Extracurricular Activities

Sounds to me like your children want to do this ONE activity but you "drag your feet" because you don't want to take them and follow through.

Don't make excuses with the homework, etc... Family schedules can be worked out for children to have a life outside of school. It takes a bit more effort on EVERYONE's part.

It's not like they want to do 3-5 different activities. Yes, the younger you start in something the better off you are, especially if you are good at it and it helps you later in your school career as well.

Dancing to your children = fun. In reality it is also excercise, socialization and something the helps them build character.

I say go for it. Take a good book to read or magazines to catch up on while you wait. You might make some friends too!!

Extracurricular activities have been shown in studies to help children excel in school, have more confidence and self esteem, and are generally healthier. The exception is, when it is an activity they do not enjoy or are overworked (I know several kids in dance/soccer/piano/violin all at once, or spend way too many hours at one thing.)

I think, I would allow her to dance. It will perhaps provide some structure to those days and help her focus on her homework and perhaps even be a bargaining tool for her to finish. Is there any way one child can ride a bus, or you can get into a pick-up carpool a few days a week?

I agree with the Moms who say to sign them up!! Especially if they are interested and showing interest. When I was a kid I was never in anything, despite me giving my parents signs that I wanted to be. I remember putting on a leotard and pretending to be in gymnastics. Selling pretend cookies and pretending to be in girl scouts. I wish that they would have opened that door for me. When I got older I was too old for the activities in comparison with other kids. I didn't even get swimming lessons until I was 12 and that was b/c I BEGGED. I took private lessons since all the other non swimmers would have been like 4. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing my parents as I know they were busy with their jobs and money etc.

But... when I was in middle school I didn't join anything. When I got to high school I wasn't interested in anything b/c everyone but me had a background. When I was in high school I didn't have a social group to fit with until I met the "wrong crowd". Join their activities and boom! I had friends!

So, now that I'm a mother and far from the "wrong crowd" I am planning on always keeping my son involved in something. We can try different things, but I want him to have the exposure that I didn't in hopes that he will grow up to care more about school than I did and with the hopes that he will have a group to identify with and won't feel the need to join the wrong crowd.

I would have been thrilled to be in dance as a kid, so I say go for it! Now that I'm done typing this, I'm off to take my son to swim lessons! He will learn now, not when he's 12 haha!

If this would be her only extracurricular activity I would definitely do it. Would the sisters be able to be in the same class? That would cut down on running around. Just plan ahead on dance nights, do leftovers or something quick and easy for dinner. Have that be the "off" night for baths (I do no more than every other day for my little ones). Especially if she is not enjoying school (been there with my two oldest), having something fun that she can look forward to is important. Can she spell outloud? You can practice spelling in the car going to and from. Get creative and try to make it work, she deserves it and will enjoy it.

If it was possible for me to get them there, then I would defnitely take them, given the fact that they really like it. I think one or two extracurricular activities are great, but any more than that is just too much. You can start them in dance any time you want, but if they are older, they might find themselves in a class with children who are a lot younger. If you can, do. If you can't, then wait. I know what you're saying about the homework though. It is really hard to get all the homework done, dinner, baths, etc. and then get them to bed on time. Adding something else is difficult.

For me, homework and time for that, is the priority.
Then our budget.
My daughter is in 4th grade and has a TON... of homework, daily.
She does marital arts. Twice a week, nights, during the week.
We get home, late on those nights.
She gets tired... and it tweaks the entire weeks balance of sleep needs.
She also has 2 other things, that she participates in.

My son, is in nothing.
He's not ready for formal 'classes' for anything. He also has a full day of Kindergarten which wipes him out. And he gets homework too.

For now, this is fine for us.
And for our kids.
I don't believe in over-scheduling them... if it impairs their homework time management, nor do we want to be just RUSHING around everywhere in the car just to go to classes during the week or weekends.

I have a friend, that spends ALL weekend... shuttling her 2 kids to extracurricular classes. It is, rushing around all weekend. Not much free time nor just relaxing time, for them.

IF the child themselves, wants to, then fine.
But it has to be a balance.
Some kids can handle all the extra classes, some can't and are just too pooped out to, do their homework.
Also per age, it differs.

You also work full-time. Your Hubby works long hours.
Just do what you can.
There is no pressure to have kids in SO many things.... all the time.

A kid also does not have to do 'sports.' There are other things they can do. Your daughter likes dance. Fine. My daughter doesn't like sports. We don't force her into it. Fine. We let her do, what SHE is interested, in.

TF said exactly what I'm thinking.

In my experience, my mom was always able to use my extracurricular activities to "inspire" me to do my homework and keep my grades up, especially when a little older and wanting to be lazy like my friends. "If you don't keep your grades up, you'll have to drop soccer" got a lot more out of me than if they held a gun to my head. It's only one activity, so I don't understand the problem. On weekends, I plan my menu and cook some things ahead of time to give myself headstarts for certain days (or plan leftovers if the day is particularly busy).

Sign them up for dance!

Like you I have 2 girls (ages 14 & 16 now), and hubby works most evenings and all day Sat.. It's very important for them to have extra activities, especially those not associated with school. Think of all the positives, they make new friends, are active and get exercise, learn time management, and it will actually help them to do better in school. I've been lucky that they both like the same things, so I'm rarely running in different directions.

I know it can be difficult at times, but the benefits are worth it. It's all about finding the right balance. On dance nights, have a simple dinner. Make sure they do homework right after school, and skip the homework that is weekly (like spelling words) that evening.

My Mom started my sister and me in dancing when we were in 3rd and 2nd grade.
My son started taekwondo in 2nd grade.
I'm all for getting them established in school routines before starting outside interests and then only one thing at a time till middle school.
You've got a busy schedule already and so does your husband.
You can wait a year if you want to.
There's no point in running yourself ragged so early in the game.
Pace yourself.

We're big fans of extracurricular activities, my kids have been in at least one activity each since they were 5, frequently more. I also work full time, and my husband travels so all practices and many games are on me. If it's important to you, it works. If it's not, it doesn't. My kids have done **big breath** tae kwon do, soccer, gymnastics, dance, tee-ball, baseball, flag football, cheer, and basketball. Currently at ages 7 & 9 they are in competitive and recreational soccer. We have practices M,W,Th,F and games Sat & Sun. We still have time for homework after school and they have time to play with friends (I get off work when they are out of school, which helps). DD wanted to add competitive gymnastics which was MWF for 2 hours each day. I balked at that - it would mean 4 hours on MW at the indoor athletic arena near us and that was too much for me.

If your kids really enjoy it and you support their participation you'll work it out. It might not seem like it, but you will.

Extracurricular activies are fine, as long as you don't over do it. I once had a girl in my GS troop that did something every night of the week. This is just too much! That being said, education takes top priority in our house. We have signed the kids up for activities (one fall, one spring). As long as work gets done, they go to practice.

Have you considered Girl Scouts? Most troops meet twice a month with a Saturday field trip every other month. Even if your daugther isn't interested in a troop setting, there are different pathways to be a Girl Scout - events, summer, groups, etc. I would suggest you check out our Council's website: www.gshom.org

This is a huge range subject. I think it is per family. Kids have the energy and the desire to do it all and some don't. My kids only do the mim. A class every 8 weeks at a time one day a week. It is a lot for many families I see that they go to sports til 7pm and eat on the run and do homework and go to bed at 10. But that is something they can handle. My family and kids would not handle that fast pace. If your child is really good at something, yes starting young is great. But of coarse as you get into it and your hearing she has a gift..... go with it and hope for the success.

have you looked into Young Champions cheer?
since your daughter liked dance she may like that as well...their session conisists of them learning a routine that has a cheer as well as a dance. they only meet once a week for 45 minutes and the cost is only $7 per session. more costs would be if you decided to enter the competition, but it is not mandatory. the extra costs would be a uniform and the registration fee for the competition.
its kind of the best of both worlds, sports and dance!

Car pool?
My kids all did taekwondo. And at times, yes, their homework suffered. I asked every day if they had homework.

So I'm iffy about extra c. classes vs. homework. I would see if maybe it can work out. Often, the extra c. workout 1. helps to keep them focused, 2. airs out the brain, sort of. A lot of times, it's a good break from concentrating too heavily on homework and one needs to take that break and then come back to it. 3. It would w/out a doubt be physical activity as opposed to becoming a couch potato.

On the other hand school should come first. And maybe you could make a rule that if you see signs school is suffering, dance is out until further notice.
I would try to see how the one can help the other, as stated above. Focus, committment, etc.
You could also see if there are places that have Saturday classes, so that there's less conflict.