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Motherhood Musings: My Two Activities Rule


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We’ve all heard the studies; having extracurricular activities helps boost your kids’ self esteem and even helps them do better in school. That’s why the Two Activities Rule is a hard and fast one in my home. At all times my girls must be involved in two activities—one physical and one creative. Once they choose their activities, they have to stick with them until the end of the season or session we signed up for. If they decide they don’t like them after that, they can choose another for next time. Right now Sami is doing soccer and chorus and Lola is doing chorus and ballet.

Here is a long list of activities I’ve suggested to Sami and Lola in the past. You can go through it together with your kids and have them pick the ones that sound like the most fun.

Physical:

Basketball
Soccer
Baseball/softball
Dance
Gymnastics
Horseback riding
Swimming
Tennis
Ice skating
Karate

Other:

Painting or Drawing
Arts and Crafts
Ceramics
Cooking
Piano lessons
Guitar lessons
Drums
Drama
Creative writing
Singing
Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts
Religious Sunday school

And don’t forget: If money is an issue, there are always lots of inexpensive ways to get your kids involved through school or local community centers.

Do you encourage your kids to choose extracurricular activities or do you prefer to leave the decision up to them?


XO, Denise

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  • Jen
    Jen
    #9
    Don't forget roller skating- my daughter takes private lessons and is learning artistic dance. She loves it!
  • CarolannZ
    #10
    I totally agree with you! Its so important to keep them stimulated rather than being in front of the TV or computer all day. I believe its helps physically, creatively as well as socially. They learn to make new friends and work together as a team. Both my daughters are involved in physical activities, basketball and dance. I have not pursued creative activities with them yet, but its a great idea that I will look into for my girls! Thanks!
  • Terry Tuggle
    #11
    I few few years you will want to add golf to the list for them. There are a couple of things to get them started in the right direction now. Subscribe to Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. Ther are many article in there about developing a sound golf swing. The golf sing is the most complex swing in sports, so it requires regular matentice to get and keep it in good shape. Subscribe to the Golf Channel on TV also. There are many programs on the golf swing, along with coverage of all the golf tours. You can start at 8am on the weekend and see the European tour and normally catch the nationwide tour in the afternoon. This will get them involved in the game. A little later you can buy then a set of junior clubs for them along with a srt of left handed clubs for yourself. Start out by taking golf lessons from your club profesional; he/she will be able to get your swing started off in the right direction. Golf is very complex and take a lot of work and dedication to get good at it. The payoff is that is is super fun and very intoxicating when you first start playing the game. One good approach shot in a round that does what you wanted it to and lands on the green will keep you going all week! Besides all of this, the best thing about golf is its longevity. You can play it until you are old and gray. Arnold Palmer is now over 80 and still plays it regularly. Perhaps Golf and Tennis are the two sports that one can play the longest. But remember, do not drop the golf instruction from your golf pro; he/she will keep your swing in good shape. I use to play with a guy from work that had a two handicap; you would almost go to sleep watching him play; center of the fairway and on the green almost every hole, putting for birdie. He had been playing for about twenty years and he still took golf instruction once a week! The game is addicting, but you must pay your dews to get good! You can play golf with them all of your life; It is good exercise and great fun!
    xos
  • jorge alejandro suarez garcia
    #12
    I practiced soccer, tennis, athletics and camping with little money, that is no longer an excuse for not exercising is the basis of our culture ... the stadiums, beaches where swimming pools, tennis courts, golf and ski run as well as the cycle and as well as cultural centers where cultural manifest realaciones are public access, so there the money is not important ... just have to start something ...
  • Outen
    #13
    My daughter is older now, but she rode horses, at a stables I worked at, She ice skated, and wore the cute outfits. She played the Violin for 4 years and was great, she tried guitar, that didn't work out well, and she learned to swim, and tried water skiing and she took to snow skiing. I was a single mom , her dad died, but I did start dating, and working alot, and of course every drop of money you have , if it's not going to bills , it's going to our precious children.

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