After school activities (which go under a variety of acronyms across Dubai) are super. There is no doubt that one of the benefits of attending an international school is that children are offered a wide range of sporting, artistic, musical, practical and academic choices after school.
Some are free (provided by the teachers themselves) and some are at a cost.
While no one would dispute their benefit and the opportunities for children to experience something new it is also worthwhile considering from time to time how many activities is enough, and how many is too much.
I would like to be clear here; a varied programme of activities taking a child through to 4.30 each night isn't going to do any harm, in fact often quite the opposite. For some working families this might be an essential extension to the day.
However some children will have classes and then attend tutoring or so called "crammer" schools. Again, coming up to examinations and for older children I would not want to suggest that this is "wrong" per se. There is a time and a place (and an age) at which working into the early evening and studying for final exams go hand in hand.
I would suggest though that this age is not 3. Nor is it at any age up until at least 14 at the very earliest. The idea that children make extra progress by intensive tutoring in all areas is somewhat flawed in reality.
Again I must, like with many things in education qualify that statement. Tutoring after school at a young age is sometimes useful for a child in need of support in a specific area. One or two nights a week will help. Five or more nights a week will not. Nor does tutoring in all areas as a kind of "prophylactic" approach have any merit. If a child is learning well at school then there are other areas of being a child that are far more valuable than scoring an extra 2% on a year 5 maths test.
It is difficult to quantify the value of family time. It doesn't appear on any test, it isn't measured by the KHDA or any childhood experts. It has no numerical value. However it is clear that children who spend time with their parents, who are serving as guides to these apprentice human beings, are exposed to something valuable.
Be it something as simple as learning to say please and thank you. Or, perhaps simply being aware that mum and dad love them and want to spend some time with them. Childhood passes quickly and it is not only a time to learn times tables or to practice football.
Most often a child will guide the parent unconsciously. This is tricky of course as parents should very much be in charge. Few children, even those who need it, want to go to extra maths classes and sometimes it is right to require that of the child. However if after a few weeks your child loves football, cello, choir, lacrosse etc. and asks to go more, super. If though they are clearly not enjoying it after giving it a good go there is little value in forcing them to do so. It will not help them.
In summary; as I said at the beginning activities after school are great. They expand a child's horizons, let them indulge their passions and interests and sometimes give busy mums and dads a break. Tutoring, when used to address a specific need, or to help prepare for exams is great. It can build confidence through practice and familiarity. It can reinforce concepts that might have been missed. But, balance will always be key. As with any other aspect of child rearing too much of a good thing is not good at all and it is likely your child will give the indication of when enough is enough. Best to listen to them.
With thanks to Mike Embley, Executive Principal of Nord Anglia International School.