What Activities are your Kids Involved In?

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irvinenester

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Parents in other cities tell me that Irvine kids seem to be the busiest with all of their extracurricular activities.  Our friends and our kids classmates seem to bear this out.  Nearly all of them seem to be involved in 4 or 5 different activities.  Many seem to be attending some sort of lesson or organized activity (e.g. scouts) every single day of the week.  For the working parents, instead of attending lessons during the workweek, they cram multiple lessons/activities into the weekends.

When we are at montessori, I felt my children were getting a good mix of activities onsite, so that I didn't feel the need for after-school enrichment.  They had art, dance, gymnastics, music, etc. through their montessori program.  Now that we're in public school, I feel the need for more, but how much more?  I'm starting to look around and there are so many offerings, no wonder kids seem to be going to lessons every single day.

So far we're signed up for swimming and Yamaha music.  I was looking at Kumon, dance, and art classes, but I'm doubtful we'll go ahead and sign up because then we would have a completely full schedule.  Because of our work schedules, we'd have to choose the classes that were late in the day, or on the weekends, and all that would eat into dinner time and family time.  She's only a first grader, so I don't want a crazy schedule for her.

What activities are your children engaged in?  Why did your family choose them over other activities you could have chosen? If you're doing more than 2 or 3 activities or have more than 2 kids, how do you juggle it all?
 
I have the same thoughts as you... too many things and not enough time.

At most I've had my kids in two things... even with just one thing... they get tired of it all. I know parents who have their kids in more than one sport, music and even dance or art... insane.

Personally, we try to avoid anything academic like Kumon right now... we would rather them be in something that is physically demanding... or artistic like music, art or dance. We're thinking about some type of singing class (no need to buy instruments!) and also drama/musical theater. Our girl really didn't like soccer, got tired of ballet but the one thing she sticks with is art. Our boy would rather stay home and play video games all day so we are trying to get him engaged in something more physical like Martial Arts or a sport (but he dislikes "competing").

During the school year, there is no way we can schedule these things during the week, so we mostly attend weekend classes... and that becomes complicated because sometimes there are other events or parties we have to schedule around.

We also liked that Montessori had extracurricular activities during their day... and I think some public schools have like music and other things you can do at the school.

Good luck.
 
Two activities only- music and martial arts (through out the year).  Anything more, and parents will go crazy before the kids :-)
We will never do Kumon, it's just that I don't agree with their teaching techniques.

Most of the immigrant kids are also enrolled in the language/culture classes of their country, and we gave it a try too. Became a burden to drive kids over the weekend.. no one enjoyed it, and we quit after a couple of months. Older one wants to add something else like her friends to be 'busy' but end of the day she is happy relaxing on the couch reading her Twilight series with a smile on her face.

Good luck :-)
 
Daughters - Soroban (Abacus), Japanese Language School, Girl Scout, Dance.

Son - Soroban (Abacus), Japanese Language School, Gymnastics, (Thinking of adding Cub/Tiger (?) Scout)

The Abacus obviously, we felt was good for their brain development (Depends on who (us/kids) you ask)    :).  Japanese Language School, because although they are 5th generation Japanese Americans, we'd like them to be able to read/write in Japanese reasonably well.

The other classes, we let them pick one or two. 

My wife does not work (I know, full time mom, is the hardest job in the world) so that's how it's remotely possible to schedule some of these in.  But it does start to get stressful doing the additional work at home in addition to regular homework, not to mention expensive.

 
I find it amazing that a single income family can live in Irvine and also afford all those extra curricular classes... I need to figure out a better Ponzi scheme or go back to working nights at Chippendales. :)
 
irvinehomeowner said:
I find it amazing that a single income family can live in Irvine and also afford all those extra curricular classes... I need to figure out a better Ponzi scheme or go back to working nights at Chippendales. :)
Click to expand...

Did it for a while IHO, not out of choice though. Depends on how big of a house you buy, I guess :-)
But two kids in two activities each have at least taken away a luxury car from me.

Irvine Husky- a big salute to your wife! I hope the kids appreciate what she does for them.. takes a lot of patience and dedication to do what she is doing.

Girl Scout Vs Boy Scout- I heard girls only sell cookies and do team work while boys have all the fun outdoors- true/false?
 
Cha Rutt!

I just want to announce to the world that I am now a woman who can tie a martial arts belt onto a kid blindfolded. Where's my badge?

Yes. This means they have started TKD.

Kam Sa Ham Ni Da!
 
And learning Korean I see!  Pretty good!  ;)

I'll be starting my...I mean my daughter's piano lessons next week.  Wish us luck that we both learn something!
 
Oooh, sounds fun, Irvinenester. Good luck at piano!

To answer the questions in the original post:

Besides regular school and homework, mine have Sunday school and TKD. Nothing else. It already feels like too much and we've only had one class. I don't believe in running my family ragged and overwhelming the child or the parent. The other night, my son had a meltdown, trying to finish homework later than usual after class. I thought maybe he could handle it but I was wrong. That one occassion was enough for me to adjusted their TKD schedule and if that doesn't help, TKD must go. They already don't have enough time to memorize their Bible versus for Sunday school and I will not allow homework to slip. We will see how it goes. I would prefer they have time to just play and be kids... you know, relax a little *gasp*! I always want to be home at 6 to put dinner on the table. That's my rule for myself. I refuse to be the parent who has ice hockey 5x per week with lessons on Saturdays, too, resorting to a McDonald's drive through multiple times per week, french fries strewn in the back of their SUV. The kid who can never attend a classmate's birthday party due to being over committed. I know a lady like this and she's proud of it. I think she's sick in the head.
 
For those with kids in martial arts, what is your rate?

We're doing a trial right now at $49 /3 weeks. They also have one for $99 / 6 weeks. Low and behold, to join, it's $179/mo. (no contract). I hear if you have more than one kid, they knock it down to $149/mo. That does entitle the kid to twice as many weekly visits but most parents do not go twice as often. It's still more than I was anticipating. I don't know what I was expecting, exactly, but I do know it's quite a leap from $16 per week to $45 per week. I have no idea what the going rate is elsewhere.
 
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