How many activities is too much?

MommyToAshley wrote: Ashley wants to play in the soccer league. I feel like she is already over-scheduled and told her that she would have to give up something before she takes anything else. But, she doesn't want to give anything up. How many activities do you have your little one in?

Here's our schedule.. Monday is our only free day.

Monday - free time
Tuesday - Preschool in the AM
Wednesday - Gymnastics in the AM, Cubby Club (Awanas at church) in the PM for two hours
Thursday - Preschool in AM, Dance class in the PM
Friday - Meet Playgroup at noon
Saturday - Swimming lessons in AM.

Soccer would be one practice during the week and a game almost every Saturday. I feel like it would be way too much in her schedule.

coasterqueen replied: Wow, that's a lot! If Ashley is handling it ok, then I say go for it. Sounds like Ashley likes doing the things.

Kylie gets overwhelmed quickly and she likes to do things at her own pace so I just don't put her in much. I used to when she was little and less independant. Now, like I said she wants to do things at her own pace. If she feels like just playing around, that's what she wants to do. If she wants to go somewhere, like the library, that's what we do. At this age I don't want to pressure her into doing so much to make her feel like she has to do it all.

We are thinking of dance class for Kylie but she hasn't decided if she wants to do it or not.

PhiMuMommy replied: personally i would let her do it. it is good for her to interact with others and to figure out what she likes now. if it starts effecting her mood then i would make her drop something but a couple hours of organized play everyday isn't going to hurt anything. she is just going to be playing during the "off hours" anyways.. so what is the difference between playing by herself and on a team?


but that is just my opinion.. i do understand your concerns in overwhelming her, but i think it's more overwhelming for you having to keep up with hers and your schedule. my son is also very active so i understand where you are coming from.

luvmykids replied: I think as long as she has "down time" at home it's fine, but I sure don't know how you keep up with it, work, etc! Hats off to you!

My3LilMonkeys replied: I say if she enjoys it and is comfortable with a full schedule, go for it.

Is it a big monetary investment? If not, let her try it for 1 -2 weeks and if it seems like too much she can drop it.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: She sounds like she can sure handle it....

it's <just> another activity. If you look at it this way, she's not overscheduled.... but kept active. I mean - puzzles, playdough, reading, drawing...are all activities as well... so really, she's got activities anytime but sleeping time and meal time, no?

you know what I mean? Maybe It's coming out wrong... lol

3_call_me_mama replied: I think every kid is different and will set their own pace, if she starts to get overwhelmed, just cut back.
We haev a similar schedule:
M- free day
T PS and Dance and Royal rangers at church (LONG DAY!)
W- Skating/library hour
TH- Preschool (this spring soccer)
F- Mops/playgroup
S-weekeand are always scheduled
Sun - Church/ and family time!
he wants to take Tae kwon Do and Swimming too but we told him that either Soccer OR Tae Kwon do and Skating or Swimming (time conflicts)
But he does fine with all of it so i let him

booey2 replied: Wow, she sounds like we did were growing up. As long as she is happy I say go for it. Our kids didn't do much when they were her age, they went to the sitter everyday and swimming once a week depending on the season. I know that our sitter always did stuff with them all day long and in the summer she had them at parks and swimming at the local pool almost everyday when she could so they really didn't have that much organized activities. Now Matthew at 7 still swims once a week and plays soccer in the summer and wants to play hockey this fall. He also has a piano lesson once a week. Thomas only has swimming once a week for now, as he gets older he too will be in soccer and hockey and hopefully taking piano lessons once a week. Ashely looks very happy and she will turn out to be one well rounded girl.

Brias3 replied: Oh, scheduling in our house is a nightmare it seems like. I have however recently downsized each child's schedule to two extra curriculars just because it had become too much, especially with me as the primary method of transport (much of it takes place while my husband is still at work).

Right now, Ryan is in basketball and tennis, Aliyah is in dance and tennis and Mason is in a Little Gym class and a toddler music class. During summers, we also add swimming to everyone's schedule and soccer and baseball to Ryan's. It's crazy because we have someone's activity every day of the week. I guess in our case, it seems like a lot for me but its really only 2 activities each for them.

I'd say to hold back on adding another activity at this point, just for your sanity. Is there a sports clinic or soccer camp she can try out when your schedule slows- in other words, something that would allow her to test the waters with the sport without a long committment right away?

MamaJAM replied: Right now...at 3.5 and 2.5 neither of my boys are enrolled in any types of activities.
In the fall - DS#1, who turns 4 in Aug, will start PK (M-F ~ 8:30am-2:00pm). He'll still be too young for the soccer league we use - so school will be his only activity...and that'll be enough.
DS#2 will turn 3 in Aug - I don't plan to sign him up for anything...he'll start PK in fall of 2007.

aspenblue1 replied: As far as soccer have you checked into the Y I know Isabella only has games no practice for 3 year olds.

salmndr007 replied: There are never too many activities...Just think about it this way, the more they are doing, the less of a chance they have to get into trouble. When I was in my more youthful days, I would wake up, go to diving practice, go to school, go back to diving practice, to to boy scouts then go to gymnastics, come home, do homework and go to sleep only to wake up and do it all again the next day.

My2Beauties replied: Hats off to Ashley for wanting to be so active. I wish I had the time to do these things with Hanna Desiree plays softball, gymnastics and has girl scouts so with school she is a very busy girl neither and hasn't become overwhelmed, she loves being busy and it hasn't affected her schoolwork. I think as long as Ashley wants to do it that is fine, as long as no one is 'pushing' her to be active I think it's great!