Activities outside school (primary age)

kirstle99

Hi all,

My son started primary school last September. He is 4 1/2 (August birthday). Recently i've heard a few of the parents talking a lot about what their kids do after school - swimming, martial arts classes, dance etc.

My son doesn't do anything like that - we tend to take him out ourselves to keep him active. I was just wondering if it is seen as an 'essential' thing for kids to do stuff outside school, or just a 'nice to have'?

I'm getting worried i'm depriving him now! :cool:

toomanyshoesfortwofeet

Well, if you are depriving your son then I guess I am too. My ds is also 4.5 and is more than content playing with his brother, going to the park (with me!) and digging enormous holes in the back garden to give two hoots about any extracurricular activities.

kirstle99

Phew, glad to hear someone else is doing the same as me! Hearing things like that does make you second-guess yourself a bit though. I was going to wait until he was a bit older before we started doing anything really, maybe 6 or 7, I thought he might appreciate it more then, plus it would give me time to allow in our tight budget for something!

peachyprice

IMO the only 'essential' activity is swimming lessons, but that's just because I think every child should be able to swim properly and I never had much success teaching mine myself!

smithyjules

Hi there,

Our DD was 5 on Xmas Eve, so started School in September. She has done swimming lessons for about a year now, which we tightly budget for and I am so glad we have as she absolutely loves the water. She has also been doing a couple of 45 min after-school clubs within the school just recently, which are quite inexpensive and also quite 'general' ie no pressure to continue, compete, buy equipment/outfits for etc. We hope we entertain her enough the rest of the time lol. she is usually happy either at the park or stomping in muddy puddles in the woods.

We have started having a friend over for tea one eve every other week, with the alternating week DD goes to her friend's house. That is proving to be a great time investment. it costs nothing and they entertain each other (when they aren't having a domestic over getting married or not lol).

Northern_Princess

peachyprice wrote: »

IMO the only 'essential' activity is swimming lessons, but that's just because I think every child should be able to swim properly and I never had much success teaching mine myself!

I agree with this. My DD went to swimming lessons from school age, but I waited until she was 5/6 to do other out of school activities. She did dancing, riding, Brownies, gymnastics, acrobatics over the years (not all at once every week). I found she got very tired doing things after school so I limited it to one activity in the week and swimming and riding at weekends. I knew kids who had an activity on every night after school and the parents wondered why their kids were cranky by mid week :eek: The only other benefit I saw to other non essential activities was meeting children outwith the family and school mates.

kirstle99

Thanks for the replies all! I'm going to try & get his name down on the waiting list for swimming lessons. It's £38 for 10 lessons, which are half an hr I think. This is the best value I have seen coupled with good reccomendations, everywhere else seems double the price!

Other than that I think we'll just continue with the stuff we already do, he does seem to get rather tired after school.

Caroline73_2

My youngest is in year 1 and has been having weekly swimming lessons since his 5th birthday. Like peachy I see it as vital. It's £18.80 per month for a half hour lesson each week and free swimming at public sessions. The lessons run continuously and you move up groups when you achieve set targets, not termly.

He wants to do karate but he'll only be allowed once he has finished level 4 of swimming. He won't need swimming lessons then as he will know the basics.

He doesn't do anything else as I think down time is important, as is socializing with his friends. He does stay for some after school clubs such as Mad Science and Multi sports. But these are just for an hour at school, directly after school so it doesn't disrupt family life.

suejb2

I think the extra stuff outside school is done by the parents to show off(I.M.O)that their little "Johnny" or "Mary" can do this that and the other.I believe that enjoying your child(ren) time and company is far greater than them knowing how to count to 10 on Mandarin whilst juggling and knitting a scarf!!

building_with_lego

Northern_Princess wrote: »

I agree with this. My DD went to swimming lessons from school age, but I waited until she was 5/6 to do other out of school activities. She did dancing, riding, Brownies, gymnastics, acrobatics over the years (not all at once every week). I found she got very tired doing things after school so I limited it to one activity in the week and swimming and riding at weekends. I knew kids who had an activity on every night after school and the parents wondered why their kids were cranky by mid week :eek: The only other benefit I saw to other non essential activities was meeting children outwith the family and school mates.

I did gym, ballet, brownies, ballet and a churchy type group after school (one per day!) and ballet, swimming and lace-making at the weekends :eek:. This is at about age 7-8. I caught a virus which burned me out and I remember being off school for weeks recovering.

Possibly because of this DD (8) has only recently started going to Brownies and won't do regular swimming lessons until she's doing them at school, although she has done an intensive basics course. DS is in YR and there's not a lot on offer to the little ones at school- most things begin in Y1. He'll have the opportunity to do a few short (6-8 week) courses then.

Mine had plenty of socialisation while at playgroups and preschool, run around and make things all the time and have lots of friends at school. When they start showing an interest I will encourage them but I feel that I was encouraged to stay doing ballet for longer than I wanted- I danced for 9 years, finished at 12- while I would rather have been climbing trees and riding horses. I was dancing to someone else's agenda and don;t want to inflict that on my children.

kj*daisy

Some kids like doing a lot of extra activities, some are happy just doing stuff with family, some parents like to run themselves ragged taking kids here there and everywhere and some just like to be chilled and spend time at home with the family. There are umpteen things you could do but other than learning to swim and following up anything your LO might say he wants to do, then school is usually plenty for them at 4 and a half. My kids hated extra activities when young but did do some after school stuff that runs at school. Even now they are older they only do 1 or 2 things and just like having time to themselves at home. Some kids I know however absolutely loved doing extra stuff and still do and were very bored stuck at home. So do what suits you all for now!