Overscheduled? 5 Tips For Surviving Extracurricular Activities

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overscheduledWhen my daughter was a toddler, I couldn’t wait for her to join some local activities. The little mommy and me gymnastics class – “so adorable!” The combined tap and ballet class at the local community center – “look at her little tutu!” These activities fit well into our budget and were a great way for the whole fam to socialize and make some new friends. Little did I know what was lurking around the corner.

Somewhere along the way to turning seven, this extracurricular stuff gets serious. I heard the expression “bigger kids, bigger problems,” but no one warned me about the busier schedules! And I can’t even mention the thousands (yes, you heard me correctly) of dollars required to participate without needing to grab a chair or a glass of wine. Remember the raise that you earned when your child finished daycare? Insert evil laugh. Get out your checkbooks, mama.

How do we not get EXTRA maxed out from these extracurricular activities? That’s a question I continuously ask myself as we embark on this next stage of life. And though I do not have the answers, I do have a couple of tips that I’ve picked up along the way to make it more manageable.

1. Prioritize. Just like in adulthood, we can’t do it all. Choose what makes them the happiest.

Recently my daughter was ecstatic when she learned she was chosen to have a place in our local girls’ choir. However, when I received the paperwork, the rehearsals conflicted with her dance classes for the upcoming year. She was devastated, but what a great lesson in realizing that often in life, we have to choose and hold true to prior commitments.

2. Teach them to be appreciative. 

I think that my children should be aware that many of the things we enjoy aren’t free. These activities take our time and money. Rather than an allowance, you can have your child help around the house to earn special classes or extras pertaining to the activity.

3. Stay grounded. Don’t get swept up in the “must-do” clinic, class, etc.

We all have that friend pushing the private lessons or extra clinics that go beyond the basic activities offered. It is easy to feel like your child might get behind if they don’t participate. Believe me, your child will be okay, and your calendar will thank you.

4. Make it a present.

If your child is begging for those horseback riding lessons or ninja warrior training sessions, these may make meaningful gifts for Christmas or their birthday. Oftentimes, relatives may like to chip in for an activity that can be more special than a plastic toy or a gift card.

5. Make sure they are doing it for the right reasons.

Have conversations with your child about their interests. Allow them to try things out before committing to something they may not want to finish. Does your child want to do it because their BFF is doing it, or is it really something that delights them? Are they just doing participating because they think it makes you happy? Talk and explore together.

As overwhelming as these activities can be for us chauffeurs parents, the smiles on their faces and the pride they show with each accomplishment is always worth it.

What types of extracurricular activities does your child enjoy?

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Shannon
Shannon has lived in Fairfield County, CT for most of her life and currently lives in Monroe. She has a daughter L (September, 2008) and a son B (May, 2012). Shannon balances being a wife and mom with working 186 days out of the year as a special education teacher. Thank goodness for vacations, summer break, and snow days! You can be sure that she fills those days with as many amazing activities and outings that she can think of to make up for the time that she is at work. In a distant life, way before babies, Shannon was an aspiring actress and musician. You can sometimes still find her leading sing-a-longs with her guitar at the kids’ playgroups or at her daughter’s school.

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