One Activity Each, One Too Many?

Yeah, I think it's too late for the kids. Find out if they offer these classes earlier or on weekends.

I have a 7 and and 8 year old and they are exhausted by 7 p.m. sometimes earlier.

My kids were in bed around 7 pm when they were 3. And 7 pm classes were too late even when my son was 9 years old. It's just too late.

There may be some loss of excitement over the class, but I don't think you can really determine that if they are only attending when they should be sleeping or getting ready for bed.

Search for daytime classes or something that lets you be home for the night by dinner (before 6:30 pm).

It's not too much--just terrible timing for those age groups. Can you find another place that offers these classes at more child-friendly times, like Saturday mornings or before 5 pm?

I agree that these times are just too late.

Kids are worn out after school, so to have them even start these activities this late at night, would be too much for most kids.

Most would be having their baths no later than 7:00 and in bed by 8:00 to 8:30 at the very latest.

What time does school start in the mornings for your children? Our elementary schools start at 7:40 am, so I used to wake our daughter up at 6:15 in the morning..

I don't think it's the number of activities, I think it's the time of day. A 6 year old is ready for bed at 8 PM, and a 3 year old is melting down by 4:30 or 5. The napping may not work for your son (because you'll need him to sleep at th time he's most active), and your daughter is at the age where she's ready to give it up also. I think everyone would be happier if you found earlier classes or skipped them all together. It's not working. The gymnastics school is making money by adding extra classes at a less desirable time for families, and everyone's getting sucked into it. Skip it, or find a Saturday activity. Kids don't NEED to be in an organized program, particularly at these young ages. Don't let anyone tell you your kids are deprived if they just have free play with friends in an unstructured setting. In fact, teachers are seeing kids who can't even work creatively if they are over scheduled, so the trend is moving in the opposite direction.

Your son is 6.
His class is from 7-8:00pm.
Young kids like that, get sleepy/tired, by that time.
My kids do, when they were that age.
At that time of night, per when my kids were that age, we are winding down, and getting ready for bed.
For me personally, per my kids, that would be too, late.
Because, they are in school etc.
But your son's class is 1 time a week. Which is not much.
And your daughter's class is 1 time a week too. Which is not much.
But it is, late. For a 3 year old.
Both your kids are zoning out, and are glassy eyed at their class time.
So, how productive is that? For them and you?
Are they getting something out of it?
Besides inadequate sleep?

If that were my kids, I would not do that.
It would not be a priority for me, that my kids be in it at THAT time slot.

Yep, another vote here for "It's not the activites, it's the time of day."

Get them into classes that are much earlier and they will perk right up. They also will actually absorb more of what they're taught and enjoy the classes rather than merely slogging through them.

Why are they in such late classes, especially the ballet class? Is the issue that you and your husband both work on weekdays and these are weeknight classes? There should be plenty of weekend daytime classes for kids their ages in both gymnastics and ballet--very popular activities. My daughter's ballet studio has class after class for the "little kids" on Saturdays and some do Sundays as well. Most dance schools cater hard to families with young kids and have morning and early afternoon classes. Also check at recreation centers, community centers, county facilities, etc. for classes in both dance and gymnastics.

If you are not working outside the home, then you have even more range for finding daytime classes but you need to shop around. There should be plenty if you look. Don't let anyone tell you "Your child just MUST do gymnastics with this teacher" or "The only ballet teacher for young kids is this one here" because at their young ages that's not true; they should be having fun and learning basics, safety and body awareness, and there is no reason to be married to just one particular teacher for that, just yet.

Shop around. it would be a pity to pull them out of activities they like (and might like much more if the were awake for them), just because these particular classes are too late in the day.

Too late for both. Need a time change.

I think they are just too late (my kids are same age). In particular, 7-8 pm is especially late to expect a 6 year old to want to hop around a gymnastics floor. What would usually be going on in your household from 7-8 the other days a week? I am guessing some sort of wind-down (dinner clean-up, bath prep, homework, TV?) I wouldn't want to go to gymnastics at that time either.

I find the optimal time for kids activities during the week is around 4:30 or 5:30 (PRE-dinner). Maybe teens can handle the post-dinnertime practices and activities, but I think school age kids need to wind down at that time. Saturday mornings are good too.

I would say my 3 y/o can handle one activity a week for now (we do sat am. ballet) and the 6 year old can sometimes do up to 3 a week if one is on the weekend (sat am ballet, scouts and gym or scouts and sport during the week). But all before dinner.

I think having one activity is good for kids, as it helps them socialize and learn to follow directions in a non-school setting. The timing is probably a factor, as both of those classes are pretty late for kids their age. I'm assuming you work and are unable to go during the day. If that isn't the case, there must be a morning ballet class for your daughter and they probably have afternoon classes (4 or 5:00) for your son. If not, have you checked to see if they have anything available on Saturdays?

If the timing truly can't be switched, make sure that being told what to do isn't causing them to dislike it. Your son may love gymnastics, but may hate having to do things the way his coach says. He might like the freedom to do his own tricks, but get bored by the stretching, waiting his turn, or practicing an event he doesn't really like. Same for your daughter - she may want the freedom to dance as she pleases, without being told what to do.

In any case, I think it's worth continuing for now, since they both express interest in the classes. Hopefully they will get used to the time slots and be able to focus a little more.

The problem isn't the amount of activity but the TIMING. Taking a break won't help if when you go back to it the classes are still so late. I'm honestly surprised that classes geared toward kids these ages are held so late in the day... I get catering to working parents' schedules, but 7-8pm for a 6 year old, really? The fact that it's only once a week almost makes it HARDER for them because they aren't used to being "on" that time of night.

That being said, if this is the class they love, I'd stick with it. Naps are out, but work on keeping things mellow in the afternoon leading up to class. Be sure they both eat before class, and limit tv to avoid that zombie crash.

Also, I'd bring up the timing concern to the scheduler. Maybe next session they'll have some better options.

T.

I would switch them to a saturday morning class. That is pretty late in the evening for your kids ages. usually those classes are reserved for the older kids. previous poster is right make sure they have a good dinner or snack. but I would sign up for an earlier class. on a weekend when they have not been to school and or had to get up early to go to daycare etc. my kids at that age were getting ready for bed by that time of the evening.

I would try to find a Saturday session for each. If that does not work, I would pull them as they are not getting anything out of the classes -- they are sleepy and ready for bed.

Try the activities when they are a bit older and can stay awake. You don't have to have them in everything to stimulate their life. Just let them be kids and you do something with them at night at home. There are many more years of them being kids and being home so you don't have to make it a race. Life is a journey that we participate in it every day.

the other S.

PS I have pulled my daughter out of cheerleading when she wasn't interested and didn't want to do it. It did not break the bank.

No way in heck would my girls at age three be able to participate in ballet from 6-7 in the evenings. They were happily in bed by 6:30 most nights. And now at almost seven, they'd be messes if we tried to do gymnastics from 7-8. Bedtime is 7:30 at my house so they can get enough sleep and get up for school.

I love both ballet and gymnastics... and my kids have done both. But ballet was from 3-4 and gymnastics is 3:45 - 4:45. Any later and it would impact dinner, evening wind down, and bedtime. If I was in your shoes, I'd give up on these two classes and find something else that fits your schedule better.

I don't think it's too much, I think it's just poor timing. Going to a class in the evening is hard enough as an adult, I'm sure for little ones it's even harder.
Aren't there Saturday morning options? Most of our programs offer these for working parents, and there are plenty of things during the week for stay at home parents or nannies to choose from. Maybe try something else?

I think a six year old can handle one class per week. Three seems a little young for classes.

kids do burn out on activities.. I burn out on activities.. I love soccer when it starts buy 6 weeks later I am counting down til the season is over. Most kid activites last about 8 weeks.. and I am over the activity in 7 weeks.

that being said.. both of mine are in dance this year.. dance season is 40 weeks long.. from sept 1 to mid june the entire school year. tooo darn long.. but it is what it is... and I bought the costume for the recital in june.. so you bet they will be dancing till june..

right now they dance 1 x a week... she has girl scouts once a month.. he has boy scouts 2 x a month.. they don't have a Saturday morning activity so we have been going to the skating rink most Saturday for a kid skating..

My kiddos would never last through those time slots. They are up early, regardless of what time they go to bed.

After several months of missing classes due to a string of illnesses and burn out, we are in the midst of a 6 month break from classes. After school we have time to play at the park, take the long way home (via the woods) and have friends over to play. It's so relaxing and fun for all us. We're finally all healthy and I feel like one of those moms I've read about who bakes and actually uses her slow cooker. lol Yes, we'll sign up for more swimming lessons in the spring and there will be a tennis camp in the summer...but it's not the end of the world to just take a break when you (or they) need one.

3 is young for classes and one class a week might be too little for the 6 yr old. Or the 6 yr old is just zoning out like a lot of kids that age. They just get spacey sometimes. Have you ever been to a 6 yr old's baseball game? Lalalala, oh, a bug, lalalala.

One of mine did have an Upward Basketball team at that age. One practice and one game a week. They also do soccer. Look for one in your area.

At those ages we did daytime classes or Saturday classes and they worked great! Evening is a time for little ones to relax, read, play, snuggle, have their down time, etc.

Maybe they just don't like gymnastics? Talking about it and actively doing it are two different things! I remember signing my son up for karate when he was about 6 or 7. He was SO excited....for the first two weeks. Then, same thing...glassy eyes, nose pickin', totally not excited at all.
So we signed him up for soccer.
The boy has been playing year round since then. loves it. The ball is always at his feet! He is 11 now and playing premier, 3-4 practices a week and a game or two on the weekend.
My 8 year old...same thing. 2 practices a week, games on the weekends..year round.
And they have been playing since they could get on a team.
You just need to find what makes your son tick. At his age he should not be getting burnt out from one night a week. 7-8 is kind of late for some families. If you REALLY believe that he loves gymnastics but he's tired then you need to find another gym that has earlier classes.
Your daughter is only 3 (so is mine!) and she would do horribly with classes at night. Find out if you can get a class during the day.
L.

One class is hardly anything. If they're acting listless perhaps they need to eat a good protein snack before they go. If they're eating a full heavy dinner before they go then they are so full they are too heavy.

Kids need to eat a couple of hours before class then they are ready to be active a bit later. If they go hungry they use up all their resources and have no reserve.

So their food intake could be totally interfering with their class performance.

Our classes start at 18 months but it's a adult kiddo class where the adult and the kiddo do the tumbl trak, uneven parallel bars, balance beams, and springboard floor together. They play and have fun, like hop like a bunny or walk like a bear instead of sit down and stretch. They move and climb and enjoy their hour. BUT it's in the morning.

Kiddo's age 3 can easily do a 6-7pm class if they don't go to bed at 7:30pm on every other evening of the week. If they normally are fully active and running around playing at 7pm then I imagine they could stay awake and participate in an active class. If they are tired and winding down then they obviously need an earlier class.

Our studio only offers the 3 year old dance class at 6pm. That's when the whole building comes to a stand still for those kids. They do have an hour of dance then half an hour of gymnastics. In dance they do things like the Hokey Pokey. They learn they have an arm and that they need to do something with it. The learn to listen, hear, and do what the teacher tells them to do. They might dress up in grass skirts and play Hawaiian music and do side steps and arms to one side but they are NOT learning to do the hula, they are learning to listen and do what they're asked to do.

The 3 and 4 year old kiddo's do not sit and be still and stretch and hold poses. They move and have fun. They get to do things that are interesting and active. If the classes your kiddo is in are not fun they perhaps you need to find out if they have beginner classes that are more interesting and fun/goofy but where they are learning but not sitting still listening or standing still and listening to do so.

I'd also see if you could do a 4pm class instead.

Ask them. If they want to keep doing it then keep doing it, if they don't, then take a break. My boys love soccer, but they are also always happy for the break at the end of each season before the next one starts. Maybe just a short break would reignite their desire?