I am an organizer of a busy local mom's group... I just love keeping busy. With a 20mth old son and a 3 1/2 yr old daughter we stay on the move. She is attending preschool but that might be changing (see my previous post). How busy do you keep your kids? I danced when I was 2 1/2 and went to preschool. Now kids go from MDO, to mom's group, soccer, qymnastics, dance, cheer, swim lessons, etc... I want to have them involved in everything so they can be active, but they're so little too?!
What extra curricular activites do you really enjoy with your kids? Good prgrams?
My oldest enjoys soccer, but he is school age. My 4 year old goes to MDO twice a week and we have a playdate almost every week. My husband and I agree he is too young for sports, in our opinion. We do other activities like going to the library or park. I don't want my kids to be overscheduled and want them to learn to play by themselves or with each other.
I just read an article that said free play time is crucial in young children's development so while things like soccer, dance, etc. are great, like everything else, it should be in moderation. Sounds like your kids are busy enough! What about some quality family time at the local park or just at home doing nothing that will inevitably turn into something with a little help from their imaginations!
My boys go to school all day (one in a private pre-k). I work full time outside of the home and attend graduate level classes two nights a week. My kids have to choose one activity a year - spring of fall - this year one chose soccer, the other, flag football - I really like the Y programs. Not too stressful (think Dance Moms- YIKES) it is parent led and a simple, age appropriate practice schedule. There is never an end to opportunities, when scheduling my kids, I always ask "Is this for me because I need to be doing something - or is it for my kids?" Many folks (not implying you, just to clarify) keep their kids busby because THEY like to be busy or kids get restless, etc. Guess what - as SallyS pointed out- it is good for kids to get bored, shooed outside and left to just chill and learn about the world around them. SO the other extracurricular activities I enjoy wiht my kids? - Coloring, walking the dog, hunting for leaves, building acorn piles, running, blowing bubbles and reading:)
My daughter is 15 months and we do Gymboree and Music Together once a week. She tags along to my son's playgroup once or twice a week as well, so she gets plenty of play time both structured and unstructured at the park. My son did the same activities when he was younger. Now, at 4.5, he does preschool (3 mornings a week), playgroup once or twice a week, swimming once a week, and either soccer of t-ball depending on the season. Most days, we have a structured morning and a free afternoon to do whatever we want.
I have noticed that if we don't do enough, the kids get restless and I get frustrated with them easily, which is why we get out almost every morning. On the flipside, my son gets cranky and annoyed when he is over scheduled and doesn't have enough time to just stay home and play with his toys. We definitely need the balance, which is why we tend to have busy mornings and quieter afternoons.
