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- After-school activities can up take a lot of time and money — especially when you have four kids.
- That’s why our kids are only allowed to participate in one extracurricular activity at a time.
- Balancing and limiting activities allows our family more time for rest, academics, and bonding.
It’s a typical Tuesday evening. Like many families, we’re in our minivan, zipping from one kid activity to the next. We will repeat our routine almost every evening and Saturday. Yes, it’s exhausting at times. However, unlike many other families, each of our kids is only allowed to be in one activity at a time.
Our family vibe when it comes to extracurriculars is “less is more.” We have found many perks in limiting our kids extracurriculars, despite the “more is better” load that many we know choose to take on.
We get to prioritize family time
Our entire family sits down to have a meal together several times a week. We ask each other questions, find out what’s going on in our kids’ lives, and share funny stories. Though mealtime can sometimes be chaotic, with bickering and typical exhaustion, we also relish in the limited opportunities we have to sit, face-to-face, and share a meal.
We also have some family time on Sunday mornings, attending church together, and the occasional Friday night, where we can watch a movie.By not overloading our calendar with activity commitments, we’re able prioritize this family time instead.
We aren’t spending excessive amounts of money
Every parent knows just how expensive extracurricular activities can be. Our kids have not once been part of an activity that didn’t require certain gear, clothing, fees, or some travel, even if it was simply heading across town.
Each kid’s activity costs quickly add up — especially when you multiply that by four. Limiting our commitments to one activity per kid allows us to be more budget-conscious.
We have more time for homework, resting, relaxing, and socializing
Since each kid is limited to one activity each, our family — together and each person individually — has more time for other engagements.
Courtesy of Rachel Garlinghouse
Whether we are having a chill Sunday afternoon at home, ending the day by grilling burgers, or spending a Wednesday evening wrapping up homework, we have the flexibility to offer pockets of time to do what we want and what we need to do. Sometimes the kids hang out with a friend, or sometimes my teens just want some extra shut-eye.
We have better control of our schedule
Since we only have four activities (and sometimes fewer) at a time, we have better control of our family schedule. For the most part, we run our schedule versus our schedule running us.
As a college teacher, I have seen, many times, the students who were involved in everything and anything in high school be no better set up for success than the student who engaged in fewer activities. Of course, being in a sport, for example, can teach time management, teamwork, leadership, and other important skills. However, I think there’s something to be said for prioritizing rest, focusing on academics, and enjoying a Friday evening snack and movie fest with family.
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