Too Many but Not Quite Enough Afternoon Activities

Ah, the logistics of figuring out who drives whom, when, and where. Is it worth the money? Do they like it? Does it make them too tired? And what about all that advice on developing creativity through free play and boredom? Kid A likes to play football, Kid B likes to dance, my friend swears by this teacher at that location, but another option is cheaper and so close to my house.

It’s endless. I have no advice on the matter—I would never dare tell anyone what to do with their kids—but I can tell you this: everyone’s going through it, and no one has it all figured out. You just plan as well as you can for your own situation, suck it up, power through, and wait for the next holiday or lockdown to remind you of those times when you spent too many hours all together.

Of course, this is the reality for many families I know. Then there are the few who live in some sort of 70s American suburban movie, with their kids running around the neighborhood playing football and riding bikes until supper and bedtime. Good for them! I don’t have one of those, and you probably don’t either... but wouldn’t that be neat?

Here are some links and resources to articles I found on the topic. For my part, I’m planning so there’s no more than one activity a day per kid, if that—factoring in some homework and daydreaming time. I’m looking forward to that routine with a confusing Mona Lisa-like smirk on my face. Good luck to all you chauffeurs out there.