Activity overload: are kids becoming pushed into doing too much

By: Nikki Phipps

Some kids have too much to do and not enough time to do it. And now days it seems to be harder to tell if this is a result of the parents pushing the kids to keep up with others or if the kids really want to do it. Have you ever heard anyone say, “My child may not be good at or even like a particular sport or activity but everyone else is doing it, and I don’t want my child to feel left out”? Perhaps you may have heard a parent express the fact that whether or not their child likes what they’re doing, it will look nice on their school transcript. Unfortunately, some parents may be pushing their children to be someone they simply cannot be by trying to give them the opportunity they never had.

There are some parents who feel they have to keep their kids constantly occupied, rather than give them a chance to play, explore, and learn on their own; while other parents feel the need to sign their kids up for one more activity because they’re afraid that their children may be missing out on something. But over scheduling can take a toll on children. They may suffer from higher stress levels, excessive tiredness due to a lack of sleep, and may not be able to keep up in school. School should always come first so if your child is having a hard time keeping up academically, you should consider dropping an activity. Family life can suffer when too many people are running in too many directions. As a result, many families rarely eat dinner together and there is less time for staying connected with one another.

Parents need to know when to draw the line and say no. If your child is already doing a lot but wants to participate in another activity, talk about what activities need to be dropped in order to fulfill this desire. Before you agree to a schedule of after-school activities for your child, consider the time commitment for each activity, such as games and practices. For your own situation, look at how many kids you have, how many parents are involved, and how many hours a week each activity consumes then plan accordingly. The key to maintaining balance within the family is to schedule things in moderation and choose activities with your child’s age, temperament, interests, and abilities in mind. And if your child doesn’t want to do it, don’t expect them to. A child should never have to feel forced into participating in an activity or sport simply to please you or anyone else.

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