extra-curriculars - thinking out loud and what do you think?

babyaustin725

Tillman is about to get out of school for the summer.  He is in all day K right now.  He is signed up for T-ball (his 3rd year) through the parks and rec.  It is really low key and only lasts for a couple months (one day/week practice, one game/week on Saturdays). 

He has been talking for a while about getting into Karate, so we recently signed him for that.  It's through a karate school, so it's more structured than just through parks and rec and it's fairly spendy.  So far he is loving it.  It is in the evenings Tues and Thurs. 

Here is what I'm wondering about:  He has always been very interested in music and playing an instrument, namely the piano or violin.  The piano is out since we don't have a piano or a place to put one, but I was thinking of getting him into violin lessons over the summer.  I would sign him up for lessons during the day, once a week, but when he goes back to school in the fall, he'd have to switch to evening lessons.  I don't really want to get him started and then have to take him out at the end of the summer.   I am nervous that karate and violin might be too much for him on top of being in school all day and having whatever homework he'll have (and he will...he already has it in K). 

I am torn, I guess, because he's almost 6, and it just really seems like the perfect age to get started on these things.  He is interested and excited about it and at an age that he is able to really focus and do the things physically.

So, what do you think?  We go to church on Wednesday nights, so with karate and violin, that would be four week days/week that have scheduled activities.  Too much?  I know it's kid specific, but does it sound like too much.  I don't want to get him involved in too much and have him exhausted or end up struggling in school or anything. 

Seattle_JiLLn

I have a friend with a secOnd grader and based on her experience I would say that's definitely too much. She has only two after school things and she says by Friday dance class she is really dragging. Plus that would mean he can't do any play dates with friends either. Can he do one day a week karate? He's six. It seems like one day a week would be sufficient for that. And/or what about Saturday violin? Ugh it stresses me out thinking how fast this stuff is coming!!

Mama_v2.0

Too much. Maybe when baseball is over get him into violin on the weekends. Then next spring let him choose his favorite 2 activities to continue. 

MissLauraQ

I wanted Alex to play an instrument too - if you notice most schools start "band" at about 4th grade.  This is when I signed up Alex.  They showed all 4th graders in an assembly all the different instruments he could play.

So he got to choose the Saxophone (okay maybe I nudged for it) and he plays during school time on campus (no driving around or using up family time) plus he plays with other kids at school so it's socializing instead of individual.

See if the school provides that - and then wait til you get to  4th grade.

babyaustin725

MissLauraQ:

I wanted Alex to play an instrument too - if you notice most schools start "band" at about 4th grade.  This is when I signed up Alex.  They showed all 4th graders in an assembly all the different instruments he could play.

So he got to choose the Saxophone (okay maybe I nudged for it) and he plays during school time on campus (no driving around or using up family time) plus he plays with other kids at school so it's socializing instead of individual.

See if the school provides that - and then wait til you get to  4th grade.

Tillman goes to a private school with less options in this area.  They do have strings, but it doesn't start until 5th or 6th grade.

I found this DVD online that is supposed to teach 6+ year olds how to play, and I think we are going to give that a try with no expectations.  That way we can see if he's really interested and if he has a knack at this age and then go from there.