As the world becomes increasingly competitive, parents are often under pressure to enroll the children in multiple extra-curricular activities. While it is natural to want the best for your children, scheduling too many activities can lead to stress and exhaustion for both the child and the parent. It is important for parents to slow down and prioritize your child's overall well-being by limiting their extra-curricular commitments.
Extra-curricular activities can offer children a range of benefits, including developing new skills and building confidence and improving socialization. However, too many activities can lead to an overwhelming schedule, and leave little tome for downtime and rest. This can harm a child's physical and emotional health, contributing to stess, anxiety, and difficulty focusing in school.
Limiting extra-curricular activities can also benefit family dynamics. Running around from one activity to another can take a toll on a family's quality time together. It can also create a stressful atmosphere if the child feels overburndened and parents are rushing to get from one activity to another. Limiting commitments can create a more relaxed and harmonious family environment giving children the time and space to enjoy being kids, rather than constantly rushing from one place to another.
While many may worry that cutting down activities can harm their child's chances of success, a slower approach to extracurriculars can actually make a child more focused and effective in their remaining activities. By limiting commitments, parents can help children explore and develop their passions in a more meaningful way, without feeling overly pressured or frazzled.
Top 5 Takeaways:
1. Slowing down extra-curricular activities is essential for children's overall well-being, emotinal health, academic success and family harmony.
2. Parents can look beyond the instinct to enroll their children in as many activities as possible and prioritize their child's peacefulness, health and happiness. By doing so, they can help their child flourish and grow in a more relaxed and sustainable way, both in and outside of school.
3. Be mindful about our own unmet needs and unmet wishes.
4. Parenting is a dance - sometimes you lead and sometimes they lead.
5. Remember to remind yourself that you love your child and want for them to succeed and the success can still come with balance - you know your child best, and don't allow anyone, including experts convince you to believe otherwise.
*Disclaimer - The views expressed in this blog posts do not reflect those of our training institutions or the APA; the info discussed is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. If you or your child need support, please seek help from a professional.
