How many activities do you have your children involved in?

Question

My wife and I have three young children. Two boys and a girl.

I think we are entering "activity" overload. It has become so that on weekdays from the time I get off work till bed we are in juggle mode. Dance, Karate, pewee football, soccer, church group cubbies, gymnastics.
Have any of you other parents figured out where to draw the line.

Answer 1

You're there. While activities are important for your children, so is family time and just plain ol' downtime! Too many parents these days feel that they need to structure every moment of their children's lives when we really need to let go of the reins a little.

We also have three kids, ages 6 months, 12 and 6 years. I have a home based business and my husband works full time as well. We were completely on overload with work and with structuring the kids activities but I was forced to slow down while we were expecting our last child. I didn't realize how much we were all doing until the kids came up to me one day while I was stuck in bed, gave me a huge hug and told me how much they enjoyed just being able to be home for a change. Talk about an eye opener! After sitting down and talking with my husband and kids, they've each chosen two activities they really enjoy. We take turns with other parents with getting the kids to and from their events and always try to show up for the big games or something that the kids feel is important for us to go to (like the Dad and Daughter Dance). I've learned to say no to coaches or other leaders when I really feel it's going to interfere with our family life. It's made a huge difference in our lives.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Oldest does Scouts, soccer/baseball, gymnastics
Middle is karate, scouts, soccer/baseball
Youngest is gymnastics (not old enough for other two)

For me its balancing. Some of their activities are back to back (the girl's gym). Others are at the same time and close together so its not crazy. Tuesday, Friday, and weekends are free. Only my son's scouts (or sports) is after dinner. I try to be very careful what they do. Next year it will probably be only 2 activities per kid because the youngest will be getting sports age. I am my son's scout leader and there is space for my girls to goof off, so its no biggie. With my daughter's scouts, they meet in her school, so I'm free until its pick-up time. We live in a military community overseas and live on base, so we can walk to all the activities. If things were spaced out more, there is no way our schedule would be this full.

Answer 3

We residence college. But I be certain the children are concerned in further-curricular hobbies. Right now each my boys are on a weekly bowling league and they've Tae Kwon Do two times every week. Bowling results in April and my youngest will become a member of football. My oldest begins Boy Scouts this 12 months. In the summer season they will each do baseball. In the autumn my youngest will do soccer. Meanwhile Tae Kwon Do will probably be ongoing. They additionally do the summer season studying software. My oldest is presently concerned in a studying software by way of our sponsor college and so they each simply joined a studying software by way of Sylvan Learning. My oldest took piano for awhile however then his trainer was once too buys. His instructor is a youngster who has a ton of hobbies himself. So, I'm no longer definite if we will get him again into piano quickly or no longer. I suppose if the children are completely happy then allow them to do what they are intersted in. If they look to be taking up an excessive amount of then have them decide upon only a few hobbies to stay with. If you are attending to harassed then have them diminish. We did that this wintry weather. I'm pregnant and our agenda was once so worrying. I was once volunteering and teaching cheerleading. I completed teaching, give up my volunteer activity and had the children diminish on hobbies. That is why they are no longer in basketball correct now. We simply wanted extra down time at residence as a substitute than going for walks round in all places. If the busy agenda works for then you definitely maintain it up. It does not topic what different men and women suppose. All that concerns is what works on your loved ones.

Answer 4

Oldest (girl) - band, girl scouts

Middle (boy) - ps2 freak, no sports...but has a lot of chores he does around the house

Youngest (girl) - cheerleading, girl scouts

It's a lot when you have more than 1 child. I revolve around my kids. I'm a very unselfish mother and I say this because I was raised without a mother, without a choice to be in extra curricular activities. If my child wants to participate in something, I make it happen. My son was in baseball and football when he started school. It wasn't his thing. He wanted to quit so we didn't do it the next year? Although I made him finish the season, being that signing a child up for an activity is expensive. I don't push anything on my children. But I do my best to be there for them!

Answer 5

In reality, it does not matter how many activities other parents have their kids in. If you are feeling like it is too many activities, then it is too many. You have three kids - if they are each in 1 activity that is 3 nights a week of running around! That is a lot!

Remember that they have many years to try different activities and do not need to be in everything all at once.

Answer 6

Oldest - He plays 3 seasons of soccer per year - outdoor spring and fall - indoor winter

Middle - She used to take dance but quit last spring. Now she takes art classes instead.

Youngest - She takes ballet classes once a week. In the spring and fall she plays outdoor soccer.

Answer 7

On monday my daughter goes to speech
On Tuesday shes goes to gymnastics
twice a month on Friday she has Brownies
On Saturday Morning she has dance
Early afternoon swimming
In the spring, in the afternoon, soccer
My Saturday's are gone. My daughter is special needs, and these are good for her.

Answer 8

I really think kids are being "overworked" these days. Some families spend more time at sporting events then at home, and I find that sad.

Kids need to be kids...outside digging in the dirt, climbing trees, kicking back and watching Spongebob. Not rushing to this event, and then to this practice, and then home for a quick meal and back to this event.

I think it's great that kids have all these options when it comes to extra activities, but I think the limit should be one activity per child. Otherwise, it's alot to handle--not just for you, but for them also.

Answer 9

my daughter does gymnastics once a week...she is 8 and has been doing it since she was 4 years old. I had her doing cheerleading as well but it was too much for her so we quit and she is back to just gymnastics....I think it depends on the indiviuial child.

Answer 10

Just put your children in 1 activity each per quarter...This will save time and money!