Extra Curricular activities??
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Extra Curricular activities??
| Tue, 05-31-2011 - 12:49pm |
My 3.5 year old ADHD son is high energy with no focus (typical, right?) :) Now that summer is here I'm leafing through our community classes and wondering what the heck I'm going to do to keep him busy. He's been in swim lessons for over a year and Still takes off from his class on a whim. Many a times I've seen him jump off the diving board or slide down the slide while his instructor is still mouthing, where's Aaron?
A group of our friends are signing up for a T ball class and I'm wondering if I should bother? Aaron will likely not stay with the group and will become frustrated if "forced" to do something he's not interested in at that moment. But should I still try? Is it better to expose structured activities and deal with the crazy looks or just let him free-flow with activities he chooses?
A group of our friends are signing up for a T ball class and I'm wondering if I should bother? Aaron will likely not stay with the group and will become frustrated if "forced" to do something he's not interested in at that moment. But should I still try? Is it better to expose structured activities and deal with the crazy looks or just let him free-flow with activities he chooses?
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He also sounds like a normal 3.5 year old, especially one who likes to do his own thing.
Melissa
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tball can be hit or miss there is a lot of down time. I remember DS first year he spent most of it on the ground or spinning in the outfield, second he got a bit more into it but now we are in clinic and its still hit or miss some days his head is the game others not so much/
We did soccer when he was younger much more an active sport. We've also do hockey, again very faced paced. This year we started karate which has been good for focus, disapline and motivation.
I think an art and crafts thing might be good. I know our YMCA has a tiny chefs class too for kids 3-5 and music. My 2 year old isn't ADHD but I am looking for a gym class for him. He loves to tumble and climb
You are not only dealing with 3.5 behavior - but ADHD - I've been there - I think T-Ball will be a mistake - please check your local Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA .. you want them busy and having fun - if there is down time at this age - Idon't think it would be that terrific - Karate(sp) is good but I would wait til over 4 - find daily summer camps - you want to keep him busy and not get bored
I promise...........it does get better............and it does start at home
He may surprise you.
Gymnastics can be good if they have things set up right. If everyone has to wait while the other kids take their turn, that can be frustrating. If they have a circuit, so that all the kids get to go through, that is great. Same goes with swimming. If there is too much waiting, they don't actually learn a lot. And, from my many years of teaching swimming lessons to kids, they can be a fun thing for the kids, but most kids don't actually have the muscle power and coordination to swim without touching the bottom until they are in about kinder to 1st grade. If fun and getting used to water is your goal, that is fine. If money is short, skip the lessons for a couple of years and just go to the pool or beach during free time swim.
In my opinion, 3.5 is really young for organized activities other than stuff like karate where it is actually more individual stuff. Don't feel like you have to do stuff because everyone else is - do what is right for your kid (and the instructors - a kid running away is very distracting.) If you want to keep him busy, give him a shovel and a place to dig. Go for lots of walks. Get art stuff and put it out where he use it himself. Go to library reading programs. Part of this age, in my opinion, is also learning how to entertain oneself and not be entertained all the time.