Best-selling author Carol Tuttle joins us to weigh in on the topic.
A new study suggests that kids may need a little more latitude with their free time instead of having their days packed with lessons, sports and structured activities.
"The more time kids had in less structured activities, the more self-directed they were and, also, the reverse was true: The more time they spent in structured activities, the less able they were to use executive function," said study author Yuko Munakata, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A new study suggests that kids may need a little more latitude with their free time instead of having their days packed with lessons, sports and structured activities.
Signs that your children are over scheduled:
The pace of your life is frantic as a family
You are eating out too often at fast food restaurants - dinner time at home is a thing of the past.
They are complaining about going to their activities
Their grades are dropping
You can`t remember when your child had nothing to do.
As parents is their schedule too busy for mom and dad? Do you have down time?
How much unstructured time do your children have each week, the younger they are the more unstructured time they need.
Are they passionate about their activities and have they personally chosen to participate in them? Or have you decided for them?
Tips to create more balance:
Eat 3-4 dinner times a week as a checkpoint for balance
Make sure your children have time each week where nothing is scheduled for them, discuss with your child how much they need.
Carpool with other families whose children are in the same activities
Invest in a house cleaner to lighten the domestic load
For more great information from Carol and to buy her book The Child Whisperer, go here.
