Re: After school activities - am I over doing it?

AM wrote:
My first grader is doing ballet (45 mins/wk), tap (45 mins/wk),
classical vocal music (1 hr/wk), girls scout brownies (45 mins/wk),
swimming (2 hrs/wk), violin (45 mins/wk), soccer (1 hr/wk), kumon math
and reading (4 hrs/wk), painting (30 mins/wk) and bible school (2 hrs/
wk).

We are able to manage all these each week along with a play date or
two, and trips to library. I work outside the home but between me and
her dad, we are managing fairly decently all these activities. She's
asking me for tennis lessons now. With the exception of kumon math,
she's doing everything else out of her own interest. Are we doing too
much too soon? As a parent, what should I do - encourage or limit her
activities? Since she's not complaining, tiring out, or bored with any
of these, should we just continue on? Other moms and dads out there
with small kids in big schedules? How do you keep up?

I think it depends. How much time per week does she
have that is unscheduled, where she engages in free play,
socializing with the family, etc. She needs a substantial
chunk of time devoted to that sort of thing. If she doesn't
have it, then she's overscheduled now. And when is she
going to bed on school nights?
If she's got plenty of free play time (though I'm
having a hard time seeing how), then she might be fine
right at this moment, but you may find challenges down
the road. Most of those activities ramp up in intensity
as she gets older, plus homework is likely to get significantly
more intense. If and when that happens, she can drop activities.
That can be difficult for some, however, so you should be
prepared for how you're going to handle it. You may be
creating expectations in her that will become difficult
to fulfill in the future.

Best wishes,
Ericka
.

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