Overscheduling Children/Adolescents

Tell-tale signs that may indicate your child/adolescent is overscheduled are:

• Child/adolescent is often exhausted/difficult to wake up in the morning
• You find that you or they are eating more meals in the car than at the table
• Everyone is irritated and feeling rushed
• Changes in grades or your child/adolescent is staying up late to get work done
• No downtime
• Overly emotional
• No longer enjoys activities that used to be favorites

Here are some ways to review your schedule for the school year to make sure you and your child/adolescent are not overscheduled:

1. Before you rush to register for the same long list of activities, write down all the options. Fill out a mock calendar with the practices and games. Don’t forget school, homework, and work events.
2. Instead, she suggests parents sit down with each child to help them choose their top 2 activities.
3. Keep a calendar to stay organized: Display it on the refrigerator or other prominent spot so that everybody can stay up-to-date.
4. If your child wants to add an activity, make sure they drop one.
5. Schedule down time throughout the week. Downtime should be for creative activities (drawing crafts), going and playing outside, or mindfulness calming activities. Downtime should not mean “screen time.” Excessive screen time is associated with behavioral issues, mental health issues, and less exercise, among other.
6. Instead of a scheduled activity schedule family time each week.  Pick one night or morning a week where the family gets together to play a game, everyone is doing a relaxing activity (everyone is reading-magazine, book, graphic novel, or listening to audible book) or even have a family meeting to discuss how things are going or any important things that are coming up.

Resources: Alvin Rosenfeld, author of “The Over-Scheduled Child”