Family Relationships: Keeping Childhood Fun

By Michele Blandino

We’ve all heard the horror stories – in fact, many of us live them on a daily basis – of overscheduled kids. Whether it’s rushing between sports practice and dance class, eating meals on the fly or overseeing homework that is being done when en-route to the next activity, the fact remains that few parents will escape their kids’ growing-up years without taking part in this juggling act.

The Problem

The reasons why families find themselves on this perpetual treadmill are various: some parents hope their child will become the next generation’s sports hero, others encourage their child’s participation in a certain sport in the hope that their prowess will result in a college scholarship. And, in some families, activities are used to keep kids busy – and out of trouble – during after-school hours.

While many children are able to bounce from activity to activity without much of a problem, others eventually begin to show the effects of such a busy lifestyle. High levels of fatigue, illness, and even burnout, are not uncommon among kids who routinely endure days that begin when they get on the school bus at 7:30 in the morning and don’t end until the last practice is over at 9:00 at night.

What can parents do to help take some of the pressure off? Here are some ideas.

First, listen to your child. If you sense that they no longer want to participate in a particular sport, let them quit. Many kids continue their participation because they think that’s what their parents want them to do.

Next, try to maintain a good mix of competitive and non-competitive activities in your child’s schedule. For example, if your child enjoys playing soccer and baseball, but also wants to take trumpet lessons, suggest that they choose one sport while giving the trumpet a try.

While it may often be difficult, try to place a priority on family time. In all too many cases, families will abandon long-ago made vacation plans when they find out one of their children has an athletic event that conflicts with those plans. In the end, the memories made during the course of a vacation will last longer than that of a baseball game, yet many families choose to forgo the vacation in favor of the baseball game.

Do Your Homework

Many parents sign their kids up for activities without knowing exactly what will be required of them in terms of time and money. Before making a commitment to any organized activity, be sure to know exactly what will be required of you and your child. Ask other parents who have previously been involved, ask the coach, or contact the director of the league. Find out how many days per week will be required for practice, the coach’s policy for missed practice time, and the game schedule. Knowing the requirements ahead of time can make the difference between an experience that is enjoyable and one that only makes an already hectic lifestyle busier.