I definitely want to keep activities to a minimum, and family time to a maximum. But we're also tossing around the idea of indulging our oldest, very extroverted daughter's desire for outside activity besides school. Swimming lessons we'll do, but that's short-term. Dancing and gymnastics are too expensive. What have you done with your kids or had your kids involved in that seemed valuable and worthwhile?
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"There is order in the way the Lord reveals His will to mankind. . .we cannot receive revelation for someone else's stewardship." L. Tom Perry
Jen, in all seriousness, I recommend martial arts. It is a lot of fun, especially if parents do it with them. Even on her on, she might really like it. There are quite a number of teens in our dojo and they do quite well, tend to be very confident. One young lady has had quite an improvement in herself from it. Good exercise.
Usually, it is cheaper overall the more people that do it. Look around for a good dojo, watch how they act, most places will let you come a couple of times for free. The one we found is run by a minister and he makes it very family oriented and teaches values and behaviour to the kids and respect.
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Lo, there I see my mother, my sisters, my brothers Lo, there I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, they call to me, they bid me take my place among them In the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live...forever
I would like to do martial arts with the littler ones someday...
My oldest isn't much into extracurricular stuff right now. He does football in the fall and that's about it. I think he'll be getting more into academic things since he's going into HS this fall. He's going on the 8th grade trip to DC in a couple weeks.
My second oldest is my horse riding buddy.
I'm getting both of them to volunteer with me at the therapeutic riding program this summer. I'm looking into more volunteer opportunities for both of them as they get pre-teen and teenager- age. Not only for college app's but I think kids need that. I wasn't raised with much of that, and I really want my kids to be more focused on it.
And this sounds simplistic, but I want to have dinner *at the table* EVERY night together. Why is that so hard for us?
And more camping trips this spring/summer with no electronics. Just story-telling and exploring and talking...
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I didn't give my older girls dance lessons when they were interested because it was too expensive. Now I regret it. So my youngest is enrolled in a neighborhood studio; taught in the dance teacher's home. It's small potatoes - she'll never be pressured to go 3+ times per week and the $$$ that comes with it. She's taking ballet and clogging and LOVES it.
Both our boys play soccer. Last year we played year round with indoor, which got a bit much, at least for me as I help coach my older boys team. Non family outlets are important. They give a break from the family, they create appreciation for the family and help develop other skills that will be needed as they grow older.
My oldest daughter and I used to do martial arts together. It was a blast. We did it for a few years together until her interests changed to music and my right knee had just about given out. I was in the best shape of my life to boot which is a lot considering I ran long distance track and crosscountry in high school. My daughter does piano lessons after school. We try and avoid the local sports programs because many of the parents and kids display the worst kind of behavior anymore and many are playing their games now on sundays. These youth leagues (at least in our area) have become nothing more than training grounds for pro-athletes or at least parents who believe their kids are going to grow up to be pro-athletes. They have taken the fun right out of it.
We live on a farm and as such have plenty for kids to do. We try and encourage them to build or make things and play the old fashioned way like tag, dodgeball, etc. I've run into so many parents who complain about how tired they are running their kids from one activity to another that I'm glad my kids don't really think they are missing anything. We plan on doing the YWs, Cub and Boy Scouts, and other church activities and that's about it. I do encourage my children also to get involved in school clubs and sports because I think there is some value in that and they don't tend to take any after school time at this point.
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Jason (Formerly salesortonscom)
As I walk through this earth, nothing can stop, the Duke of Mirth!
well I don't have kids so take this as the idealistic ravings of a madwoman, but I have always imagined setting up these rules: The child gets/has to choose ONE physical activity/lesson (like soccer or karate), ONE musical activity/lesson, and ONE scholastic/social/community activity/lesson (like math club or academic team) on top of the mandatory church and school stuff. No more, no less. I want them to be well-rounded but I don't want them to drive me into the ground and I'm afraid that's already enough to drive me into the ground. Those are just my thoughts.
the kids spent yesterday doing their duty to god requirements. they actually had a lot of fun. I thought that I should probably be more involved in helping them meet their requirements...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
well I don't have kids so take this as the idealistic ravings of a madwoman, but I have always imagined setting up these rules: The child gets/has to choose ONE physical activity/lesson (like soccer or karate), ONE musical activity/lesson, and ONE scholastic/social/community activity/lesson (like math club or academic team) on top of the mandatory church and school stuff. No more, no less. I want them to be well-rounded but I don't want them to drive me into the ground and I'm afraid that's already enough to drive me into the ground. Those are just my thoughts.
Three activities per kid, 4 or 5 kids equals 12-15 separate stops assuming each only meets once per week. Sounds reasonable as long as you have one of them folks to drive em around for you.
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Jason (Formerly salesortonscom)
As I walk through this earth, nothing can stop, the Duke of Mirth!
I'm like Dy, I want my kids to be somewhat well-rounded, and not just gamer geeks, which is their natural tendency. So round here they get an hour of media a day to reign that in.
However, I don't see the need to always put them in formal programs to encourage well-roundedness. Academically, Sons 1 and 2 already excel at school, and Son3 works hard to learn and we're really encouraging his reading.
Musically, son1 is taking the guitar at school, son2 is taking the trumpet. Although I wish one of my children would express an interest in taking piano lessons, one thing I've learned as a piano teacher is that if the desire isn't there, it ain't gonna happen.
Physically, son1 is part of the school's long-distance team, and his all-time favorite hobby is hiking, son2 takes karate, and son3 is eight, so neighborhood runnin' around works great just now, plus I'm of the opinion that Cubs is sufficient for extracurricular at that age.
We live in a small town so they walk to school, and sometimes to church. (Although it's been odd how many people have expressed surprise that I "make my kids walk." Puh-leeez.)
And as soon as the weather warms up, it's camping season again. This year, I'd like to find someone who'll teach my boys and I how to fish.
To be frank, I've really struggled at times wondering if I'm not doing them a disservice by putting them in more stuff, since it seems everyone else does, even other church members with 5 or 6 kids. But I like having them home, and feel strongly that kids need time to just be kids. Recent Conference addresses have confirmed for me I've made the right choice for my family.
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They might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
Three activities per kid, 4 or 5 kids equals 12-15 separate stops assuming each only meets once per week. Sounds reasonable as long as you have one of them folks to drive em around for you.
Well, a few thoughts on that: 1) you can overlap a LOT of things, e.g., if a couple of activities are just after school at the same time, you have 1 pickup, or perhaps you have 2 kids in the same karate class. 2) At this point in time, I'm going to be lucky to be able to adopt ONE kid, so I'm not really worried about having to juggle 4-5 schedules. and 3) I wouldn't expect the same number of activities from a 6 year old that I would from a 14 year old, so space between the kids would even things out a bit.
My mom had 8 kids and we had a LOT of activities, but she was able to do it. Me alone, I was in academic team, French club, early morning seminary, marching band, piano lessons, etc. That's part of what made it possible for me to get the full-ride scholarship I was able to get and I wouldn't want my kids to have to miss out on stuff like that. I know most people here aren't trying to get their kids into ivy-league schools, but schools and esp. scholarships DO look at extra-curricular activities a LOT. And who knows? If your kid is going to be a whiz at something, that's usually the way to find out and get them recognized for it with scholarships and stuff like that. Can you tell I'm big on scholarships?
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
Jen- if your kids do like gymnastics, one opportunity might be helping volunteer w/a special olympic gymnastics team.
And if they really want dancing, could they gather w/some friends to teach each other some of the points of the different dances? I know that isn't the same thing- also maybe there are some community classes for dancing that won't be as expensive as private lessons.
Just story-telling and exploring and talking...
You wanna piece o' me?? Poo-flinger?
