The recent article about the difference between Chinese and Western parenting mentioned in the news has sparked a uproar on several social sites. There are two camps – one for and the other against.
I know of many girlfriends who have send their kids for various classes and holiday camps since they were infants. Many of them send their children for Ballet, Chinese Enrichment, Abacus, Piano and/or Violin lessons, Swimming etc. There seems to be a class for every different type of activity you are interested in.
For children who are pre-schoolers or younger many of them have been/or are going to Kindermusik, Julia Gabriel and Shichida classes. I brought Ryan for a Kindermusik trial class when he was about one year old. He did enjoy himself at the trial. I was hesitant to enrol him in the class as the amount which I had to pay for a term of lesson could be better spent on purchasing food for the whole family.
At the ages of one to three it is not easy to assess if the various classes have been beneficial for the child. It may take a long while if the child is not able to physically or verbally exhibit the skills that he/she has supposedly learned. am rather skeptical about the effects of attending such classes.
I don’t believe by sending your child for so many differentiated classes will hone him/her into a genius. Rather it would be fattening the wallets of the service providers instead. Even though it is proven that a child would do better with early intervention and stimulation certain activities can be carried out via homeschooling at such an age. It also helps to deepen the bond between parent and child as you spend time doing fun activities with your child.
Unless I see believable statistics, I won’t be hot housing my kids by sending them to a string of different classes after school. I have former students sent from one class to another and they are totally drained out by the end of the day. Many of them lose interest in what they are sent to learn and view it as a chore rather then enjoyment.
My boys are being sent for only Piano and swimming lessons. I believe in the cultivation of both sides of their brains. Focusing too much on either side would not lead to a well balanced child. I want my kids to be able to enjoy both literacy and visual arts with a healthy body.
The piano was not Ryan’s 1st choice of a musical instrument to learn. He wanted to learn the violin while Roy wanted the guitar. I chose the piano as a base instrument for them to learn. Once they have mastered the rudiments and are still interested, they are free to learn any instrument they fancy.
Swimming is a must for my kids. It is a life skill which they need to know. You will never know when the skill will come in handy to safe their lives but learning it something which should not be ignored. I’m starting them young so they will not develop a phobia of water. I also want them to learn the proper strokes from qualified instructors so that they start off on the right footing in learning this life skill.
If the boys do have a fancy for other lessons and stuff which I am not personally able to coach them in I will let them join if it doesn’t mean taking away too much family time.
What extra activities do you have for your kids?
25 comments
Mari
January 20, 2011 at 4:43 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I have twin girls aged 2 and half, because there are two it costs twice as much to enrol at any class so we don’t do any apart from Talking Tots which is pay for one and the other goes free, it’s a session where they learn to sit and wait their turn, they learn to concentrate and listen whilst playing games and activities. We take them swimming every now and then but for the most part they’re with me and that’s how it will be till we go to pre-school in Sept.
If we had more money would I do more, maybe but it’s not an essential priority at this stage. It’ll be very much a work in progress
Dominique
January 20, 2011 at 10:41 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
@Marie,
I only started the boys on classes when they turned 4. Before that age I was mostly teaching them myself at home and they went to playgroup too. It’s only once they are toddlers so no hurry for them to grow up.
Angie
January 20, 2011 at 5:04 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Three cheers for balance! That’s what we all want for our children, right? It’s so easy to lose sight of, though – sigh.
Dominique
January 20, 2011 at 10:39 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
@Angie,
that’s definitely what I want for them.. living a balanced lifestyle.
Snuggle Wasteland
January 20, 2011 at 6:37 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
My kids have never been into lots of extracurriculars. We just don’t have the time or the inclination to be running around every night after school. Right now the oldest does Beta Club, Academic Team, orchestra, and band but most of this is addressed during the school day with the exception of bimonthly academic team meets and 2 concerts per year. The youngest is doing Scouts and basketball.
Snuggle Wasteland
January 20, 2011 at 6:37 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
My kids have never been into lots of extracurriculars. We just don’t have the time or the inclination to be running around every night after school. Right now the oldest does Beta Club, Academic Team, orchestra, and band but most of this is addressed during the school day with the exception of bimonthly academic team meets and 2 concerts per year. The youngest is doing Scouts and basketball.
maggy, red ted art
January 20, 2011 at 7:54 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I also think it is good for kids to have down time, when they learn to play by themselves or entertain themselves… instead of being occupied all day long every day.
At the moment we go to playgroup, but no extra classes. when they are older I would like them to do 1-2 things per week, to develop a hobby/ interest
Maggy
maggy, red ted art
January 20, 2011 at 7:54 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I also think it is good for kids to have down time, when they learn to play by themselves or entertain themselves… instead of being occupied all day long every day.
At the moment we go to playgroup, but no extra classes. when they are older I would like them to do 1-2 things per week, to develop a hobby/ interest
Maggy
JDaniel4's Mom
January 20, 2011 at 8:40 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
We do playgroup and the library story time. When JDaniel get older, I would like for him to play a sport or instrument.
JDaniel4's Mom
January 20, 2011 at 8:40 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
We do playgroup and the library story time. When JDaniel get older, I would like for him to play a sport or instrument.
Gattina
January 21, 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
It’s crazy what parents do to create little geniuses, at such a young age it’s really ridiculous. My son went to Kindergarten at 2 1/2 had a lot of funny activities there with his little friends and developped to a healthy child and now he is man of 37 ! Later when he was about 10 he did different sport activities. But the child has to choose himself what he/she wants.
Gattina
January 21, 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
It’s crazy what parents do to create little geniuses, at such a young age it’s really ridiculous. My son went to Kindergarten at 2 1/2 had a lot of funny activities there with his little friends and developped to a healthy child and now he is man of 37 ! Later when he was about 10 he did different sport activities. But the child has to choose himself what he/she wants.
Sue
January 21, 2011 at 1:45 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I agree. Too many classes is too many classes. And kids need some free time, too.
=)
Rocky Mountain Woman
January 21, 2011 at 2:59 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
When my kids were young, I worked so much that I wasn’t willing to spend much time away from them when I wasn’t working, so they didn’t participate in a lot of after school programs. We had a boat and spent a lot of time on the water and they took swimming and riding lessons, but that was about it.
Rocky Mountain Woman
January 21, 2011 at 2:59 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
When my kids were young, I worked so much that I wasn’t willing to spend much time away from them when I wasn’t working, so they didn’t participate in a lot of after school programs. We had a boat and spent a lot of time on the water and they took swimming and riding lessons, but that was about it.
Freda
January 21, 2011 at 3:48 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
My kids are getting to old to control really.
Freda
January 21, 2011 at 3:48 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
My kids are getting to old to control really.
Jamie
January 21, 2011 at 4:33 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I believe in limiting the outside activities we have our children in. I think too often we forget the importance of “free” time for children, as well as the importance of family time. My kids are limited to 1 sport at a time, and music lessons. I really like the way it frees me up from being a “driver” all the time as well! Great post,
Jamie
January 21, 2011 at 4:33 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I believe in limiting the outside activities we have our children in. I think too often we forget the importance of “free” time for children, as well as the importance of family time. My kids are limited to 1 sport at a time, and music lessons. I really like the way it frees me up from being a “driver” all the time as well! Great post,
Judie
January 21, 2011 at 6:12 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I didn’t force my kids into any after-school activities. My daughter wanted to learn piano, and she went on to score 96 out of 100 in the National Guild Auditions. Even though she had wanted to learn piano, and was very gifted, when she became a teenager she wanted to drop it. We we moved to Arizona, I gave her my piano (which I now miss) and she tells me she does play occasionally.
Since I am an artist, my children were always exposed to art on a daily basis. My oldest son teaches fine art, my middle son is also a teacher, but he is a fabulous writer, and a very good artist as well. My youngest son is very mechanically inclined, but he works with an artistic flare!
I’m a happy mom!
Dominique
January 21, 2011 at 1:33 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
@Judie,
great to hear that your kids have taken after you in their artistic flare. I too play the piano and do play for them to listen occasionally.
Judie
January 21, 2011 at 6:12 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I didn’t force my kids into any after-school activities. My daughter wanted to learn piano, and she went on to score 96 out of 100 in the National Guild Auditions. Even though she had wanted to learn piano, and was very gifted, when she became a teenager she wanted to drop it. We we moved to Arizona, I gave her my piano (which I now miss) and she tells me she does play occasionally.
Since I am an artist, my children were always exposed to art on a daily basis. My oldest son teaches fine art, my middle son is also a teacher, but he is a fabulous writer, and a very good artist as well. My youngest son is very mechanically inclined, but he works with an artistic flare!
I’m a happy mom!
H
January 22, 2011 at 7:50 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Through the years, my boys have tried a number of different activities – swimming, clarinet, karate, kayaking… but the one they have both stuck with is rock climbing.
Jenny Matlock
January 23, 2011 at 4:27 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
When my children were small, we were always broke and we lived in the middle of nowhere. Exra-C stuff was limited and ofen not affordable.
My Grands are in a lot of things and I think they just never have time to play.
I’m kind of torn on this issue so I really enjoyed this thought-provoking link to Alphabe-Thursdays letter “O”.
Thanks for an outstanding post.
A+
Dominique
January 20, 2011 at 10:41 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
@Marie,
I only started the boys on classes when they turned 4. Before that age I was mostly teaching them myself at home and they went to playgroup too. It’s only once they are toddlers so no hurry for them to grow up.