After-school clubs ‘ harm family life’

MIDDLE-CLASS parents may be damaging family life by pushing their children too hard to do after-school activities.

Extra-curricular clubs are leaving parents exhausted and cash-strapped, a study found. The stress of scheduling and ferrying children to various activities could even threaten marriages, researchers said.

A team led by Edge Hill University in Lancashire interviewed 48 middle-class families whose children participated in at least two organised activities.

One mother described ‘knackered’ children who ‘don’t get in until 9 or 10pm’ – and admitted she was ‘sadly, over the moon’ when something was cancelled. Another said she knew children who are ‘doing a musical instrument, they’re doing horseriding, they’re doing the piano … sometimes that can be one-upmanship by the parents’.

The study, in the journal Sport, Education and Society, found almost 90 per cent of children interviewed did organised activities four to five days a week, with 58 per cent doing more than one in a single evening. The rise of after-school clubs is put down to more families having more than one car, women working more than in the past and parents wanting to make their children more employable in future.

But the researchers said: ‘There is evidence that parents’ reserves of time, money and energy are often considerably depleted and marriages can be put at risk due to the demands of supporting their children’s participation.’

Lead author Dr Sharon Wheeler added: ‘A busy organised activity schedule can put considerable strain on families’ relationships, as well as potentially harm children’s development and wellbeing.’