Juggling Activities and Practices. Scheduling Helps?

Hi J.,
I'm sorry to say I don't really have any great advice for you, but if it helps any, I know just how you feel. I also have five kids, ages 8, 7, 5, 5 and 4. Only my two oldest are invovled in any activities right now, and it's all ready crazy. I can hardly imagine what it's going to be like in a few years when they're all in scouts, sports, etc.
One simple thing we do that seems to help a bit is having them start their homework in the car on the way home from school. It's only a 10 minute drive, but it does help! Then when we get home, they're all ready in the groove and end up finishing their homework right away, instead of stalling to even get it started.
Best of luck to you!
R.

Try looking for "friends" that are taking the same sports, music classes, scouts sessions, etc. Do ride sharing. Take turns with someone else (family or friend) so as to continue giving them these great opportunities OR consider prioritizing who really needs what now (if 15 things a week is becoming overwhelming) and cut an hour in each day for down time.

hm...

i would say, have your kids pick the one activity they love the most. scouts, sports, or music. when you can look into summer enrichment programs for the others. or cut it down to 2. all 3 of the activities you named tend to be either commitment heavy with meetings or practices. i don't think you can have both "free time" and that many activities.

my elementary school used to have a rotating music teacher, so kids could have lessons at the school. while money is probably tighter now and here in california, but try to see if your kids can take advantage of more school programs. maybe they are less of a commitment.

i totally understand that desire to have well-rounded kids. i was the ultimate "renaissance kid". but exposure is just that. exposure. it doesn't have to be constant for the full childhood. it can be a summer. or part time. i rotated piano lessons with my brother, one week me, one week him. that was mainly for financial reasons, but you get the idea. i'd let your kids pick what they want to really excel at, and then see if there are less demanding ways to fill other voids.

I agree that it is important to expose your kids to things like sports, music, dance etc. That said, they don't have to get them all in a week! Try scheduling them so that they are involved in only one thing at a time. For example: If they are going to play soccer, let that be the only activity during soccer season, then in the summer maybe to swim lessons, in the fall they could take piano, or perhaps violin lessons over the summer.

When it's all said and done, they'll get the same exposure to enriching activities, without sacrificing their free time. They may even get more out of each activity if they able to experience it alone, rather than as one of three classes/practice for the week.

HTH,
T.

We have three children, 15,13,10. We struggle with the same issues. However, I have I learned is that even if you only let them do one activity, it's busy. And, if you can at all ride share, it will make a huge difference, that way only 1 or 2 of your kids have to be there, instead of all of you; and you can hopefully be getting in down time (and it makes it easier on making those dinners). Plus, as long as I am supporting what they do, I don't have to be at everthing for them to be successful at their activity. I have learned that now becuase as our kids have gotten older, the activities require so much to time and travel, that it IS impossible to be everywhere and I HAVE to rely on other people. My kids have a lot of joy when I AM there, but enjoy coming home and telling me all about it, too.

Hope this helps.
R.