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Spin-off: activities
Cost aside, I know some activities end up being very time consuming. I see some working parents having to devote all their free time to activities. What are some good ones that do not cost an arm and a leg but also do not take up all the time in the world?
I'll start: we just signed DS up for Tball. It was decently affordable and between practice and games it only seems like it will take up 2-3 hours a week.
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Posted 4/6/14 10:01 AM  |
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Spin-off: activities
I'm just doing tiger cubs right now
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| Posted 4/6/14 10:07 AM |
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FranM
And so it goes....
Member since 9/05 2217 total posts
Name:
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Spin-off: activities
I have a 10yo boy so far my experience has been:
Most sports are 2 -3 hrs a week unless you are talking about travel teams and some of the football clubs.
Scouts is generally 3 - 4 hrs a month until 5th or 6th grade when it gets more time consuming depending on what the scout wants to do.
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| Posted 4/6/14 1:12 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Yeah, I heard that while it's an honor to get accepted to a travel team, the schedule and frequently cost is insane.
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| Posted 4/6/14 1:27 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Soccer, track: was only $40 cause it was in his school.
He just started Tball: only 35 bucks. I do these through our town rec center. Basketball clinic was only 35 as well.
Swim is only a half hour a week.
He just finish tennis which was through an enrichment program at a local school. They have a bunch of programs such as dance, tae Kwon do, sports clinic for 55 for 5 to 6
Weeks.
My cousin has her son in soccer and Tball and it's cheap because it's through a church.
Stuff like karate is the monthly killer and dance. I know my nieces are in gymnastics and that's an expensive sport.
Eta: basketball, soccer, tennis and Tball were/are an hour a week. Track is two days a week and takes up 2.5 hrs.
Message edited 4/6/2014 2:07:35 PM.
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| Posted 4/6/14 2:02 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Ds did basketball from September to February and I loved it because it was just Saturday mornings. He does swim now same time.
I honestly couldn't handle the boy scout commitment. I work ft and commute and it was Fridays from 7-9!!!!! I'm dead by 9pm on a Friday night 
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| Posted 4/6/14 5:17 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
My DD currently takes a dance class and is in a Girl Scout troop. She does not want to continue with dance, which is fine with me- it's every week and all through the school year, which is tough.
I think Scouts works well for us. We meet 2x a month and there are lot of activities, mostly on Friday nights. We do a lot but it's not crazy.
She does not want to replace dance with anything and I won't put her in anything- though I like my town's rec department programs because they are shorter commitments. My area also has a couple arts organizations that run short 4-6 week programs. My ideal are those types- then she can try different things less expensively. It's tough doing something that runs the whole school year. I also see my friends whose kids are into martial arts and dance competitions and they travel so much- the time and expense has to be huge- I am glad DD is not into those things.
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| Posted 4/6/14 5:42 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Spin-off: activities
My older DS takes hip hop once a week for 45 minutes September until June recital. And the bonus is that it's free since I'm the teacher.  Then he also picks a recreation sport each season. He has always done soccer in the fall, which is only an hour or so on Saturday mornings. He did basketball this winter, which was an hour on Saturday afternoons. In the past he did little league in spring, which was a one hour practice during the week and then games on Saturday. But this year he's going to do spring soccer, which is the same commitment, one hour during the week, games on Saturday. I believe each rec sport is about $65, I think I remember little league being more like $120.
My younger DS is in preschool, but he has done Funtastic Fitness the past two sessions. It met Wednesdays for one hour. That was $90 a session. In two weeks we are going to do a mommy and me swim class and that's $70 for a half hour once a week. Those are both through our rec also.
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| Posted 4/6/14 8:11 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Spin-off: activities
Golf..basically I make the schedule.
Call around and negotiate a private lesson.
After that...take him to a driving range to practice what he learned.
Do that awhile...then go back to instructor and repeat.
I was able to work out lessons...20.00 an hr, as long as dh gets lesson at same time. So 40.00 an hr, my son and dh and golf pro.
They only go once a month, then just get a bucket of balls to hit in spare time.
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| Posted 4/6/14 8:27 PM |
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chilltocam
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 9141 total posts
Name:
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Spin-off: activities
My stpeson is in boyscouts. There is a meeting once a week (1 1/2 hours) and they have numerous weekend campouts during the year (almost one per month - yes even in Jan.), but most parents do not go on those (althoug some do). There are some other occasional events - a local parade; car wash to raise money etc. that they are expected to participate in as often as possible (but not mandatory).
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| Posted 4/7/14 10:29 AM |
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Millie3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/13 1280 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Swim , soccer, tae Kwon do. We do every thing on the weekends Bc I'm not running around all week after school w a 4&5 yo. I'm a sahm and don't want to do that!
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| Posted 4/7/14 1:13 PM |
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luvmyReese
Hello Kitty
Member since 1/08 7542 total posts
Name:
Catt
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Spin-off: activities
Soccer 10 w program 2 kids (6&12) $160. One practice during week ..game on Saturdays april - june.
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| Posted 4/7/14 2:59 PM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Spin-off: activities
We currently do a fitness/gym class 1 day a week 1 hr. program is through the town
I think $35 for 4 sessions.
Soccer is 1 practice/1 game each week in the fall and spring
Dance is 1 night a week 1 hour, program is private but run through district and very reasonable in cost.
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| Posted 4/7/14 4:44 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Posted by Janice
Golf..basically I make the schedule.
Call around and negotiate a private lesson.
After that...take him to a driving range to practice what he learned.
Do that awhile...then go back to instructor and repeat.
I was able to work out lessons...20.00 an hr, as long as dh gets lesson at same time. So 40.00 an hr, my son and dh and golf pro.
They only go once a month, then just get a bucket of balls to hit in spare time.
This is great! I know my dh wants ds to learn golf.
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| Posted 4/8/14 6:04 AM |
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dawnygirl25
Growing up soo fast..
Member since 1/06 14917 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: Spin-off: activities
My DD, age 7 does dance - she takes 2 diffeent classes, 1 is 1.5 hr the other is 1 hr. Dance is $$$ amd around recital time it is nuts!
She has done baton twirling with the PAL sparklers. That is affordable and is 1x a week for an hour.
She has also done swim with the YMCA. 1x a week for 45 min.
She will be doing cheerleading next year...I hear that is pretty involved - 1x a week for an hour is practice and then every sunday a game for 2 hours. ugh...
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| Posted 4/8/14 10:30 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Karate also doesn't seem that bad and DH used to do this and loved it.
(At least one of the places I was quoted. I may ask for that as a gift for him). Not sure how much the cost and time commitment goes up.
I don't know a good age to start though.
I'm nervous DS will use it inappropriately.
Message edited 4/9/2014 5:17:15 AM.
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| Posted 4/9/14 5:15 AM |
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Ian&EmmesMommy23
My family is complete!
Member since 11/08 12970 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Spin-off: activities
we're doing tball and swim now. but DS hates swim so much i'm gonna stop it at the end of this session. he wants to start gymnastics too.
ETA when DS turns 8 i'm gonna put him in Krav Maga.
Message edited 4/9/2014 1:31:02 PM.
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| Posted 4/9/14 1:21 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee
Karate also doesn't seem that bad and DH used to do this and loved it.
(At least one of the places I was quoted. I may ask for that as a gift for him). Not sure how much the cost and time commitment goes up.
I don't know a good age to start though.
I'm nervous DS will use it inappropriately.
I think 4 is a good starting age. My DS started a month before his 5th bday. It helped him with behavioral issues he was having in Kindergarten at the time.
Martial arts is good because it centers around respect and discipline. There is always a clause that you aren't allowed to use it outside of training. The instructor always reminds the kids that they aren't allowed to use it on others. It's even a question on the evaluation form we have to fill out when he goes up for testing.
Also in the beginning they learn a lot of blocks and self defense moves. My DS hasn't had an issue with using Kung fu moves on anyone. I always remind him as well.
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| Posted 4/9/14 2:22 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Posted by Sash
Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee
Karate also doesn't seem that bad and DH used to do this and loved it.
(At least one of the places I was quoted. I may ask for that as a gift for him). Not sure how much the cost and time commitment goes up.
I don't know a good age to start though.
I'm nervous DS will use it inappropriately.
I think 4 is a good starting age. My DS started a month before his 5th bday. It helped him with behavioral issues he was having in Kindergarten at the time.
Martial arts is good because it centers around respect and discipline. There is always a clause that you aren't allowed to use it outside of training. The instructor always reminds the kids that they aren't allowed to use it on others. It's even a question on the evaluation form we have to fill out when he goes up for testing.
Also in the beginning they learn a lot of blocks and self defense moves. My DS hasn't had an issue with using Kung fu moves on anyone. I always remind him as well.
My ex's uncle owns a dojo and he says during first grade is the best time to start martial arts.
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| Posted 4/9/14 4:03 PM |
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Tks ladies.
re: gymnastics in my experience observe a class or two before making the commitment. I wasn't impressed with the studio I signed up DS for a package. About $350 or so that was money wasted as a result.
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| Posted 4/9/14 7:32 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Spin-off: activities
Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee
Tks ladies.
re: gymnastics in my experience observe a class or two before making the commitment. I wasn't impressed with the studio I signed up DS for a package. About $350 or so that was money wasted as a result.
Actually that's another good point which I forgot to add before. Same goes with Karate, the good schools will let you try it out and will tell you if your child is ready or not and if you should wait till they are more focused.
I agree with gymnastics, my sister didn't like one and it was very pricey because it was in Manhattan. We ended up finding one that was better and lower cost. But it's still an expensive sport overall.
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| Posted 4/9/14 8:11 PM |
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