Back to after-school activities - how much is too much?

Are you about to complicate your life and/or overwhelm your children with too many extra-curricular activities?  With a bit of planning, you can strike exactly the right balance so that everybody is happy and stimulated.  Here are our top tips:

• If your child is starting school for the first time, let them settle in to their changed routine before taking on extra activities.

• Find something they’re passionate about – don’t ‘flog a dead horse’ if they’re really not keen on practising that instrument or learning those Irish Dancing steps.

• Choose activities you can maintain as they get older – it’s cute to enrol a five-year-old in ballet, but make sure you’re comfortable with the increasing expenses and time commitment for upper levels to avoid disappointment later.

• Buy equipment and uniforms second-hand until you’re sure they’re going to stick at it. Young children like having a go at a variety of activities.

• Try to find a balance between physical activity and musical, artistic or dramatic or other pursuits.

• Be led by your child’s interests – avoid the temptation to re-live your childhood, or to assume that they’ll love something, just because their older sibling is great at it.

• Adopt a ‘fun’ mindset from the start and remove pressure to perform – remember that their prowess or otherwise is not a reflection on you, but your performance on the sidelines will reflect on them.

• Look carefully at the proposed schedule for the week. Does it work? Can you afford it? Is there plenty of ‘down-time’ for the children to rest, play and fit in homework? Is there space in the schedule for you and your interests? Families thrive when everyone is catered for.

For more tips on balancing work and family, including a free report on the ‘Top 5 mistakes women make when balancing work and family’, visit www.worklifebliss.com.au.