They have no time to do they're homework.?

Question

Our son's Dylan and Wyatt play soccer and ice hockey. They have soccer on monday, wednesday, and friday. And games on saturday. And they have ice hockey on tuesdays,thursdays and games after their soccer games. And they are only 10. I think that they are falling behind in class. I want to pull them out but they love it so much. Should I pull them out anyway? If I shouldnt pull them out can someone please show me a way to help them balance school and sports?

Answer 1

Just make sure there is a balance between their school and their extra curricular activities. Set a timetable up to allow both to continue because it is important but just make sure school comes first.

Answer 2

Kids are different and there's no one answer for all of them. But for most kids, an activity every day can be overwhelming. Consider not just whether academics are suffering, but also if they're getting downtime just to go over to friends' houses, play outside, or just make their own fun around the house. I do think it's important for kids to have plenty of child-directed time, rather than just adult-directed sports. My kids do multiple activities in a season, but not ones that meet so many times a week ... for us, two or three days of after school activities is plenty, and the rest are filled with playdates and playing outside with the neighbors. I'd consider dropping one of the sports (maybe soccer, since it's off-season anyway?) or finding a league with fewer practices and games. That might mean not being on a travel or otherwise "advanced" team; I know when my daughter got good enough at gymnastics to make the team, which would be a 8 hour per week commitment, she and I both agreed that was way too much time even though she liked gymnastics, since it would take her away from all the other things she liked to do. I gave her a choice to continue gymnastics but not at the team level or to choose another sport that met once a week. There's a good book about organized sports time consuming our kids ... check out Revolution in the Bleachers at your local library (sorry, the author's not coming to me at the moment). Good luck ... I know it's complicated and it really depends a lot on your kids. Ultimately you know best under what conditions they're going to thrive.

Answer 3

Children need balance between "fun" activities and serious activities. Education lasts a lifetime, sports typically for a few years, since the vast majority of children do not go on to professional careers. Their education is far more important than a soccer game or an ice hockey game.

You know your children and your family best, so I have a hard time making a specific recommendation. I suggest that your boys have enough time to participate in one sport, which should give them enough time to do their homework. Good grades should always be a prerequisite for non-academic activities.

As a side note, you will find that few lawyers, doctors, Bill Gates and others in that category spent an inordinate amount of time playing sports.

Good luck!

Answer 4

We have made it a priority in our house that homework comes first. If the boys have scouts, homework must be done first or they don't go.

How long are the sports seasons? Pulling them out of the sport during the middle of the season may inadvertantly send a message about not keeping a committment. If their grades are suffering, it may be necessary to tell them that they can only be in one sport at a time during the school year.

My eleven-year-old has decided that there are a lot of intersting activities available now that he is in Middle School. He has also stated that he just doesn't think that he can add anything else right now. I think it is important to teach our children that we can love doing lots of different things, but we still need to make choices. Sometimes we need to decide to do one sport now and the other next year.

Answer 5

My twin boys love music, and each takes music lessons. They love it, but they were told a long time ago that if the grades started slipping that that would be the end for music.

It's not punishment, just practicality. Their schoolwork is more important at this age. If your boys don't have time to study and are falling behind, then in my opinion you should definitely put the sports on hold for now.

The foundation they get in school is far too important to ignore. And putting a hold on the sports may also help with your fighting problem at hold. It sounds like they are constantly in a competitive, confrontational atmosphere.

Answer 6

umm sign your kids up for spring soccer and fall/ winter hockey i play both sports and the lowest grade i have is a B so yea just sign the kids up for sports on the off season of others it keeps them in shape and they get to play both sports or you could keep your kids on this weird pattern but i have no problem playing both i play for a youth team and my school so that is what I've sone since I was little. I play them for my s\high school so by the time they get to my age the soccer season ends a few months before hockey does so they will have a routine down pact so there would be little to no confusion

EDIT
ok so I have read the awnseres giving by others and i think you wrong I ahd the same problem and i use some logic to figure it out when i realized that soccer had 2 seasons i swithc my soccer season its as easy as that dont tkae the kids out of either sport

Answer 7

We have a rule, one after school activity per season. In winter it's hockey and figure skating (I have a son and daughter), in the spring it's swimming lessons, in the summer it's soccer and horse camp, in fall we are so busy getting ready for winter and start up of hockey/skating that we choose to do day trips instead of an extra curricular. We put school first, activity second. When they have to pick only one, they are very selective which one to pick. Not to mention the fact that family life is squished in between sports and school too. As much as they love the sport, they can do it at another time of year, and quite honestly at that age they must be getting fatigued at school.

Answer 8

Your going to have to tell them to pick one sport and stick to it. They are coming into grades that will establish the basis for work done in Junior High and High School. So you are right, if they fall behind now they will have a hard time doing the work later.

We ran into the same problem with our son at that age. But we didn't slow him down. He nearly failed the first year high and we had to put him in tutor classes after school and weekends, plus help from his teachers. This was a kid that was an A student before high school. He did catch up but the first year high grades really affected his accumulative gpa in his senior year. However, he did graduate college with a 3.9 out of 4 gpa. So the tutorage did help.

Besides saving the stress on your kids when they are nearly failing, you will also save the stress on your wallet because these sessions are not cheap.

Good luck.

Answer 9

IF the grades are slipping then something "must" go. School is a number one prority and you realize that. (which is a good thing). Let them see if they can bring up their grades FIRST. If they can't then they need to choose ONE sport and that's all. Let me ask...do they have practice "right after" school? IF not: then that's prime time for snack and homework. If you've already tried this or it's just not possible I have another suggestion. Take them from school to the practice and their homework is with them and they can do homework UNTIL practice starts. I know kids really love sports and it's great for them, however when grades start to plummet, then something must go. Give them a chance to see if they can bring it up before you take it away.

Kudos to you for being a great parent!

Addition: Excuse me...but everyone says ONLY ONE SPORT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. Ok well maybe it is, however please give your kids a chance to see if THEY can handle it. They are 10 and have a mind of their own. Perhaps they really want to do BOTH sports and I see nothing wrong with it as long as school grades are up. THESE KIDS very well may show everyone that want to do both sports and keep their grades up...or they might decide to give up one sport. It's easier for this age children to learn by doing. Get off the MOM - this is NOT her fault. At all. She only wants her kids to be happy. Gesssssssssh.

Answer 10

pull them out for a couple of games and practices. i know that they will complain but say "look at your grades, you're falling behind." tell them if they get a B+ or an A on their next test then they will be let back into soccer and hockey.

i'm positive, if they love their sports, they'll keep their grades up.

Answer 11

OMG, are you kidding me?? Take them out. It's school first, sports second. Of course they love the sports and that's great. They are stretched too thin and sorry but it's your fault. You definately created the issue. You need to sit the boys down and explain that 2 sports at one time is too much. There is no time in between to sit and concentrate on school work. The rink and the field are not the place to do homework or study for tests. They need to choose one sport and you need to make sure they understand they aren't being punished for your bad judgement. Sorry Mom...had to give you a little tough love.