped to see that someone who was so great at something maybe was weaker in other areas, and someone who was weaker in something was awesome at something else. It also pushed us to try things we wouldn't otherwise and discover some hidden interests/talents. I'm a big fan of liberal arts educations because of this. My husband went to public school and was able to take mostly what he wanted with the exception of a few core courses, and in college he hyper-focused on math and engineering and didn't have to take hardly anything else. I think that did a huge disservice to him.

I was not overscheduled as a kid but I did a lot of activities including things with school and on vacation (instruments, foreign languages, skiing, swimming, boating, etc.). I did summer camps and trips with friends and we attended a lot of social events. My husband was the opposite - he never went to camp, played one sport recreationally, and did a single vacation every year to the same city in the Outer Banks.

The differences I see in us are that I am comfortable doing almost any activity because I've probably done it before. I'm comfortable in new places, and I'm comfortable being uncomfortable. I don't feel like there are many places I don't "belong" or can't handle. I'm street smart, I'm civilized, and I can adapt to just about any situation. My husband doesn't love new things because he's not always sure he'll like them. He is quiet and reserved if he's somewhere new (we're both introverts, but I "fake" it way better than he does), and it's harder to draw him out of his shell and get him to do things.

Obviously some of this is due to our personalities, although we actually are quite similar in that way. I'm just grateful that I'm "worldly" (I don't love that word but can't think of a better one) and I feel like I can do anything I want or need to. I couldn't pick up a guitar on go on stage today, but I'd have a much better shot at faking it/figuring it out than a lot of people I know.

Anonymous wrote:It makes me comfortable trying things I think. I’m not trying to be a pro but if someone needs a doubles partner, I am comfortable saying sure! Same with golf, water activities, a tap class my friend wants to try but doesn’t want to go to alone, etc.

I’m also comfortable trying and then saying yeah, not my thing.

It’s not only sports but book clubs, an art class (which I am notoriously horrible at in general), attending artsy events…

I have a version of this. I was terrible at most things. If you can stand being the slowest runner in high school, nothing much bothers and you don’t have much ego when you try anything.

I grew up doing a lot of non-sport activities (scouts, 4-H, church groups, volunteer with a particular charity, multi-family camping). In HS that turned into leadership of the same groups, which requires public speaking and planning and so on.

I saw how all these groups require volunteers to function, and how you need to carefully balance consensus (because nobody is getting paid to put up with anything) with clear organization and decisions. It was really good for my EQ and sense of community involvement.

One of the main things I try to model for my kid is that part of joining a club or organization is showing up for the fundraising and business meetings and other boring stuff. You can't only show for the fun parts.

It was fun. My childhood was fun because of it. Just happiness which is the most important thing of all.

I was offered "the rich kid sports package" despite not being from a really rich family and declined most of it because I never liked sports.

I am comfortable in water, can ride at a beginner level, and ski at intermediate level. I never mastered sailing, powerboating, or waterskiing. Or any ball sports.

I became passing familiar with three instruments but they didn't stick. Free high school choir did. Along with extracurricular free swing choir.

I also did various things such as ballet, baton, trampoline, pottery, drawing in 8th grade MCPS art class, technical theater, a bit of acting, Model UN, and newspaper writing.

The only things I currently engage in are theater attendance and occasional skiing. To my sons, I passed on some interest in theater, Model UN, swimming, and skiing. I made them try a hip hop dance class. They went for string instruments and orchestra and had no interest in choir. They also skipped ball sports although I sent them to a basketball class for elementary schoolers. In general, they've done less than I did.

From trying a bunch of extracurriculars, I learned to be enthusiastic about trying new things and I'm capable of relating to people who really like the hobbies I tried. It hasn't been that much of a life asset otherwise.

Reading a lot (for free) was the biggest help to my academic career.

It probably would have been good for networking if I had learned/played any ball sport. But I never had any interest. Talking about ball sports is actually pretty common at my company and I can't even fake my way through a conversation.

It kept me active, for starters. And I knew how to play tennis and ski, which socially has been fun.

And lastly, I developed a passion for skiing which I still enjoy as an adult. I’d say that’s the best part - sparking passions in your kids.

It makes me comfortable trying things I think. I’m not trying to be a pro but if someone needs a doubles partner, I am comfortable saying sure! Same with golf, water activities, a tap class my friend wants to try but doesn’t want to go to alone, etc.

I’m also comfortable trying and then saying yeah, not my thing.

It’s not only sports but book clubs, an art class (which I am notoriously horrible at in general), attending artsy events…

A couple of badasses in this thread. Respect.