Extra-curricular activities for a 5-year-old? Too many?

Question

My daughter is starting kindergarten. She's going to have to stay after school for an hour each day (the after-care is basically "free play"), but her school also offers a variety of after-school lessons. This sounds great to me, because I won't have to worry about driving her places.

I was going to enroll her in class piano (basically as a supplemental music program, to introduce her to reading music and such, and we have a piano at home that she plays around on, so I thought this would be good), and gymnastics. I'd always thought that one organized physical activity and learning an instrument were adequate extra-curricular activities for kids.

Well, last year she took ballet lessons and loved those (haven't re-enrolled yet), and she wants to take ice-skating lessons this winter. I certainly don't want to be one of those parents who overloads their kids with activities, but do you think it'd be too much to add either ice skating or ballet to what she's already got going on?

Please answer if you're a PARENT who has been through this-- not just someone with an opinion about how kids ought to be raised.

By the way, I would not necessarily have more than 2 things going on if it meant I'd have to drive somewhere for these things. But I figure if she's going to be in after school care anyway, why not take advantage of these programs they offer?

Answer 1

My views on this subject are the same as my mother's when I was a kid. She never forced me to do any extracirricular activities, but always supported me if I wanted to participate in something (it seemed like I was into something different about every year!).

Make sure you ask her what SHE wants to do (and don't be suprised if you enroll her in something and then she decides she hates it!).

I'm glad you don't want to 'over-enroll' her; after all, she's only in kindergarten. However, it's good to get her involved.

I would stick with two different things. Perhaps one after-school activity and one other activity (like ballet or ice skating). Just think, if she's enrolled in 3 or 4 things that require practice, she won't have enough time to practice everything, do homework, and still get to play.

It's not a bad idea to enroll her in one more after-school activity if it doesn't require much practice at home.

I live in a small town, and there's not too much a kindergartner or first grader can do after school. Take advantage of the schools activities; it'll be good for her!

Answer 2

I would probably have her choose between the ballet and the gymnastics. Since these are both continuing activities and I think the piano would be great. If she wants to do the skating and it is a short term activity then I think it would be ok to add that, but you are right, you don't want to overload your kids. I usually try to have only 2 activities going at once. My son does scouts year round and one sport at a time, in the fall he does football and winter he does basketball and baseball in the spring. If he wanted to add another activity I think it would be too much.

Answer 3

I think 2 activities is good for this age. My son is doing martial arts this fall and we will probably sign up for cub scouts. Ballet will go all year so I would consider that when choosing as opposed to ice skating which is usually just for a predetermined number of weeks. Learning an instrument is excellent and will help her do better in all academic subjects. So pairing an physical exercise activity with piano is an excellent plan. Good for you for thinking it through to see what is the most beneficial to your child.

Answer 4

I think ballet OR gymnastics along with piano is a full plate and will keep you both busy. Winter skating lessons sounds like fun.
My kids do scouts (boy and girl) year round and my son takes karate and daughter takes an art class. They are 10 and 11 - that's all we have time for...especially during the school year.

Answer 5

Kindergarten is a big adjustment, I think you have enough going on....can you wait and see how she's doing and then possibly add more things later if she seems up to it? Last year my 2nd grade son did not get to do any after school activities because he had to go to Sylvan to help him master some fundamentals that he somehow missed in 1st grade but no one caught till 2nd. This year I am going to try one activity and see how that works, and then go from there.

Answer 6

I would wait until she asks for the activity before enrolling her in too much. You still need to allow her to be a child and play with her friends.

Answer 7

don't teach her piano, but I do think physical activity is good, she is going to be in school, that will educate her, but she should have things that keep her in shape, so many parents make the mistake of not having kids work out. also, try asking her what she wants to do instead of asking people online, who you have never met. Her opinion means more than mine in this matter.

Answer 8

i think that the more activites the better because she will learn more things....