Your child extracurriculars?

Sembree1 · April 2014

What extracurriculars does you child(ren) do? How much do you spend on them? Did SO agree with them doing it? Was it childs decision or yours?

Just curious what everyone elses kids are up to!

Spin313 · April 2014

DS is in kindergarten and is playing soccer for the first time. It costs $140 for the season and uniform. He wanted to do it and he's having fun, but it's a big time commitment (one practice and two games per week).

My kids usually go to bed around 7:15pm, so the 6-7pm practices and weeknight games kinda suck for crankiness and routine. We'll do it again next spring if he wants to, but not in the fall.

I hope to do swim lessons for both kids once soccer is done.

ppants · April 2014

My twins are in 2nd. They are playing softball/baseball this summer. Practices have begun.

They are in boy scouts/girl scouts also. IDK, if DS will stay in boy scouts. They pack/den is disorganized. He's pretty meh about it most of the time.

I do need to get them back into swim lessons.

Honestly, I try to keep the activities to a minimum because I value down time/family time and I see the running around quite a few parents have to do. Especially since my kids aren't devoted to any particular activity. We have tried several over the years, but none they *have* to do.

rsd12 · April 2014

My 2nd grade son plays soccer in the fall and spring and it requires 2 practices during the week and 1 Saturday game. Practice is typically around 5:30/6... Depending on the day light.

He also played basketball and a soccer clinic over the winter but that was 1 evening or sat morning a week.

My oldest and middle son (kindergarten) are also taking ice skating lesions... but that is once a week as well on Sunday.

And the oldest also played fall flag football. But once again that was only Sunday mornings for 2 hours.

My youngest (preschool) and middle son play u6 soccer and it's only sat mornings for an hour. My middle son also did a winter basketball clinic ; )

Next year it is really not going to be fun ; ) each kid will be on a different soccer team with a game around the same time.

My youngest is not quite into sports yet thankfully!!!!!

As far as bed time, obv on practice nights it is a little tougher but he does his homework before practice and will eat a snack shower and bed time... He usually stays up a little later so he might skip staying up to read practice nights.

Soccer costs about $100 a season per kid, flag football is $30, and basketball is $50-60. Ice skating was closer to $300 per kid, and they do swim lessons over the summer too ($100). And CCD classes too! I like them to do something, and at least try things out.

sunnydays99 · April 2014

DS doesn't start k until the fall, so we have a bit more time for extras! He currently does gymnastics, soccer, swim lessons and art class. Each of these are only once/week, and the art class isn't going to be an ongoing thing. I'll only sign him up when the timing is convenient.

Soccer is $110 for 9 weeks, gymnastics is $96 for 10 weeks, swimming is $165 for 8 lessons and Art classes are $100 for 4 classes.

In the fall we will mostly drop down to swimming and gymnastics then swimming and soccer in the spring. Unless his interests change!

funchicken · April 2014

DD1 is in kindie, and she's doing art and ballet. The art class is around $90/six week session. Ballet is $75/seven week session. We'll probably do camp and swimming lessons over the summer, and I'm thinking about Girl Scouts for next year.

DD2 just goes to preschool.

JENandJEH · April 2014

DS1 is in Kindergarten and he played soccer in the fall and is playing again this spring. It's $40 per season. He practices 2 nights a week and has a game every Saturday. His practices are from 5-6pm which makes dinner difficult but doesn't interfere with bed or homework really.

He's been taking private swim lessons since September. Those are once a week for 30 minutes and he gets one-on-one instruction with the local swim team coach. They are $140 for 4 sessions. He loves those and has gone from being terrified of water in his face to being very close to qualifying for the swim team.

Soccer was his decision both times. He's played t-ball in the past and liked it but we're moving this summer and he would only be around for 4 practices before we move. Swim started out as a parental choice that was non-negotiable but he grew to love it after the 1st lesson and always reminds me to keep paying so he can keep swimming.

macchiatto · April 2014

My guys are rising Kindergarteners. Over the summer they'll be doing My Gym (twin rate is $108 every 4 weeks), swim classes ($25 per kid for an 8-class session; that's the member rate), and kids' fitness classes (included with our membership) at the Y. Possibly a gymnastics day camp for a week (if they do a LivingSocial deal again that makes it $55/kid for half days) and maybe a Y day camp ($105/wk per kid for members). One son and I wanted to do T-ball (which I think was $35/kid for members) but DH wanted to keep our summers open.

Next year we will most likely do soccer in the fall, maybe basketball in the winter, and T-ball in the spring for one son, and karate plus maybe continue My Gym for his brother. Cost will depend on whether we do it at their school, the Y or elsewhere. The elementary school they'll be going to has some good, affordable soccer and karate options. I am pretty sure soccer is $90 for a 10-week session and karate was about $50/mo.

junebugrbig · April 2014

DS is finishing Kindergarten and right now he is in t-ball. He's been playing since he has been 4. This past winter, he tried basketball but didn't like it too much. We certainly encourage our kids to try things to see what they like. During school year, we will limit to one sport or activity for now. We strongly encourage family time and down time. No sense in running them ragged now...they have plenty of time for that.

neverblushed · April 2014

I am not huge on tons of extra-curricular stuff. We do a lot of outdoor stuff as a family: camping, hiking, biking, day trips, etc. DH is even less enthusiastic about extracurriculars than I am.

DD: soccer in early elementary, but she dropped it after a season or two. After school science club for a few years in elementary. Swim lessons and swim/dive camp. Played violin in 4th and 5th grade but dropped in middle school. Currently fences and is looking forward to yearbook, GSA, and debate team in 9th grade next year.

DS: karate since age 7. Swim lessons and swim/dive camp. Will try out for chorus in 4th grade next year, and has expressed interest in piano or guitar lessons. Will probably do karate sleep-away camp (yikes!) this summer.

One season of a sport or class through department of rec tends to be reasonable, between $50 and 100. Camps are more expensive, ranging from $300-1000 for a week, depending on the type of camp. Music lesson through school are free, but you have to rent/buy an instrument. Private music lessons are between 30 and 50 a session.

septemberdc · April 2014

DD is in Girl Scouts. $38 a year. She seemed content with just that since its every other week after school. This summer we are doing soccer and maybe swimming.

DS is about turn 3 to activities are a little limited but we're thinking of soccer and t-ball for him.

I am open to her doing another but since she's fine I'm rolling with it. We only do one activitiy per session (outside of GS). I'm not running all over town after work on the weekends.

LUCKY22 · April 2014

DS will be 7 this summer and is a sports nut. He can't do enough (as far as he is concerned).

He's currently playing t-ball which includes practice once a week and a game 1-2 nights per week.

In the Winter, he played basketball (1 game/wk + 1 practice/wk)

In the Fall, he played (and will again) flag football (1 game/wk + 1 practice/wk).

He will play soccer this summer (1 game/wk + 1 practice/wk).

This summer he will have a week (half day) of baseball camp, a week of golf camp (half day) and 6 weeks of swim lessons (30 minutes, once a week).

It sounds exhausting, he absolutely loves it and I think there are a lot of life lessons to be learned though team sports.

CareBear0607 · April 2014

DD is in Kindy this year. She did soccer (1 practice during the week and 1 game on Saturday) in the fall and spring, gymnastics in the winter (when there was no soccer), and does swimming all year round.

This summer she will do swimming, a dance class, a week long t-ball camp, and VBS (vacation bible school) for a week.

When school starts up again in the fall, she will start RE (religious education), and continue with soccer and swimming.

beenbizzy · May 2014

DS is 6 and in Kindergarten. He is playing soccer this spring (did last spring, too). It costs $20 for the 8 week session, includes tshirt. Practice is one evening a week and games are on Saturday.

He is in 4-H and it meets once a month, cost was $10 for the year. This summer he will be in t-ball. Cost was $20, includes his team tshirt. We have to buy a baseball glove.

We let him pick all of the above. DH and I chose to start our kids in swimming lessons at the age of two. But the kids love it so they would probably pick it anyway. DS and DD (3) both take one week of swimming lessons in the summer. Cost is $25 each for five days, 30 minutes a day.

Worcbride · May 2014

DD turns 6 today :-) and has tried soccer but didn't like it. She's been in ballet for the last 3 years, added tap this year. It's $52/month. She has also tried swim lessons but since we have a pool and she didn't like the lessons, we taught her. She takes riding lessons at the barn we have our horse at. I work off her lessons but they would be $30 a lesson (discounted rate, for outsiders of the barn it's $40) and she takes 2 per week on a good week, 1 when it isn't. During the summer she usually does a week at gymnastic camp ($180). This year she can't do the town camp (she aged out) but she did a week each summer for the past 2 summers ($70/week); instead she'll do a week of horse camp at our barn (I'll work that off too). She has chosen everything.

DS is 4 and is just getting into things. He's going to do a week of the town summer camp. He'll be old enough for soccer in the fall and says he wants to try it. My husband teaches jiu jitsu and DS will start that soon.

mommyginab · May 2014

My 8 & 10 y.o. boys are in baseball this year. My 13 y.o may play football, I'm not sure if he's committed enough. I told him he needs to show us he really wants to play before we pay put all that money though, we'll see.

carlab44 · May 2014

DD is in 2nd grade. She has piano lessons year round, one night a week (30 minutes - $35 per week). For sports:

Fall - soccer ($120) - practice 2 nights a week and 1 game each weekend.
Winter - Basketball ($55) - 1 practice each week and 1 game each weekend. - Ski lessons ($200) - 5 hours each Saturday (although this may have been the last year she needs formal lessons).
Spring - soccer ($35)- 1 practice each week and 1 game each weekend - and lacrosse ($65) - 1 practice each week.

DS is starting kindergarten next fall.

Fall - soccer ($70) - 1 practice each week and 1 game each weekend.
Winter - Ski lessons ($200) - 5 hours each Saturday
Spring - t-ball ($90) - 1 practice each week and 1 game each weekend.

marchbaby · May 2014

Both my boys play hockey...I don't want to think about the money spent, I would say easily over 5000.00 per year. They play about 10 months out of the year, would play more but I feel its important they get a break. Also my youngest has anxiety issues and low confidence, and the only time he's truly free, happy and confident is on the ice...for that reason, its worth every dime!
They also both play floor hockey once a week at school...that costs about 300.00 per year
My oldest played basketball this year which was about 200.00, though I don't think he will be playing again.
He also played lacrosse this year which cost 500.00 but thats b/c we had to buy equipment. I am not sure if he will play again, he is leaning towards no....he likes it, doesn't love it and would rather try something else. And he played flag football which was 125.00. He will likely play this again. He wants to try every single sport there is. Obviously we can't do it all so my plan is to continue the ones he loves and occasionally let him try something new. Then he can decide if he likes the new sport more and wants to drop an old sport, or keep the old sport. Hockey is the consistent one that they both LOVE and would never give up.
My youngest wants to try other sports but b/c of anxiety issues has been unable to do them. Its a goal for him to be able to try flag football next year.
Sports are absolutely the reason I went back to work full time.

All these sports were begged for by my kids. my oldest begged to play hockey for two years before I finally agreed to let him try (I was afraid he'd want to quit like he had done with soccer). My husband agrees with most. He was reluctant over flag football b/c he has told my kids they aren't allowed to play tackle football b/c of injury risk and was afraid flag football would lead to tackle. I convinced him that we could cross that bridge when we came to it and just let them try it and have fun.

KyMommy86 · May 2014

My daughter does clogging ($35) a month and is a girl scout. She was in gymnastics but decided after 2 years that she really doesn't like it and would rather focus on clogging.
Everything she has joined has been her idea. I don't want to push her into anything and make her hate it. My DH and I are very supportive of anything constructive that our children want to do>
She has recently been asking for piano lessons. As a musician(French horn) I am beyond thrilled but once again this will be her choice.

groovygrl · May 2014

I have rising kindergarteners. THey do swim lessons weekly and are starting gymnastics weekly soon. They asked to take gymnastics. Swim lessons are not optional in our family, we love to swim & spend a lot of time at the pool in warm weather.
Our daycare offers a lot of activities and due to work schedules and also living in a cold weather state, I enroll them each in 2 of them to give them more physical activity during the week. They both do karate and she does a dance class and he does a physical activity thing but might switch to soccer.
DS has taken tennis & soccer on weekends in the past. Soccer went horribly, he was 3 then though. Tennis was actually not bad but all the other kids in the group were 1-2 yrs old and all girls and the teacher did not quite know how to teach a 4 yr old boy with a bit less focus & more energy LOL. But he enjoyed it & we would definitely revisit if he asked.
DD is very interested in playing an instrument but I am waiting until she is 5 to explore that.

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