tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post1024871073230944020..comments2024-03-15T23:39:29.134-08:00Comments on Scribbit | Motherhood in Alaska: Five Points of Time Managment for ChildrenScribbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-55335117830403472612008-06-04T05:29:00.000-08:002008-06-04T05:29:00.000-08:00You look a children by your heart and you can feel...You look a children by your heart and you can feel any time....<BR/>I love all childrens in the world..<BR/><BR/>thanks your article....<BR/>kimizukeTeachers In My Schoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285856273830721572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-31138024632275703652008-03-12T14:00:00.000-08:002008-03-12T14:00:00.000-08:00This is an excellent example of criticizing someon...This is an excellent example of criticizing someone else from a distance without knowing their situation and making generalizations based on a few examples. What evidence do you have that a child who is consistently involved in, say, church activities, a sport, and an instrument will have trouble choosing a major in college? Where does this idea that you need to focus your interests down to one thing come from? Have you ever heard of a liberal arts education? And what is the difference between a curricular and "extra" curricular activity when you're homeschooling to begin with?<BR/><BR/>I have certainly seen families with kids that "do too much" that I think could benefit from scaling down. However, sometimes having more activities is better. In our family, with only one child, we find extracurricular activities help to fill a void, where otherwise our son would be spending a lot of time alone. My son has violin, religious education, and cub scouts, plus he does soccer at least two seasons of the year and sometimes sports in the summer. He still has time to "be a kid," to explore outside, to have long playdates with friends, and to hone his video game skills.<BR/><BR/>When I was a child, I had zero extra curricular activities, ever. I had lots of unscheduled time with my friends to do things like smoking, running unsupervised around the neighborhood, and taking on dares like running across a four-lane expressway or scaling the side of a three-story-building. And don't you dare ask where my parents were!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-19538645860065423242008-03-10T03:59:00.000-08:002008-03-10T03:59:00.000-08:00Michelle - Somehow I only now discovered this post...Michelle - Somehow I only now discovered this post, but just wanted to say that I found it to be an insightful breath of fresh air. Thank you SO much for writing this! I just shared it with the readers of my links blog.Jennifer @ Conversion Diaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11894992378619176830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-32592516239777653202007-02-18T12:03:00.000-09:002007-02-18T12:03:00.000-09:00Very well said, I am fortunate that my boys are al...Very well said, I am fortunate that my boys are all close in age so they pretty much end up doing the same sport. Which really helps the sanity around here.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948942744273864364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-48841733432343710692007-02-02T06:50:00.000-09:002007-02-02T06:50:00.000-09:00Awesome Article!! You are so right! I agree ever...Awesome Article!! You are so right! I agree every parent shoud read this! <br /><br />http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EagleAcademy/<br /><br />www.rueschhoff.net<br />(just starting to do website)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-57397141986510724762007-01-31T17:17:00.000-09:002007-01-31T17:17:00.000-09:00Really enjoyed this post, Scribbit.
We let ours h...Really enjoyed this post, Scribbit.<br /><br />We let ours have TWO ec activities, because we live in an area with NO family around us and we're not involved with the church, so we have more time.<br /><br />Re - trying different things & commitment. We do many programs thru the community, like the summer soccer league, so it has a clear time frame. After soccer season, my eldest gets swimming lessons - it's an 8 week program. Next is skating for 8 weeks,... then the cycle begins again. We let him choose to either repeat a sport or pick a new one so we're exposing him to many different activities but ensuring he commits to the entire session.Wylie Kinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09271148590574475682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-9570306119030973782007-01-31T13:24:00.000-09:002007-01-31T13:24:00.000-09:00Well said. I haven't had that problem, and don't (...Well said. I haven't had that problem, and don't (crossing fingers) believe I ever will. I tried getting A into various activities, but it became very clear that he wasn't interested in most of them and that was fine by me. So now he's in gymnastics (which he loves) and swimming (which is a safety issue) and we're all happy. <br />But I also want to comment from a music teacher's point of view. When I was teaching flute lessons, I'd have students come screeching in for a lesson in between school and you-name-it. And it would be like that for that kid every day. Therefore, the student had no time to practice for the lesson. That wasted my time, her time, and her parents' money. And the parents couldn't understand why it was a problem. Sigh... If your kid is in lessons, set aside the same amount of time every single day for that kid to practice or you're wasting your money.<br />Rant over. ; )Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06600711458051601834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-23573832888718765142007-01-31T10:29:00.000-09:002007-01-31T10:29:00.000-09:00This is a great post and a great series of comment...This is a great post and a great series of comments. Obviously, this is a really hot issue!<br /><br />As a children's physical activity specialist, it is also my policy that children only be enrolled in one extracurricular activity at a time. So I applaud all of you who've made that decision!<br /><br />I would like to comment on the subject of quitting. Considering that you want your child to learn the significance of commitment, you might be reluctant to let her drop out. Naturally, you shouldn't automatically acquiesce the instant your child says she doesn't want to play anymore; even if a child is too young to understand obligation, that could give the wrong message.<br /><br />Rather, you can explore his reasons for wanting to quit. Does he have a fear that you can help him overcome? Is there a skill he believes he lacks that you could help him practice? Or is he simply not enjoying the experience?<br /><br />If that's the case -- and she's tried it several times -- then by all means let her quit. Maybe it was the wrong activity for her. Or perhaps what she needs most is unstructured time.<br /><br />Yes, your child may have pleaded with you to enroll him in a particular sport. And it may be that only a couple of weeks -- or only a session or two -- have passed. But if the point of early sports experiences is to have fun and promote a lifelong love of physical activity, forcing a childl to continue when he clearly and repeatedly expresses that he doesn't want to isn't going to benefit anybody, least of all your child.<br /><br />To paraphrase what Michelle had to say: There are thousands -- if not millions -- of successful, happy people who have never scored a goal in hockey or soccer, thrown or caught a touchdown pass, or hit a home run; and their lives turned out just fine!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-88496997117522009062007-01-31T07:54:00.000-09:002007-01-31T07:54:00.000-09:00I remember when my first was born. I was so anxio...I remember when my first was born. I was so anxious to get him involved in soccer and art classes and Kindermusic so I could "develop his talents." With 4 kids there's just no way on earth I could give them all the same opportunities (financially or just the limited hours in the day). And you know what? They all still get to develop their talents in other ways. Especially at home since some of their talents are interpersonal skills.Julie Q.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13737557893649934725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-7961256897951215712007-01-30T22:22:00.000-09:002007-01-30T22:22:00.000-09:00Great post! I have to guard our family time like ...Great post! I have to guard our family time like a mother bear and we homeschool! I can't imagine letting my children grow up with their mother standing at the sidelines.Larahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518442124374879454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-10556543913837770432007-01-30T18:21:00.000-09:002007-01-30T18:21:00.000-09:00i will definitely have to agree! i was the kid who...i will definitely have to agree! i was the kid who did everything, music, sports, clubs, everything. and now, as an adult (who took 5 1/2 years to get through college) i feel absolutely crazy if i am not doing a million things at once. i can't slow down! i will, however, be teaching my son to slow down a little, not go crazy with the activities, and enjoy the ones he is involved in. great post.Christie O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16119774914469200174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-91243672384101586472007-01-30T14:33:00.000-09:002007-01-30T14:33:00.000-09:00OOH. I love this. I have 4 too and I think it is e...OOH. I love this. I have 4 too and I think it is easier to make them have just one activity. But your reasonings into "other" reasons are great. I hadn't even thought that much about it. I need to get my 10 year old in an activity. The others have one, but she doesn't. She just never liked the ones that she chose, so now she is in nothing. Any suggestions? We've tried gymnastics, soccer, and dance.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14644291489793513637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-76752364467793572352007-01-30T12:51:00.000-09:002007-01-30T12:51:00.000-09:00I believe you were in inspired :) !! Thanks for g...I believe you were in inspired :) !! Thanks for giving all of us "mean" and "depriving" parents a much needed break.An Ordinary Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497066145696617241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-43081001860578402562007-01-30T11:32:00.000-09:002007-01-30T11:32:00.000-09:00Great post! I appreciate that you encourage child...Great post! I appreciate that you encourage children to stick with something for a while, through some of the obsticles. It teaches them about their pursuit and about themselves.Marie N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02358976552469177345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-87179727622813743902007-01-30T11:31:00.000-09:002007-01-30T11:31:00.000-09:00Great post! DH and I have long believed just the ...Great post! DH and I have long believed just the same ... our kids are young yet (4 & 2), but this will definately continue to be our 'rule', especially as they get into school and more options become available.Ms Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05070039626057590271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-83279412642415139662007-01-30T10:34:00.000-09:002007-01-30T10:34:00.000-09:00We've long had this rule. My children are young en...We've long had this rule. My children are young enough that we can allow them to switch their activity each year so they can try out new things. As they get older I think that becomes harder to do. If they try out things early, I feel they'll be better equipped to decide on the one thing they like best. So far it's working for us. Max has found two things he can alternate (tennis and golf) and Wild Thing is still trying things out (she'll start guitar on Friday).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-44494851006157525682007-01-30T09:36:00.000-09:002007-01-30T09:36:00.000-09:00Oh I agree, so much! Although we allow 2 per kid; ...Oh I agree, so much! Although we allow 2 per kid; our situation is a bit different though, as none of our activities meet as often as Amer. ones do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-57827061447502194392007-01-30T08:54:00.000-09:002007-01-30T08:54:00.000-09:00Thanks for such thoughtful comments, sounds like I...Thanks for such thoughtful comments, sounds like I'm not the only one out there who's dealing with this issue.<br /><br />MC--I completely understand the problem of finding friends to play with when everyone else is out at lessons. It's a tough issue, I'm lucky that my four kids play together a lot (their own playgroup if you will) and also that we have a lot of kids in our neighborhood, many which are also not overly involved. This helps our situation and doesn't help you much I'm afraid.<br /><br />Elena Jane--I think that's great about your son, he proves exactly what I'm saying. He's found something that works well for him and has used it to learn all sorts of great things. My nephew is in Tae Kwan Do and feels the same way.<br /><br />Anna--Yes, kids should be required to stick with something, but only to a point--I agree. I suppose that's where knowing your own child comes into play. But don't beat yourself up too badly for feeling like you made a not-so-good call on that one because that's just part of parenthood. None of us really knows what we're doing do we?<br /><br />Besides, I've never heard of anyone needing therapy because their mother "made" them do soccer in kindergarten, right? :) At least I hope not or my kids are going to need a lot of therapy down the road . . .Scribbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-14492655853109604382007-01-30T08:31:00.000-09:002007-01-30T08:31:00.000-09:00Re: encouraging your child to stick with it. In t...Re: encouraging your child to stick with it. In theory, I agree with this but one of the biggest mistakes we made with our Oldest was forcing him to stay with a soccer team he signed up for in Kindergarten. Despite the fact that his interest petered away to genuine dislike over the course of the season, we insisted he had to stick it out, live up to his commitment, show up for the team etc. He didn't do another organized sport until 9th grade!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-64503370769193087562007-01-30T06:41:00.000-09:002007-01-30T06:41:00.000-09:00Wonderful post! I have the one activity at a time ...Wonderful post! I have the one activity at a time rule for my kids, too.<br />I think this should also be distributed to the schools- around here anyways. I have found that coaches in our local junior high and high school "require" specific (read expensive) independent summer camps and/or junior olympic (J.O.) participation in order to make the team. Its rediculous and frustrating. I have many friends who overload their kids and are constantly running from this to that thinking they have to in order for the kids to get playing time later on. I feel bad for the kids as there have been several occasions where the parents are late, or worse forget, to pick them up. <br />Great post and one every parent should read.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10720538592229420776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-40530244872967844132007-01-30T06:32:00.000-09:002007-01-30T06:32:00.000-09:00i wholeheartedly agree with the one activity per c...i wholeheartedly agree with the one activity per child. with 5 kids, that's 5 activities, and that's a lot! however, i have to add that taking karate has been a wonderful discipline for my oldest son. it has helped calm him and given him a lot of self assurance. but it has taken a lot of effort on his part to get to the black belt stage, it's more than just a few lessons, it's been years of work and practise. i'm proud of where he is now, black belt in training or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-69431723574521798412007-01-30T05:49:00.000-09:002007-01-30T05:49:00.000-09:00Fresh from the "When we were kids" archives... : )...Fresh from the "When we were kids" archives... : )We'd get home from school, run out the door, and play with kids in the neighborhood until dark or the dinnertime whistle-- whichever came first. <br /><br />We had to figure out how to get along, and think up and organize our own activities with nary a manic,screaming coach, over-zealous instructor, or amped-out parent in sight. (Sadly, this is the norm where we live. I know there are reasonable, balanced, adults out there who give away much of their time for the benefit of kids. Hopefully, you are lucky enough to have them.)<br /><br />Seems there is a growing pressure for parents to engage their kids in the activity mania starting with toddlers now. Getting kids into the "right" preschool, the "right" sports, and the "right" structured after-school activities seems to be the trend. All leading up to getting kids into the "right" colleges.<br /><br />I'm trying to protect my daughter's childhood from being rushed or taken away from her too soon. She's got the rest of her life to face adult pressures and performance benchmarks. At this age, I feel her only "job" should be to be a kid.<br /><br />Michelle, you've said it beautifully-- finding the balance is the key. Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-35024818959534632262007-01-30T05:42:00.000-09:002007-01-30T05:42:00.000-09:00Great post! The only problem I find is the lack of...Great post! The only problem I find is the lack of playmates for my DS...since all of the other kids are running from activity to activity and never home!<br /><br />BTW - one nit- I'm not sure I agree that, <br /><br />"…at 18, they need to pick out one field of study for the rest of their lives”'. <br /><br />In today's world, he or she will most likely have 2 or 3 different careers. To your point, though, the likelihood of one of them being an activity in which he engaged as child is inversely related to the number of activities in which he engaged.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349247004635678939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-31622025589413130072007-01-30T04:41:00.000-09:002007-01-30T04:41:00.000-09:00Thanks for this post...
I have my three year old ...Thanks for this post...<br /><br />I have my three year old in two activities just a couple of months ago, and then came to my senses and took her out of one.Amy Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889460762363255735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-85087253539166355592007-01-30T04:03:00.000-09:002007-01-30T04:03:00.000-09:00Excellent post!!! Very good advice.Excellent post!!! Very good advice.Blondiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01903668054657873042noreply@blogger.com