While clubs, sports, and other activities can be good for children to help develop physical, emotional, and social skills, children can be involved in too many activities. When a child is overloaded with activities he/she will show signs of being tired. He/she may have headaches or stomach aches. Schoolwork and homework may also begin to suffer and drop in grades.
When these things begin to happen, it is the parents’ responsibility to step up and limit the involvement. Parents need to let children know that academics and school come first. Activities come after the work is complete.
Some coaches can be very difficult to deal with. Children are penalized greatly for missing practices and games. Try to pick activities that are appropriate for your child’s age and physical development. Talk with the coach before enrolling and find out how much time is expected from your family and your child.
Try allowing your child to participate in only one sport each season. Make sure that homework is completed first. Always check in advance for when tests are scheduled so you can plan time for your child to study.
Keep a calendar of events and be certain to schedule in some down time for your family. Not having anything planned is a good thing. Make sure that the activities and time are divided evenly between your children. Do not put too much time into taking one child to activities while the others are being left out.
Talk with your child’s teachers, even if it is not parent teacher conference, and find out if your child is keeping up with his/her work. If the work is slipping, take a closer look at your calendar and try to schedule more time at home and get into bed earlier at night.
Helping your child learn to prioritize activities and event swill pay off in the long run.
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