Juggling school club activities, music lessons, sports, homework and social events can leave families feeling stretched thin. ThedaCare has advice for parents and caregivers trying to balance their children’s activities with family well-being.
“It’s not uncommon for overscheduling to occur,” said Hannah Gracyalny, ThedaCare nurse practitioner. “It often happens through the good intention of wanting to help kids become well-rounded, but having too little free time can take a toll.”
The beginning of the school year is an ideal time to take inventory of children’s schedules, she said.
“Ask yourself if the load is realistic, and remember that letting a few obligations go could improve quality of life for both you and your child,” Gracyalny said.
Activity overload can creep in for many reasons, Gracyalny said.
“Sometimes it sneaks up when we sign up for more and more until suddenly you realize you don’t have a free day all week,” she said. “Other times, kids may drive it. For example, they may want to participate in both basketball and volleyball.”
In some cases, overscheduling may be driven by a parent or caregiver’s desire to set their child up for future success, Gracyalny said. That can include encouraging participation in numerous activities and providing a wide range of experiences. Families may also fill their children’s schedules out of concern that too much free time could lead to boredom.
“It’s understandable to want to keep kids engaged in enriching activities,” she said. “It’s also important to build in time for rest and unstructured play and, yes, even boredom.”
Though it’s often seen as a negative, boredom can help kids in several ways, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These include honing creativity and imagination and building independence and problem-solving skills.
It can be easy to dismiss the need for free time, but it’s important for children of all ages — from toddlers to teens.
For young children, unstructured play is critical, according to the American Psychological Association. This type of free play bolsters children’s physical, emotional, mental and social health. It also helps them develop creativity, problem solving and critical thinking, while at the same time allowing them to determine what they’re interested in.
“Make time for unstructured play in your child’s day and consider getting in on the fun with them,” Gracyalny said. “Engaging in play with your child helps build your relationship and encourages healthy attachment.”
Enriching unstructured activities can include drawing, arts and crafts, biking, hands-on play with toys and reading.
As the stresses of school and activities mount, building in downtime is also important for older children and teens, Gracyalny said. They need opportunities to rest their minds and bodies and to spend time with friends.
A child may not verbalize that they are overwhelmed, Gracyalny said. Signs of burnout can appear in several ways including through irritability, mood swings or anxiety; poor or worsening school performance; loss of interest in favorite activities; and physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches and difficulty sleeping
Each child and family is unique. There’s no simple formula for determining the right amount of downtime. The APA recommends trying to ensure kids have at least two or three days a week that are free of back-to-back time commitments.
People with questions about the right balance of activities for their children are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician or ask at their child’s next well visit.
