I don't find there is lots of time during the week at all. We have way too many activities. DS5 is starting Oddysey of the mind in a couple weeks too. He isn't in any sports as of yet, but probably will start something in the spring if I can find time. I don't want to overwhelm him since this is his first year in a full day school. He does lots of little projects at home and turns almost everything into something academic. He never just plays with something, there is always a goal in mind. He gets to bed at 8:30pm every night. We read every night before bed together and play some sort of game together after DD goes to bed since she goes down at 7:30pm. On weekends we try to do more things, museum trips, learning computer games, science experiments, etc. He only watches a few tv shows: cyberchase, time warp trio (not too much lately) and dragonfly tv where they do experiments and stuff. We also try to go outdoors as much as possible...although it has been freezing.
My kids are good sleepers and always have been. DS8 slept through the night (6+ hours) at 6 weeks. DS5 slept at 8 weeks. Both were BIG babies, so I think that probably has something to do with it. Both need a good amount of sleep or they are cranky and unpleasant and fall asleep early the next night.
They take after me. I can't function without my sleep. I always say that their early sleeping as infants was a survival technique so their mother would let them live...
I love my sleep to...but DS (also a huge baby that was over 10 lbs) never was a sleeper even as an infant. He slept through the night fairly quick....but never napped as all infants I have ever known did. I always felt it was strange because as an infant he was irritable and seemed bored. Once he could get around and talk his temperament was great! Now that he is in school he has been sleeping about 10.5 hours...which is awesome.
