When I was a kid I remember being told “get outside and play, it’s a beautiful day! Just make sure you are home before dark”. So off my sister and I would go. We rode our bikes, climbed trees, built forts, knocked on neighbours doors, and on more then one occasion barely made it home before the sun went down. The weekends were for the cottage or visiting with family or friends. I was never bored, and looking back I realize I was spoiled beyond belief. I was enrolled in Brownies, but that’s about it. We turned out just fine. Truly.
Fast forward 30 years and I look at my dear daughters schedule. Our family life is very different. Between Gymnastics three times per week for one child, and piano and dance class for the other, we are out of the house for activities 5 times per week. Truth be told if the girls had it their way, guitar lessons, singing lessons and synchronized swimming would all be added to this list! I am a Mama who is strongly resisting any more extra curricular activities. Turns out, in our neighbourhood, I am in the minority?
When I balked at adding more to my daughters “to do” lists, I was met with “But Mom…Sarah takes Gym, piano, Chinese lessons, swimming, soccer, brownies and singing.” Yep, something every single night. So when does this kid eat, play, do homework, veg? Just be a kid?
Kids in the Suburbs are quickly being forced to compete to survive. You want a chance at making that Theatre Group? You better have taken dance and singing or forget it. Want an “A” in Phys-Ed, or an edge to make the school teams? Well I hope your Mom had the foresight to get you some extra skating—soccer—volleyball—basketball- help, otherwise you don’t have a chance!
You are not in ANY extra curricular activities? Huh. Noses in the Suburbs scrape the sky. Clearly “we” are doing more for our child then you are doing for yours. Don’t you want the best for your child?? Is the general thought.
Stop the insanity!
I for one am putting my foot down. I’m helping my children find a balance between school life and the activities they love. I want them to know how to play by themselves, to be able to enjoy unstructured time. I want them to lie in the grass with nothing more to do then count the clouds, to build snow forts until their hands are numb, to ride their bikes and race home to barely make it home before dark.
Go ahead…..call me a bad Mama. I’m over the “super schedule” I don’t need to create SuperKids, I already have two…..just the way they are.
I’m off at BlisdomCanada. Promise to be back visiting next week:)
I definitely think you’re right because kids don’t get to be kids anymore and it’s a real shame
I have family members who have their kids in everything…just like all the other moms in the hood. We, always the rebels, chose to raise our children differently. We went camping, had sleep-overs, tea parties and hayrides. The kids raised chickens, pigs and goats. Our fun was homemade and dirty. Our families worried that our children were missing out on “normal” kids lives and would not be successful because of it.
Two of our boys are officers/helicopter pilots in the military, one graduating from the Naval Academy. The other owns his own business. Our older girls have great jobs and wonderful lives. They all own their own homes with no help from anyone.
All that with loser parents. Who knew? 🙂
Good for you. I agree, it is just too much stress at a young age. I too would be gone all day long playing. Not that I trust sending kids out today to be gone all day long but they need to be kids!
The Husband and I are thinking that each girl can pick one big activity — like Mini Me has started ballet this year. They can focus on that year-round (or season-round if it’s a sport, as we think will be the case with L’il Bit), and they always have stuff going on at church too. We’re going to take things one thing at a time and let them lead us as to what they are REALLY interested in, and hopefully we’ll all manage some balance!
Perfect post! 🙂
We had the exact same childhood – i remember having swimming lessons and the occasional skating lesson but that’s about it. our lives were too busy for extracurricular activities, how do today’s kids manage?? it’s insane!!
I hear you there. My “goal” and “thoughts” right now are when my son is older he will get 1 MAYBE 2 activites per season. That is it. Be a kid, do some homework, get some sleep. Enjoy life.