It’s Saturday morning, time to hit the snooze button. “No, oh no, little Charlie has taekwondo at 10am, arts class at 1pm, swimming lesson at 5pm. How about my darling Jane? She has ballet at 11am, arts class at 1pm and music lesson at 3pm. I have to get up and get them ready for their classes.”
Are your kids constantly transiting between classes? Taekwondo, music classes, math classes, football practices and the list goes on. It is undeniable that structured out of school activities are beneficial for your kids. It is always a dilemma for parents to keep a balanced schedule for their kids while not wanting their kids to miss out in their academic or general development.
But in your rush to give them the best of both, are you overscheduling your kids? If you’re not sure, learn more about the pros and cons, and find out how you can strike a balance.
You’re probably overscheduling your child if:
• He is eating one to many drive-thru meals or surviving on bread alone.
• He is doing his homework in the car in between classes.
• He lacks proper rest. A child below 10 requires at least 10 hours of sleep.
• He falls sick often.
• He is tired, unmotivated and burnt out.
• He is missing out on normal childhood activities such as birthdays, visiting his grandparents, or lacks time for unstructured play.
Striking a balance
While working out a balance between structured activities and unstructured activities isn’t rocket science, it will require communication between you and your children. Arrange for the whole family to sit down for a family discussion on how you can achieve a balance. Here are some items that you should consider:
1. Find out what activities your child likes. If there are free trial classes, let him try it out, especially during long school breaks. This gives him more time to explore his passions without pressure.
2. Be aware of your child’s strengths and difficulties. When he comes home happy after an activity, it is a sign that he enjoys it. Discuss his development with the programme providers and decide if you should continue the class.
3. Learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Make time for your child so that he can apply what he has learnt at school, e.g. get him to help out with measuring things while you are doing some DIY work at home, weighing out ingredients while cooking, teaching him about plants while gardening or grocery shopping, etc.
4. Get involved in his homework by providing him with guidance. However, this does not mean that you should do his homework for him! Be patient as it may take some time.
5. Carve out family time doing things that he likes.
6. Ensure that he has at least an hour a day to just play. Children learn best through play and unstructured play will help him to explore his own creativity and problemsolving skills.
7. Ensure there’s a balance between outdoor exercises and indoor activities.
8. Sleep is important for a growing child. Make sure that he is in bed by 9pm every night!
(An educational contribution by Malaysian Paediatric Association)
