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Thank u all for your input it is very much appreciated!!

Message edited 3/20/2016 9:26:47 PM.

If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I think it's too much to be honest. When will he do his homework? After practice? I would just let him pick 2 sports.

My DD is in 3rd grade, and is very involved in gymnastics, and goes 3 days a week, but she is always in bed by around 830pm, and has at least 2 - 2.5 hours after school before going to practice to do homework, play, etc. She also goes to dance one day a week, and I think we will be dropping that come next year since I don't want to be doing an activity everyday of the week. I'm on the fence about it though since she does enjoy it.

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Message edited 3/20/2016 9:28:35 PM.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

To me this is too much. I would tell him to pick one sport to drop if he wants to pick up a new sport. He can always do soccer over the summer.

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thx u!

Message edited 3/20/2016 9:28:13 PM.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

Sounds like our world, I feel your pain. My son is the same age. The life of having an athlete. Here is the thing, he WANTS to do them. He is HAPPY doing them. His grade are NOT affected and he does well in school. As long as the long days do not affect his work, Im OK with it.

We have Basketball and Hockey in the winter. Come this Spring, we have flag football and baseball. Hockey skating practice/lessons starts up again in may - june. July starts tackle football, which runs through Dec. That is the ONLY sport he does in the fall bc football is a HUGE commitment. Several practices a week plus games on the weekends.

During the school year he also has science club, during the summer also has camp 3 days per week.

Then my DD has dance and soccer on top of that.

They LOVE it though and until they dont want to do it or if it starts to negatively affect them, I am OK with it.

I think its more exhausting for DH and I.

Message edited 3/10/2016 9:14:56 PM.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I think it's too much. Something has to give. There are just not enough hours in the day to do it all. I think balancing two sports worth of practices and games is more then enough for both your DS and you.

If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

What you are doing already sounds like a lot!!!

When could he fit lacrosse in? It sounds like it would be hard to fit in on top of everything else since he's so booked up.

He sounds a bit like I was - not to that extent. I found (and still find) that when I am busier, I tend to do better all around - it helps me budget time and organize. But, I think with all of that, I would have been overwhelmed.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

My DS is the same age and I have a DD that is 3 (she is JUST starting her own activities next month)

I will say you're very lucky that he is doing well in school and has no issues with HW. DS struggles and HW takes him around 1 hour to complete on average.

I honestly think what your DS is doing now is too much.

Last spring, DS did a 2 sport season for the 1st time (Baseball & LAX), add in Cub Scouts and religion- I'll never do that again. I am alone 90% of the time due to DH's schedule, so I was the one running to/from practice. Add to it, I work full time out of the house.

In our house, school work comes first. Homework and grades are a priority - sports/activities/etc are privileges.

If the privileges interfere in any capacity, they are reduced. Lack of sleep, lack of rest, decline in school performance, decline in grades, etc.

Again, just my opinion.

I am only 1 person, I'm not making myself crazy just to keep my kid happy. And I mean that in the most loving way possible. I'm not going to deprive him of affection and making sure he's happy, but he can be happy without all of us running in 1000 different directions.

Also, when is there time for family? That's another big thing in our house - we always make time for family, even if it's only once a week.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

Too much

It's awesome he is good at everything AND wants to do it AND you can mostly support him (drive and pay and have time)

However I am a eat dinner together 4-5 nights a week, have down time/quality time and get enough sleep type of parent. You need balance for you, your son, daughter etc.

Message edited 3/11/2016 11:16:34 AM.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

Reading it, I initially thought it was too much. My DS is a year younger and doesn't like sports, I really WISH he did.

That being said, I think you should let him do it for this year since he is doing well in school. Next year he can make an informed choice to narrow it down since he tried Lacrosse too. Can he play on just one soccer team next year?

Also can another parent drive him once or twice a week? To give your DD a break from running around?

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

It's way too much

My DS is the same age and plays baseball and goes to therapy for his reading and I work FT. It takes me, my SO, my exDH, his gf and her extended family to deal with his schedule. We are trying to add in karate, but only on the weekends.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I think it is too much. I don't like to over scheduled DS, but last year for a reason, he was. He was in flag football, soccer (both of these needing practice time and games on another day), chess, drums and minecraft. He wanted to do them all, but he was getting exhausted at the end, and I felt he needed time to go to the playground, or to have playdates with friends. DS can do homework fast, but I felt we were always rushing and with a very strict schedule.

You can try and see how it works. I did it last year, and decided it was too much. GL

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

Its too much. I told DS he can also only pick 2 so he picked soccer and baseball. He wants to do football and hockey and we just can't do all of it. He also does Boy scouts and hip hop and breakdancing. Its a lot!!!

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I'm obviously in the minority but I say it.

I was a multi sport athlete growing up and was out of the house every day and up at 4 am on Sundays for horse shows. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I learned so many important life lessons. I spent a ton of time with my parents and we still ate dinner together 4/5 nights a week.

Worst case scenario, he drops lax if it's too much. State tests are in a few weeks, and if his grades are fine, I'd say let him go.

Message edited 3/11/2016 5:15:45 PM.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

It definitely seems like a lot. How is he handling everything now? If he's not the kind of kid who can go, go, go, I'd probably only do 2 sports. You can always try 3 and reassess at some point.

My son is a year younger, but can be on the move without issues. He does soccer and baseball in the spring and soccer in the fall. We added hockey this winter, which he loves and will likely skip ahead to a team with even more of a time commitment. This year, it was only on the weekends, but he had no issue having practice at 7 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. He's going to do travel soccer in 3rd grade, which is also a huge time commitment. He also loves piano and is very good at that. I honestly don't know how we're going to balance everything especially because we both work full-time. He really enjoys everything, school hasn't suffered and I don't want to make him choose yet. I do think that sports teams expect a lot of kids so young and seem to want them to commit to one particular sport at an early age. Kids should be able to experience as much as possible without being so over scheduled.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I don't know about you child, but that schedule would be too much for ME!

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

If his grades are not suffering- give it a try. This will help him to better decide for next year which two are his favorite before he makes the year long committeemen to the other two sports.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)

I did not see your original post but I can tell you we are a multi sport family. My 2nd and 5th graders are both playing 3 sports right now. Roller hockey a few times a week, lax (indoor practices just ended and the season will be starting next week or so) which will be a practice or two and a game a week. Basketball is ending this week but was only 1 day a week so not much of a commitment. They do their hw as soon as we get home and so far haven't had any issues. Big tests for the 5th grader are a little more challenging but so far so good. The worst part are the conflicts....practices when there are games in the other sport etc. You have to do what is best for your child and your family. If you can handle it and more importantly if he can handle it than go for it.

Re: If you have 3rd graders and up - could use some BTDT input re: how much is too much (activity related)