Homeschoolers: phys. ed/sports

[SusanH]

What do you do for gym class / exercise / sports?

We do a homeschool PE class once a week, although I'm tempted to switch to the one the YMCA does, which is twice a week. I like the one we're in but the Y's is supposed to be very good too. They also do homeschool swim lessons once a week, plus Sam is taking basketball and Susy is doing tae kwon do. She starts volleyball next month. And now that we've joined the Y, we go swimming at least three times a week. Winters in WI are a lot more pleasant when you go swimming frequently!

It's kind of funny how gung ho I am about sports and gym, since I'm completely lazy and un-athletic myself. But my main parenting strategy these days is "Make them really tired", so sports and gym classes are big with me.

[Cait]

My kids are pretty active on their own, so we don't push a lot of organized physical education.

DD1 rides horses once a week and we do swim semi-regularly. She's outside playing, running, etc. 4-5 days a week, even when it's cold. We also hike at DD2's preschool here and there. She plays tennis in the summer.

DS is always involved in a sport. Right now he's in hockey and is on the ice a minimum of two days a week but usually four. He swims and hikes with us too. When hockey is over he'll play soccer. He also wants to play lacrosse. And he is outside with his friends every day. In the summer they play pick-up games of baseball, basketball, football or whatever.

I'm more concerned about making sure the kids are active and are exercising than organized sports/phys ed.

[alaskagirl]

Originally Posted by Cait

My kids are pretty active on their own, so we don't push a lot of organized physical education.

Same here. In the summer my kids are outside ALL THE TIME. They go for at least a mile walk or bike ride with me almost every day and quite often more. Winter though stinks. We got them skis (ds2) and snowboard (ds1) this winter, but have only been once because it's SO warm this year. Lots of mud outside right now which makes it tough to get out.

I am hoping to get them in Little League this spring though. Otherwise, we're kind of on our own because we live in a rural area without a lot of organized sports options.

[KQCCMama]

I wish there was a homeschool PE for my kids. It's difficult to acoomodate such a span of ages and large number of kids AND to find a time that would work for all of them. They are now in swimming once a week and we have a pool so in summer are in it multiple times a day. I make it my goal to have them out playing in the yard at least once a day. DS1 does karate with dh several times a month as well.

[Mandowife]

Our homeschool Co-Op has a PE class....so they get that once a week. But, I'm not really concerned because they get plenty of activity on their own with other activites and just playing!

[miche]

The boys dance and play sports and take swim classes. Currently they swim once per week, have one basketball practice and one game per week and dance 6 (Tommy) and 5 (Sean) hours per week. They aren't all that active on their own, particularly when there is snow or the aftermath on the ground so I like having them involved in activities, but we don't do a formal PE class.

[ebmomma]

I have just organized a PE/free play time with our church's homeschool group. It starts tomorrow. We'll see how that goes!

DD also is playing basketball, which runs through the end of the month, then will be playing softball this spring. She is also in one hour of ballet a week. Hmmm, I think that is all right now.

I have looked at other things, but frankly, I'm tired of sitting with the boys while she is in activities, hard for Ben also, and he is too young for most activities right now. We'll likely start him in something in the fall, since he'll turn 4 this summer, maybe soccer, maybe a tumbling class. Then we'll for sure do baseball next spring.

Susan, I'm totally jealous of you getting to go swimming all the time! I wish we had a Y close to us. There is a Salvation Army B&G club, but it is fairly expense. They do offer homeschool classes that we used to take. Maybe once Ben is old enough to attend we'll get a family membership, then we can go swimming, too! Having little ones is hard, sometimes!

I just can't wait for warmer, drier weather so we can just play outside!!!

[mary1]

Our HS co-op has a heatlh and fitness class each week, as well as a yoga class. The local gymnastics place also has a HS class available, but we have not tried it yet.

My kids are skaters, so we are at the rink 3-4 times a week to skate. DD takes group and private lessons and DS is in hockey. So, that is our main organized activity.

During the day we usually try to get out for a walk when it is cold and muddy and if it is nice we are at parks and riding bikes. During the summer we go swimming and just run around.