After School Activities and Burnout
If you are like me and millions of other parents, the day does not end with the school bell. When the children get out of school, WE SUPER PARENTS get going, painting pictures, singing songs and playing games. This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents can also do too much and risk going overboard.
After school is not baby-sitting:After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a soccer match be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?.
Research and choose:
Do not let convenience be the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, read the fine print and find out what you have to contribute.
Free time:
Many children attend music classes, followed by sports and if there is some time between classes they sometimes squeeze in some play dates just before they rush home in time for bed. This can be too rigorous a schedule for a child. So, go slow.
When to quit:
Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he or she may not be the prodigy they thought he/she would be. This is the time to let go. Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are important factors and a child will not learn from an activity that he has come to hate.
