SOCCER, SWIMMING, SCIENCE clubs, stage school, scouts, Spanish…

There’s no end to extracurricular options for today’s children – if their parents can afford it. 

Even for families for whom cost is not a barrier, the time commitment and transport logistics involved in children’s activities are a big consideration and headache. 

Many team sports and performing arts classes have morphed over the course of a generation from once-a-week to twice-a-week commitments for even primary school-aged children. And no, that’s not including matches at the weekend. But is this a negative? Many kids love their hobbies.

It’s a topic Irish parents have been talking about at the school gate and on the sidelines this week as extracurriculars start up again for another term – and we want to hear our readers’ views.

• What activities are your children signed up to, and why?
• How are you getting on with the cost, transport and time commitments required?
• What do you see as the positives and negatives (if any) of kids’ extracurriculars – for them, for you and for your family?
• If you’re involved in kids’ activities as a teacher or volunteer, what’s your perspective?
• Is there anything you would like to see change?

Please get in touch by emailing answers@thejournal.ie to share your experiences – we’ll reflect them in a forthcoming article.

Please include your name, age and county, and let us know if you would like to remain anonymous.