Choosing kids clubs?

[Loigal]

Hello I'm wondering if those who have been through the club phase can give some tips on how to choose extra curricular kids clubs for young children? I think my 4 year old could do with one class, mainly for the experience, listening skills and socialising in a different setting. I've not bothered so far as it has felt too structured and I don't want to be too pushy. Now I'm looking there seems so much choice (sport, art, music) and of course my personal bias comes in (er wish I'd done tap or learnt the oboe!?). He's also already demonstrating some bias (eg boys sport vs dance) but I don't know if that is subconscious stereotyping he's picking up on and because of his sturdy physique and I'd like to shake it up! I'm also a bit lazy and precious about our spare time and don't want to spend all my free time ferrying him to clubs and things he drops out of. I'd welcome any wise words from those who've been through it. Is it just trial and error? Did the stereotypical activities work the best in the end? Did you encourage something they hadn't thought of? When's the best time to start? Thank you wise family room!

[Pickle]

At 4, I'm assuming he's just setting off into reception? Or is he still pre-school?

In my experience, for the first term (at least) of reception they are knackered, so anything you choose needs to be easy and fun. My eldest didnt do anything extra (other than swimming lessons on a Sunday) for the whole of his reception year, my middle child did ballet - but it was at school at pickup time, so no stress and not particularly structured ballet, more fun based.

My 4 year old is about to start full time school, and we will just be doing our weekly swimming lessons, nothing extra.

It's very much child dependent, but I think the most important thing is keeping it low stress, both for him and you!

[Loigal]

Thanks for the response Pickle! He's preschool so good advice to factor in the reception exhaustion. One laid back club sounds about right for our household.

Any other feedback?

[snowboarder]

Opposite extreme - I have two highly energetic boys (7 and 5) for whom this reception exhaustion did not seem to feature! They do after school activities as part of after school club three days a week, older one does beavers and swimming during the week and football, rugby and hockey at the weekend, youngest similar but no beavers as yet and only just starting the rugby and hockey. Otherwise they trash the house or stare at their iPads. I'm all for structured activities!!

[midivydale]

Similar to snowboarder here, my son who is 4 1/2 does football, swimming and some children's martial arts thing. He loves all of them and I think it is a great way for him to put all his energy into a structured constructive activity. He is incredibly physical and so anything sports like comes very easy and naturally to him. At nursery he struggles a little with sitting still and doing crafty things and I find that the sports stuff really builds his confidence. It makes him feel really good about himself and he excels doing it.

I will see how things go once he start reception (and have football on hold for now) as do not want to overload him with activities. I do however suspect that like snowboarder, the school start exhaustion will completely pass him by.

Most places do one (or more) taster sessions so you can try a few and see how he likes them

[slh2009]

Another very energetic boy here (age 5) who couldn't understand why school "finishes in the middle of the adternoon" when he started last Sep. He does activities every day and is still not tired!!

I do think it depends on each child though, their energy levels and what they are used to. My son went to nursery 8am - 5:30/6pm four days a week from the age of one so I guess a 3:15pm finish at school does seem early to him. He's about to go into year 1 so will be monitoring tiredness as the homework increases.

[Jellybeanz]

Street dance is great in between if you don't want to stick to traditional boys activities - Eos Dance has some weekend classes and weekday (see numerous recommendations on this site).

Our eldest did football with Little Kickers from 3 yrs but took him a while to start to enjoy it. He now does indoor climbing at Crystal Palace sports centre (they also have sessions at JAGS). He loves that and it's good for discipline/learning to listen as well as concentrating/focus and of course tiring him out ;)

He also does Spanish and football after school now, with boys I wouldn't be afraid of too many activities or being pushy. Activities are always stimulating and as long as it's positive exertion why not!?!

[Loigal]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Lots of food for thought here!

[Anna M]

.

[maryf]

definitely if you are interested in enrolling your kids to club, especially martial arts club it need various factors to be observed.