Female Forum

Do you think that after school activities are a good thing? For example some parents seem to get their kids home from school and then rush to give them something to eat before they have to rush them off out again to their netball/football club or maybe brownies or cubs.

Do you think this is too much? Do you think that some children have too much activity crammed into their day?

I don’t see the harm in maybe one after school activity on say a Friday for example, because then it’s the end of the week and the child doesn’t have to worry about getting up early for school in the morning. In the week, and especially it it’s every night I think it’s too much.

The only thing my daughter sometimes does is homework club with her friend for about half an hour after school. It’s only just to do the small bit of homework she’s been given and then when she get’s home she can relax. I think that these days some kids just have such busy lives that they have little or no time to relax, and that’s important. We all need time to realx at the end of the day.

What do you think?

Hi Souxi,

I think this is a really good topic to bring up. I think that it is a good thing to have children do after school activities, but just like you said, within reason. But it also depends on the child. Some children just don’t want to do sport/art/service activities after school. But I think that it is good to have an extra input except for just school for a child. It gives them time to relax with their friends (and make friends in the activity) and sometimes I think the friends they make in these activities will have a bigger bond with them.

I think it also depends on what type of activity it is. Most is just once a week, others (once it becomes more competitive) will be more than once and if the child enjoys this activity, then I think this is ok. It is a way for children to let out their ‘energy’ and have something the can focus on except for school work. It teaches them sportmanship and also helps them develop a drive (I think anyway). For example if they think they can improve somewhere in their activity, once they achieved this it will give them a great sense of achievement and I think that is important. For them to receive an achievement ‘on their own’.

Any other opinions out there?

I think it’s up to the child to choose what they want to do activity wise.

Just lately my son goes to chess club during Wednesday lunch break (yeah he’s a geek lol) and for an hour straight after school he has either golf club or rugby club to go to, he also plays the trombone and wants to start guitar lessons in August.

I’ve always wanted to learn how to play chess. I think you have to have infinate patience to play that. Good for him. Did you know that the late Heath Ledger was a grand master at chess?
Apparantly he often used to go to the park where he lived in New York and sit and play chess with total strangers.

Loads of the parks in New York have chess tables - it’s really weird. A lot of the time, especially in good weather you’ll be asked to play if you even walk past them. I wish I was good enough to give it a go - a couple of hours playing chess in the sunshine sounds like a good way to spend your time if you ask me!

Souxi - 22 May 2009 06:03 AM

I’ve always wanted to learn how to play chess. I think you have to have infinate patience to play that. Good for him. Did you know that the late Heath Ledger was a grand master at chess?
Apparantly he often used to go to the park where he lived in New York and sit and play chess with total strangers.

Really? I didn;t knw that.

How weird would that have been to be walking through the park and suddenly have Heath Ledger (RIP)challenge you to a game. I would sit and play just for the heck of it lol.

Souxi - 12 May 2009 08:38 AM

Do you think that after school activities are a good thing? 

Yes, I am sure they are.School is the “community” where the kids are arranged in classes by somebody, after school activities are about friends they choose and common interests.
My son is into jiu jitsu (unlimited) and Civil Air Patrol. Also, he is a very bright student.
So- definitely “yes” to activities.

i think Jiu Jitsu is very good. My other half does it and he swears by it. I think it is a great way for boys to get aggresive/frustrations out. And the same to other activites where children can release build up energy. BJJ is organised and superviced and I think definitely gives its students a few on how to control themselves outside the centre as well. It is a way of being in my opinion .

You know how kids are about what they like to do, so my son says,"BJJ is my life!")))
Have a look at him here (he is the one in red)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PJG3x7ades

Oh well done to your son there Doll! He was doing really well there at a stage! I think it is fantastic if someone has something to focus on like that. .

Flutterby - 07 Jun 2009 05:33 PM

Oh well done to your son there Doll! He was doing really well there at a stage! I think it is fantastic if someone has something to focus on like that. .

Thank you!
Actually I do it with my sons on purpose- focusing on one kind of sport and do it seriously.
It comes from my culture
The older is a hiker, the younger-BJJ

Thats good . Its similar to me and my family. I had music when I was growing up, and still do. And my sisters had sports (netball, hockey and swimming).