Are you overscheduling your kids?
As we head back to school, many parents are returning to playing schedule Tetris.
Here are some guidelines to help families create balance in their schedules.
- Consider the child/children’s developmental stage and age. (https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/how-to-be-a-parent/parenting/hurried-child/)
- What are the current family responsibilities and commitments?
- Have a family meeting. Discuss current obligations and how new commitments would impact the whole family.
- Schedule regular family time.
- Weigh the benefits versus the cost of adding more to your child’s plate.
Each family is unique and needs to evaluate their situation. What works for one family may not work for another family. While it is important for kids to participate in extracurricular activities, it is also important for kids to learn how to balance their responsibilities. It is ok to say no in order to protect the mental health of our families.
Resources
Abeles, V., & Rubenstein, G. (2015). Beyond Measure: Rescuing an overscheduled, overtested, underestimated generation. Simon & Schuster.
Brown, S. (2009). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul. Penguin Group.
Dearybury, J., & Jones, J. (2020). The playful classroom: The power of play for all ages. Jossey-Bass.
Elkind, D. (2001). The hurried child. Da Capo Press.
Elkind, D. (2007). The power of play: Learning what comes naturally. Da Capo Press.
Koplewicz, H. S. (2021). The scaffold effect: Raising resilient, self-reliant, and secure kids in an age of anxiety. Harmony Books.
Lahey, J. (2015). The gift of failure: How the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed. HarperCollins.
Levine, M. (2008). The price of privilege: How parental pressure and material advantage are creating a generation of disconnected and unhappy kids. HarperCollins.
Ray, D. (Ed.). (2015). A therapist’s guide to child development: The extraordinarily normal years. Routledge.
Ray, D. (2023). Playful education: Using play therapy strategies to elevate your classroom. Routledge.
Reckmeyer, M. (2016). Strengths based parenting: Developing your children’s innate talents. Gallup, Inc.
Rosenfeld, A., & Wise, N. (2000). The over-scheduled child: Avoiding the hyper-parenting trap. St. Martin’s Press.
Center on the Developing Child – https://developingchild.harvard.edu/
https://www.parents.com/health/coronavirus/is-the-era-of-the-overscheduled-kid-gone-for-good/
https://blitzbooks.com/an-open-letter-from-an-overscheduled-child/
