After School Activities

There is so much push now days to give your children every opportunity and experience that we overlook their down time. The need for them to just play and be with their family. God created the family unit for us to learn to love, support and serve one another in that unique family environment. I think the better question is to ask if they desire something outside? Are they Happy? or do they have a creative gift, talent, or skill they might like to explore?

I don't believe so. We live in a world that teaches our kids that they need to be entertained 24/7. Kids need to learn that there are limits on family budgets and on the number of activities they should be involved in. I recommend a book called "The Home Court Advantage" I have two teenagers who've learned to fill their time with great books and board games with the family. I also have a 2 year old. Activities are great for kids, they need to explore their interests but running crazy just adds stress to already stressed families.

NO! I don't think it is good for them to be in as much as possible. They are at school enough during the day, afterschool I think they should be running around playing, hanging out with mom and dad and friends and just being a kid. Parents today way overschedule their kids. Now, if your kids spend endless hours watching TV afterschool, then I would say yes, get them involved or even let them do one activity that is a couple of days a week. You would have to figure out the balance, but I think there is a point where there is definitely too much and also a point where there is just not enough.

Do you kids complain that they aren't involved in more? Many after school programs involve some type of competition. As a grown up, our daily lives are filled with competition - best job, biggest raise, best parking place, freeway driving, etc. To allow your children to just be children is a wonderful thing. Why don't you sit down and talk with your kids? Ask them what they like about what they are currently doing and whether they would prefer doing anything different. Many parents believe they are showing their love by allowing their children to do every activity when in actuality, they are adding more stress to compete than children already have. There are only so many hours in a day and even kids need some down time. As a society, we wonder why our kids are going 90 miles an hour - labeled as hyperactive - when everything around them is going at the speed of light. When we slow down as a society, our kids will slow down too.

I hope this helps.

M. M. Ernsberger
Mind-Body Therapist
Children & Family Life Coach

I think this issue is one of personal preference. In my opinion, though, I do not think you are doing your children a disservice. I think kids need time to be kids and not have such busy schedules they are running around like maniacs. If the kids ask to do after school activities I would limit it to one per semester. This will teach them about making choices and having priorities. That's just my opinion, though.