How many scheduled activities are too many for a 3yo?

[curiouscanadian]

How many scheduled activities are too many for a 3yo? This fall, DS is registered to attend French Immersion preschool Monday and Thursday mornings. Wednesday mornings he’s registered for Gymnastics. I’d like to register him for Sportball (with DH) for 45min Saturday afternoons, and was kind of thinking of getting him into a (hopefully parented) swimming class on one of the remaining days or evenings.

So potentially he would have something going on Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat + 1 more day. None of these activities would be more than 3.5hrs/day and three of the days it’s a parented, physical activity but it seems like a lot for a 3yo. What do you think? Too much or not?

[34me]

It would not be too much for 2 of my three kiddos but would have been for 1 of mine.  Go with your gut.  How long does each session  last?

[ollyoxenfree]

A lot of 3 y.o.'s are fine with an organized activity 4 times per week. On an activity level, I don't think it's too much to expect a 3 y.o. to be active for 60 to 90 minutes per day, so I wouldn't be too concerned about adding a sport or swimming to the schedule. I think it's generally recommended for children to get at least that amount of physical activity every day.

If, however, you think he isn't ready to cope with another organized activity where he has to pay attention, follow rules, line up, take turns, and assorted other mental/emotional demands, then you could put the activity on your own weekly schedule but not the class. For swimming, go to a weekly free swim time at the pool with him. For sportball, he and dad can head to the park for catch and organize the occasional pick up game with some friends. 

[leighi123]

My ds does much better with more organized activites. I try to only have one a day though. 

During the school year, he does a science class, gymnastics, and story time, each once a week.   He will do all of that next year, as well as scouts, twice a month homeschool meeting, and probably a dance class and possibly a spanish class.  Plus playdates.  

Summer is a little different - He does a refresher swim course that lasts 5-10 days at the begining of each summer.  This summer he also did camp 5 days a week for 3 weeks, 9:30-12:30, and gymastics once a week.    He also goes to work with me a few times a week for a couple hours.  

[swd12422]

Originally Posted by leighi123 

My ds does much better with more organized activites. I try to only have one a day though. 

...

This. DS is very outgoing, social, and needs lots of stimulation. I'm .... a lazy homebody. He taught me early on that he's happy when he's out and about, so we started preschool earlier than I wanted to and this year he'll go 3 mornings a week. The other two days will be library story time and a tumbling class (each less than an hour long). He has lots of free time with this schedule, and yet there's something to do every day during the week and playdates on the weekends with friends whose parents work. It's not too much for him. It may not be enough! I'm considering adding a sport also, but that would make more than one activity on one of the days....

[curiouscanadian]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

It would not be too much for 2 of my three kiddos but would have been for 1 of mine.  Go with your gut.  How long does each session  last?

That's what I heard back from my cousin too, that it depends on the kid. Besides preschool, gymnasics is 1hr, the others are 45min.

I think he should be able to handle that.

On an activity level, I don't think it's too much to expect a 3 y.o. to be active for 60 to 90 minutes per day, so I wouldn't be too concerned about adding a sport or swimming to the schedule. I think it's generally recommended for children to get at least that amount of physical activity every day.

 

For swimming, go to a weekly free swim time at the pool with him. For sportball, he and dad can head to the park for catch and organize the occasional pick up game with some friends.

In part I'm considering it to make sure he gets a decent amount of activity every day. We have good intentions but for example, while we often talk about going swimming it's relatively rare that we go. Whereas we (ok, I'm) good about sticking with planned activities. Plus as we head into winter soon, it'l get harder to get motivated to be outside.

Quote:

I try to only have one a day though.

Yeah, I know what you mean. If the swimming ends up on one of the days we already have something going we won't do it.