1. Carpool.
Pair up with just one other family on your child's team or class and you cut your pick-up and drop-off time in half (and maybe your waiting-around time too). Add another family or two to your carpool and you reduce your commitments even more. Do factor in a little more time for organization, though, for a bigger group; and have a backup plan in place.
2. Choose sports that fit your family schedule.
If it's a priority to attend church together every Sunday morning or to have family night every Friday, think hard about allowing your child to commit to a sport that would compromise these values. Beyond that, it's important to be practical about costs, driving distances, drop-off and pick-up times, and each child's other interests and commitments. Ask questions before you enroll your child to avoid disappointments and conflicts later.
3. Take a season off.
Maybe it's summer, so you can enjoy more family time (even a vacation). Or fall, so your child can get a good start on school before adding extracurricular activities. Or spring, so you can manage all those end-of-year school events. Maybe none of your children plays a winter sport. Resist the urge to sign them up for other activities to fill the time. You'll save money and sanity.
4. Get help.
Maybe carpooling isn't an option, but Grandpa is available to accompany a child to his tennis lesson, or to stay home with an energetic toddler. If you don't have family nearby to help, consider whether it's worth your while to hire a sitter to help you keep your family schedule under control. She can chauffeur kids around, stay home with sibs, or even come along for the ride and help you entertain younger children during a long meet or tournament. (That's a good option if you have a mother's helper who's a little young to drive or stay home alone.)
5. Keep little ones busy.
Quite often, balancing the family schedule means younger siblings tag along to bigger ones' practices, lessons, games, and so on. Instead of handing over your smartphone and praying that you get it back intact, plan ahead and bring some snacks, toys, and books to keep little brothers and sisters happy and cooperative. At many outdoor practices, there is a kids' playground nearby, too. Many parents find that this downtime can actually be a pleasant one-on-one "date" with a younger child.
6. Keep yourself busy.
If I'm taking just one child to a class, and have to wait there to take her home, I relish the 30 to 60 minutes I gain for myself. I can run a quick errand, answer emails on my phone, read, take a short walk, and so on. There are lots of options, as long as I'm prepared with whatever supplies or reading material I need.
7. Be packed and ready.
Having a "sidelines bag" packed at all times (maybe keeping it in the car) can be a lifesaver for the family schedule, especially when you're faced with tight turnarounds, unpredictable weather, or last-minute changes.
8. Foster independence.
Once your child is about 10, consider whether she can walk, bike, or take public transit to get to lessons and practices. Such responsibility is an important life skill, and imposes less of a burden on your family schedule. (Of course, you'll still want to make sure you attend special events like games, recitals, and award ceremonies.)
At an even younger age, your child can begin to take charge of her own things—uniforms, shoes, protective gear, and so on. Gradually shift this responsibility to her shoulders as she grows. Then when she's a teen, she can begin to manage her own schedule as well, helping make choices about what she can realistically commit to and knowing where she needs to be when.
9. Plan and prepare meals ahead of time.
I am not a very good meal planner, but nothing makes me feel more on top of things like having a meal in the slow cooker. And since so many kids' sports, classes, and games seem to fall during the dinner hour, having a quick dinner strategy is essential. Sandwiches always work in a pinch; and it's wise to develop a menu of easy-to-fix favorites for busy evenings.
10. Encourage sibling sharing.
Kids don't always want to compete directly with their siblings by being on the same team or playing the same sport. But if two or more of your children enjoy the same activity, you may luck out with back-to-back practices or games played at the same field. Or you may find you can hire a private coach or tutor they can share (say, for tennis or golf lessons), at a time convenient to you, for about the same price as you'd pay for two separate lessons.
If your child takes lessons at a community center or gym, consider a family membership. You'll likely save money, and you can squeeze in a workout of your own during your child's practice time.
