Out of School activities

The trend for babies and toddlers to do as many activities as they can during the week from music to swimming classes, foreign languages to art classes, does not relax once a child turns five. But how much is really necessary once your child is at school and supposedly getting an all-round curriculum?

After a full day at school followed by homework many children are quite happy to flop in front of the TV. There is a growing disquiet about the amount of extra activities some parents encourage their children to take on. It’s worth taking a moment before signing up for yet another set of sports sessions to think about what you child actually gets out of the experience.

The Advantages
- If a child shows a particular skill, talent or just a real love of a particular subject, then it is important to give them a chance to develop it further.
- Let your child try their hand at different activities while they are young, they may be more resistant to trying new things as they get older and facilities are often better than those offered a school
- It gives them a chance to meet a different group of children, in a different structure than the classroom that is often a more social setting
- Activities can be relaxing, particularly if they contrast with the activities they have done during the day
- Distracts children from too much television or computer games

The Disadvantages
- It is too easy to book your child on to an endless amount of different activities and fill every minute of their spare time. You are either desperate to turn your child into a super-talented individual or someone who wants them off your hands as much as possible!
- Most children need at least some time at home to enjoy playing with their own toys, pottering around or just relaxing in front of the TV.
- Children benefit from quality time with their parents and siblings
- You may be entering the rivalry game and trying to compete with other parents to do the most or the most unusual activity
- It is easy to try and recapture your childhood dreams. Do you want them to be the superstar footballer or prima ballerina because you never quite made it there yourself?

Different children have different energy and attention levels. The best way to find out whether an activity is right is to ask your child how much they really enjoy it and what they feel they get out of it, and how they would feel if they had to stop going. Try and limit activities to maybe just one or two a week and pick those they really enjoy.