How much free time does your 10yr old have?

Question

My daughter is almost 10yrs old and rarely has time to do anything outside or on the computer during the week. She comes home, does her homework, reads, does her chore, eats dinner, and every other night she takes a bath. She is also responsible for making her lunch before bed. She complains about not being able to go outside or play much during the week. I'm wondering how many of you have kids that have time for this during the week and if you think I'm having her do too much. I mean the only thing I'm really having her do is one chore.. which I know she should be having them. She does have poor time management and is slow as a turtle and I'm not sure how to go about teaching her how to be faster. Any and all input would help! Thanks in advance!!!

Answer 1

My kids don't do chores other than keeping their bedroom picked up, but if it's not I just shut the door.  They also get an hour and half in the evening to watch televsion, play their video games or play on the computer.  If they want they can go outside and play and with the weather as nice as it has been lately they've been outside a lot.  Our home life doesn't revolve around our electronic "toys".

Answer 2

I think giving her chores gives her some responsibility which is get no its not boot camp, its a family and everyone has to contribute to the family in one way or another. My daughter also has chores and such but she has about a hour a day after school to go outside sometimes longer, she excels at school and does her chores and therefore she knows if she doesn't do the things asked of her she misses out on going outside. Child need boundaries and rules they thrive off them. I think your doing a good job and keep it up Gl and best of wishes to you and your family

Answer 3

No I do not think this is ok. All children need a break sometime. Maybe a later bedtime or give her less to do, or help her with her homework to finish it faster. Kids are much happier when they get a bit of fun and free time each day and in the end which is more important - your daughter getting her chore and little things done or your daughter being a happy child? If that was my schedule at age 10 I would be miserable.

Answer 4

My daughter comes home and does her homework, cleans her room and does her chores but still has 2 hours before dinner to go outside and play.  Does your daughter do her homework as soon as she gets home?  Do you eat dinner real early?

Ignore the first poster about stepping up and being a mother.  My 9 year old makes her own lunch as well...nothing wrong with that.

Answer 5

My daughter has a lot of free time her day goes

wake up-8:00

School-8:55

Get Home-3:55

Play outside or walk dog(dog walk is chore)-4:55

Watch Simpsons-5:00

Do homework-5:30

Watch Simpsons-6:00

Call friends e-mail,etc-6:30

Bed-9:00

Answer 6

I don't think there is anything wrong with her schedule in general, or having her do chores.  The chores are certainly age-appropriate, and I agree that it's part of a child's responsiblity to help take care of his/her own house.

There are a couple of things I might try in your situation to give her a little down time.   The first would be to let her go out and play for about a half hour before getting started.   A little fresh air and exercise is really good for kids, and lets them "clear the cobwebs" out of their heads from a day of school work.  It might refresh her enough to give her a better attitude of breezing through her homework faster.

The other thing I would do (and I must agree with some of the other posters here) is to let her stay up a little later at night.  Eight o'clock really is quite early for a 10-year-old.   If you feel she won't get up in the morning if you keep her awake until 9:00 PM, try 8:30 PM.   Let her watch one show she enjoys and of which you approve.  These little changes to her routine might get her moving a bit.

Answer 7

I also think it is important for kids to have chores. My 10yr old has about an hours worth of chores every weekday, and about 20min. on saturday. Sunday is her "free" day- no homework, no chores, no responsibilities other than basic-get dressed, brushing hair/teeth, eating meals. This works well for us. We homeschool, so she only has school until 3pm most of the time. She does have 1 hour of reading before bed, so she goes to bed at 7pm so she can read.

You may want to consider nixing homework from school. Your daughter is spending 6 or 7 hours a day at school which should be plenty of time to devote to education. Your daughter does need free time, and spending 8 hours a day or more on school is excessive.

Answer 8

She needs more free time.  This is as important as the other things.  Maybe later bed time or read some days and other days play outside or on computer.  Maybe a shorter chore.  Like, instead of cleaning room clean part one day, part another.  Instead of doing dishes, just put away clean dishes.  Talk to her about ways to find free time and see what she thinks.

Answer 9

My 10-year-old has a lot of free time.  She goes to school and does her homework (her "job") and helps out around the house, but she has a lot of time to play, in my opinion.  

Maybe you could use a wall chart or make a schedule for her?  Good luck.

Answer 10

I have 6 kids living at home! My oldest is 14 and the baby is 6. My 10 year old has a lot of free time.

We get home from school at 3, do homework. We are done no later than 4. We then have snack. After snack she plays or talks on the phone. My 14 gets home @ 5:30. The two big girls go out and jump.  WE then have dinner and it's time to clean and start baths. We have a 9pm bed time and lights and t.v's out NO LATER than 10.

Personally kids don't have enough Free time anymore. She needs to be able to have some Free time. Even if it's an hour. She is only 10.

I personally think you should make her lunch. I am all about responsibility but she should not have to do that.

You need to let her have more free time,. Playing outside is the best thing for kids.  Maybe try and give her a "Free Day" from chores. I do that sometimes for my kids.. I also don't work out side the home so I guess I do a little more than I should. My kids ONLY have to Keep there Rooms clean.

Answer 11

It depends on the day depends on how much free time my 10 year old has.  On Monday it to a String Project for 1hour and 30 minutes.  Tuesdays there is partners in reading for 45 minutes and the 1 and 3rd Tuesday night we have scouts for 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Wednesday is free, so is Thursday.  The child has homework, chores, and routines as well.  I have a schedule as well to help with time management.  It is up to us as the parent to teach them these skills.  It will last for a life time!!!

Answer 12

Sounds perfect,  my 11 year old has the very same plan all week long.  It's fine, she almost never goes out during the week and is fine with that a little tv before bed 30 min. She can't wait untill the summer is hear to go out in the warm weather.

Answer 13

What time does she need to leave for school?

For instance, if she's getting up much earlier than she needs to, can she make her lunch in the morning instead? Also, if she's getting up much earlier than she needs to, then I don't see why you can't move her bedtime a little later.

Can she have a shower instead of a bath? Probably quicker.

I would try to encourage her to be quicker. What is it she's really slow at? Homework? It's important she learns to work quickly. If it's supposed to take her twenty minutes...then set a timer for twenty minutes.

My daughter's eleven. She has homework and reading, chores, cleans herself, and eats dinner. She also plays three instruments which need to be practiced, sings in a choir on a Tuesday evening, is a competitive ice skater practicing three times a week, and a Scout. And she goes to bed at eight and gets up at seven. She still has time to play. If your daughter is complaining, then suggest she speeds up. What time does she get home? If it's 4pm, then she's taking 4 hours to do homework, read, do one chore, eat dinner, and sometimes have a bath. That's ridiculous.

Answer 14

I have a ten year old son. Let me tell you the homework is outragous. However, I have him clean his room up each weekend. Put his clothes up in his drawers every night before bed. I have him come in eat a snack and do homework at the same time. I also allow him to do his homework on the bus and check it when he gets home. I let him have play time for  an hour or two when there is no baseball practice. He knows that if his homework is not completed or if he doesn't put up his clothes that he will not have any time to play the following day and no practice. Give her some more chores during the week such as wash dishes that night, dry them or put them up. As for homework find out why she doesn't like it and give her a break time when she becomes frustrated with it. Also try giving her a certain time to play then make sure she understands that her chores and her homework must be completed. If not then her hour for playtime will be over.

Hope this helps,

Amanda

Answer 15

She deserves more "kid  time" although, kudos to you because she shounds very responsible.

Answer 16

well, my daughter is a year younger.  she is about to turn 9.  but she gets home from school around 3:20 and plays outside or with friends for close to 2 hours before doing homework, piano, and chores.  Dinner's usually over by 7; starting at 7:30 we read aloud together, and at 8 she reads to herself for a half hour.  our school has a half day on thursdays so she's out by 12:30 and she does a couple activities late thursday afternoon and also on saturdays.  but overall i'd say she gets a lot of free time.

if her homework is taking her more than a half hour or so, i'd have a discussion with the teacher about it.  kids really do need some downtime.