Parents naturally want to structure their children's activities according to what they think they will find interesting orwill ensure that they are on the path to success.
But, if you find that almost every minute of your child's day is scheduled with schoolwork, chores or extracurricular activities, then your child is overscheduled.
Overscheduled children have a tendency to become exhausted and overwhelmed, which results in an anxious and unmotivated child.
Children require downtime to be healthy and happy - time to reflect and imagine.
Following are tips to ensure your child isn't overscheduled: Select activities.
Have your child select one or two structured activities according to their interests and abilities.
Schedule free time.
Make sure your child has one or two hours of free time every day.
Provide access to art supplies, games, books, puzzles, etc.
Expect boredom.
Some level of boredom can be a healthy motivator for kids as it allows them to tinker, write, draw and create.
Prioritize school work.
Don't let extracurricular activities come before school work.
If you find that your child is staying up late to finish homework, try cutting back on some scheduled activities.
Keep in mind that elementary-age children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a day.
Plan open days.
Open days are unrushed family time.
These are days with no scheduled activities - days to simply play around the house, do yard work together, take a walk or bike ride.
Do things you both enjoy with no goal or timeframe in mind.