Kids like schedules and activities but sometimes they can get too much of a good thing. Too many events, practices, or games can wear out even the most active children. Dr. Kristen Eastman, a child psychologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's, says extracurricular activities help build a child's development, but they should not come at a cost.
"Having some time to chill out, veg out as a family, watch a movie, play some games, and let them do nothing sometimes. Or time to just be creative, time to be outside exploring. We don't want to overschedule them so much that it's at the sake of those things or not getting the important rest that they need," Eastman explained.
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If your child looks or acts tired, is irritable, or grumpy it could be a sign that their life balance is not aligned. Also, if it looks like they are just not having fun anymore, they may be trying to do too much.
If their grades start to slip, or you find yourself spending more time in the car going from place to place than you do at home, it may be time to dial it back a bit. Eastman says extracurricular activities are a really good thing, but parents need a solid plan that will teach kids life lessons, not burn them out.
"Eventually it would be nice if they could say themselves, 'I'm going to bed a little early tonight because I know I have a late game tomorrow or I have to be at school tomorrow night for an event.' We want to get there. That's where we hope to be and hope they are as young adults," Eastman added.
She also says to let kids lead the way and have them pick an extracurricular activity that they really like, rather than trying several different activities at the same time.