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How many activities can one child do?

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As many of you know and for those who are new to Powered by Mom I have one daughter Sian. She turns 11 this week so as you can imagine this coming weekend with her birthday party of 5 girls attending it's going to be crazy. This week we finally arranged the one activity outside of school that our daughter will be doing. She's going to be doing vocal lessons something we've thought about for years but this is the first year she has wanted to do them. A budding singing sensation, maybe but it's more about the fun ad stimulating creativity. Last year she had girl guides, the year before girl guides, dance and one other activity I can't for the life of me remember. With the exception of this year all other years I worked full time outside the home and it was a huge challenge and exhausting I found to get her to all those activities. Keep in mind I'm not talking about activities that are not concurrent if they occur in different seasons that's also different. I'm talking about examples like Jane has ballet Tues & Thurs, gymnastics Wed & piano on Fridays that kind of thing and believe me I know of children who have that many activities 4-5 days/week sometimes not counting activities that have practices and games.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Even with one activity such as Girl Guides last year between Sian's homework and well life it was still a challenge for her to participate all of the time in Girl Guides. So it amazes me these parents who have their children in 3 or more activities and many I know have more than one child. My hat is off to all of you as I don't know how you manage it but it does make me wonder how many after school activities can one child be in? How many is too many? Each child is unique of course and as such I'm sure can handle a different amount of activities and the type of activities but is it just me who gets exhausted watching those kids who have 3, 4 sometimes more activities all in the same time frame? How do those parents manage it, some I know the moms are stay at home but that doesn't mean they're not busy. I also marvel at the parents whose kids not only are involved in that many activities and they have more than one child, makes me feel like a slacker lol.

I know for my daughter that 2 activities in the same week are more than enough for her and perhaps because her elementary school unlike the one I went to they don't have soccer, baseball and volleyball teams etc.. In fact none of the elementary (K-7) schools in our district do so the kids do these all after school and on the weekends. When I went to school (no I didn't walk 5 miles in the snow :)) but we did have those school teams in elementary school and I participated in them and the only activities I did that wasn't a school one was between dance and playing the  flute. My dad was a musician so playing an instrument was a given.

So I ponder am I a slacker parent or is one after school activity enough? What do you think and what do you think is too much? I would love, love to hear from others please feel free to comment below.

 

By on September 24th, 2012

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

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43 thoughts on “How many activities can one child do?”

  1. This year we limited it to 2! I know last year it was cheer, girl scouts, and awanas which meant we were gone 4 nights a week and it was just way to much. This year it is just girl scouts and cheer!

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  2. When I was little I participated in Girl Scouts, Cheerleading, Dance team, and basketball at the same time. I loved it and always had energy. To each her own I guess.....

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  3. When my children were younger they wanted to do several different activities. Being a single mom and working full time I allowed them 2 activities each. Between cub scouts and soccer, it was still a great challenge to get them on time to all the different places and all at different times and days.

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  4. I think activities are good for kids...it keeps them busy out of trouble and teaches them structure.....I wish my kids liked them but they did not enjoy the,...They have to enjoy what they do.

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  5. I don't think kid needs more than two extracurricular activities. There just has to be time for FAMILY. And school. I was a Girl Scout leader about 10 years ago, and one of the girls had 4 different dance classes on top of Girl Scouts. I wondered if she ever actually had time to PLAY.

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  6. It really depends upon the child and the family, I think. I know for my family, even one extracurricular activity right now would be too much with everything else we have going on.

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  7. It's so weird because I do not know how my little cousins do it. They place soccer, do gymnastics, ice skate, softball, and other after school things. Then their brother plays Hockey and Baseball, and soccer. That is a lot of money for 3 kids to play all these sports and also time everyday and weekends. I do not know how they do it. I use to play one sport soccer and it was crazy I can't imagine 2 or three sports at the same time.

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  8. When my son was younger he played one sport per season so that was 4 sports a year. I think we will do the same with our daughter and then maybe a musical instrument if she wants.

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  9. This is killing us this year. We have 4 kids and they're all doing a whole host of different things. Our week is PACKED. We go straight from one's activity to another's. I'd love to let them have a chance to do even more, but we just can't do it. We can't afford it and we can't find the time.

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  10. my daughter is the one activity an evening but weekends are usually completely free or we travel to friends and stay overnight on them. swimming, ballet and girl scouts, all year long activities. she seems to be happiest when she has goals.

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  11. My, now 11 year old, son was involved in soccer and basketball for 3 years in a row. This wasn't too bad as soccer was fall/winter and basketball was spring. When we added in 4-H and then Tae Kwon Do 2 nights a week, it just got to be too much. He chose not to do any activity the following year and, unfortunately, I was willing to take a break myself! I'm a single parent and had a second child after that 3rd year, so that could be part of it.

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  12. I think it depends on the kids and then the parent's schedules. If everyone comes home frazzled everyday because the kids have lots to do and the parents are exhausted form running around, that's not fun for anyone.

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  13. I think it depends on the child. As long as my kids get good grades and have friends and are happy, I let them do as many activities as they want.

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  14. If its a child that loves doing activities,and it gives the child incentive to do well in school as well as home I say let them set their own limit to an extent as long as their doing well in school and home. I think thats great.

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  15. I believe a child needs various activiies to grow thier bodies and minds. I think a balance is important too. They need time to relax and have family time. This helps the soul and the mind. Structure is key.

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  16. we used to do social group once a week (advised by psychologist since we're homeschooling) but it totally sucks up our entire afternoon (1 hr bus ride there, 15 minute wait til it starts, 1 hour group, 40 minute wait til the bus gets back around, 30 min bus ride home, then it's time to start dinner soon as i get in the door) -- we went 2 weeks in a row where it had been canceled and they hadn't bothered to call us (i mean, come on, there's only 5 kids in the group normally - couldn't be courteous and give us a heads-up?) haven't gone for 6 weeks and haven't heard from anyone asking where we've been, so i gave up.

    also for the past 3 years (age 4, 5, 6) my kiddo did soccer in the fall... but it was $60 and the coaches were all parent volunteers who didn't know much about soccer so my kid learned nothing more than how to chase the ball and kick it... and how to be a good sport when losing, cuz that's all his teams ever did (15 to 0 was the worst; all last year his team didn't score a single goal) so yeah, i'm poor... and if i'm going to drop the same amount of money i pay on 2 months worth of electricity, i want him learning how to play!!!

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  17. I think 1 is enough. I have a 2 year old and that has been a big disscusion since she was born. We want to be able to allow her to do what ever she wants to do, weather it be dance, gynastics, a sport or a musical thing. But cant get overwhelmed about it.

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  18. I think one activity during the school year is plenty. I think there is so much pressure on kids these days to be and do so much at such a young age, that by the time they get to high school, they don't want to do anything. There's definitely a balance. I think too, it depends on the child. Some do better with a couple of planned activities, and some need more down, or creative time. We get too stressed out here if we have to hurry to too many places, and my daughter's sensitive nerves get frazzled quickly. I don't plan any activities in the first semester, so she can concentrate on school. She's 9 1/2 and we found that out pretty quickly. You just have to do the best you can for your child, and go with what works for them.

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  19. I think that one activity is plenty, the day is already so structured at school, and unstructured time is where creativity really buds 🙂

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  20. We dont do a whole lot, eccept on weekends and even then its limited to about 2 things total , but during the week its too busy for anything else we get up at 6 off to school, gets home about 345, we do homework, eat baths then bed

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  21. I say 2.. If you want your child to get good grades, they need time to study and also be able to participate in activites. I have seen way too many of my friends have thier kids in activities 4 or 5 nights a week and then are upset they are not doing well in school

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  22. I think some kids like more structured activities and some like more down time. I think it is mostly a matter of making sure that everybody has a chance to have down time and at least be able to participate in some of the activities that they want to. I think as long as it is balanced and nobody gets overly stressed it is fine to do whatever you think is best for your kids and family.

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  23. could see my comment was afraid it didn't go thru...basically was talking about this today. I think it REALLY depends upon the child. My son starts school at 725am doesn't get home until around 245pm-does homework-eats dinner-takes bath-read books-bed...HE'S DONE!

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    • Thanks Mia, I know what that's like some days my daughter is done early too after all the homework etc.. wow 7:25am that's early no wonder he's tired after all that. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. I was JUST talking about this today! I know now when they are young is a good time to let them try everything but I think it's up what the kid can handle....my son is tired as is! School starts at 7:25am-we get home around 2:30/45-ish time we settle in to homework it's 3pm or so...eat dinner....bath...book... bed...he done!

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  25. my son is currently in tiger scouts and soccer...personally I think its enough...sometimes even MORE than enough considering since I have a 3 yr old also. My husband works night shift so its up to me to chauffeur my son to and from his activities. Hats off to parents who have more than 1 kid in different activities...I think I'd go nuts!

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    • I'm with you Ashley I'd go nuts too and yes hats of to those parents with multiple children in multiple activities don't know how they do it!

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  26. I did tons of activities, but my parents (after elementary school) was never the one to make sure that I got to or from a place. It was on me if I wanted to do it. If they were available, they would take me. I was only limited by what I could get myself to. Therefore, most of my activities were school-related activities.

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  27. My parents were amazing...I did every sport possible and did club and school activities. I don't know how I am going to do that with my kids. Luckily I only have one so far and she is young! Props to all moms!

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  28. I have 2 very active teenagers. My 17 year old son (who's a senior in high school) is involved in music and drama, not just in school, but outside of school. Twice a week we travel about 45 minutes to get him to rehearsal and then 45 minutes back. His rehearsals for the musical he's in are 3 hours long. Luckily on the other days his music lessons are close by.

    My almost 14 year old daughter is involved in gymnastics, cross country, and music. If it were up to her she'd be on the cheerleading team, girl scouts, and dance class in addition to what she's already doing. I told my little miss Type A that she can't possibly do everything she wants to do, because there are just not enough hours in the day. We had to limit her activities to the first 3 because they are close by and didn't conflict with other schedules or school work.

    I really do encourage my children to get active and involved, but there does come a time when you HAVE to put limits on it, or YOU and THEY will just get stressed about getting to all those places and not enjoy them in the process. Been there and done that. Whew...not going there again!

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  29. I was always in a ton of activities... ballet, basketball, volleyball, girl scouts, awanas, hunting, showing my akc hound in dog shows, ect. I think that it helped me be responsible and learn to manage my time well. My son is 9 now and I do not push him to be in any certain activities or sports, but when he does pick something, I definitely stand behind him and encourage him!

    Reply

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