Every new school year the same puzzle starts again:
what extra-curricular activities for our children?
Many questions arise, and I will give you my best advice for choosing these stress-free activities.
When they are young, it's all or nothing:everything attracts them or they don't want anything and prefer to stay in your petticoats!
Not forcing them is one thing, but trying to "initiate" them can't hurt them either. If you really have no idea, and neither does he, choose the formulas "initiatives ", associations that make you try "a bit of everything " (information in your town hall )
When they are younger, they should be directed towards activities geared towards baby-gym, the circus, horse-riding, drawing. Around 6 or 7 years old, we can turn to music, dance, tennis and team sports. From 10 years old everything is allowed:sculpture, climbing, diving, judo...
Of course we don't force Lili to dance if she's a real tomboy, even if we would have liked to film her in a tutu during the end of the year gala . She likes to let off steam and needs to learn some discipline? A team sport will be perfect. It is she, and not you, who will practice this activity, so do not impose your tastes on her.
Watch the time it takes, and the schedule of each:think that if you have several children and that you, you also have your activities, it will be a real obstacle course! Here is what I do at home:a schedule, with possible time slots assigned to each. I also imposed only one sport and a cultural activity per child. So my daughter will do music and judo, my son drawing and basketball. Believe me, that's already enough! All of this should be joyful and stress-free.
Also think that they already have school (and homework) and that they already practice various activities there. It is necessary to keep family time and collective activities during the weekends. And don't exhaust them.
Some sports are more expensive than others:horse riding for example, or even diving or climbing. There is the maintenance of animals, the purchase of equipment. Find out about these costs before you start.
There are "parades" to spend less:used equipment , or rental to share with several families (if the lessons do not take place at the same time, of course).
Prefer to make them ski through the school in mountainous regions:often a cooperative allows equipment to be rented throughout the season at very advantageous prices.
Of course, carpooling with other moms saves you time, money and it's good for the planet!
For equipment and outfits, think that other children have previously been part of these clubs as well. For my daughter, I got a judogi at his free size, which a child from a previous year had left at the club. If I have to buy her another one next year, I'll leave it there when it's too small for her. For music, rent the instruments or buy them used when you are sure that your child will improve.
Virtually all clubs and associations offer free sessions , often two or three, in order to check before paying for equipment and license, that your child likes the chosen activity, and will not stop after a month.
Finally, I advise you to contact your Caisse d'Allocations Familiales , in order to ask them if you are entitled to Tickets Loisirs for your children. They won't always tell you, so go fishing for info.
I hope these little tips will be useful to you. If you have others, leave them in the comments!
