Is Your Child Too Busy?

Finding a balance between school, activities, and play can mean the difference between a well-adjusted child and a stressed-out one. Finding this balance is different for every child. It’s up to you, as the parent or guardian, to find the mixture of scheduled time and play time that works best for your child.

Determine if your child is overbooked

Experts don’t agree on the ratio of time that makes the ideal balance. However, they do agree on what an over-stressed, overscheduled child looks like. You should look at your child’s schedule your child:

• Is tired a lot.
• Is grumpy or cries easily. They don’t seem to have much control over emotions.
• Has recurring physical problems, such as headaches or stomachaches.
• Has trouble sleeping.
• Is being antisocial and doesn’t want to participate in fun activities. They seem to have lost touch with all close friends.
• Is having trouble finishing homework. Grades are starting to suffer.
• Is slacking on chores or needs reminders to do them.
• Doesn’t have free time most days.
• Is prone to accidents, like falling.
• Frequently says he or she would like to stay home and do nothing.
• Suffers more than usual from asthma and allergies. There is evidence these are made worse during times of stress.

These symptoms may seem easy to spot but can be overlooked by parents. A schedule that worked at first may now be causing added stress for your child.

Also consider how you feel as a parent. Are you tired all the time? Are you agitated and lose your temper? Do you see your kids in the car more than anywhere else? These are good indicators it’s time to reevaluate your family’s schedule.

If you find your child is overscheduled, decide together which activities to cut. Don’t make your child decide alone and don’t decide for them. Maybe your child postpones some activities now and picks them up when other activities end.

Path to improved health

Kids should have at least some days each week where they have nothing to do. Also, they need free time every day. Free time is time where they can choose to what to do.

Put a priority on this free time and make it productive. Suggest they spend time with friends or go outside if the weather is good. This is where truly creative play happens—and usually exercise, too. Being outside has been shown to make people calmer and it reduces stress.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) encourages that all children and adolescents accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity every day. Encourage these activities instead of watching TV or playing video games. The AAFP recommends no screen time before 2 years of age and no more than two hours a day for children 2 years of age and older.

Also make time to play with your kids. Experts agree that unscheduled family time is an important part of a healthy balance for kids and families. This is one of the best ways for parents and children to get to know each other. It also helps children feel their parents love the “real” them—not just the “over-achieving” them.

Try to eat together. Sharing a meal as a family has many benefits, especially for children. Not only is it a great way to teach manners and appreciation, but it also teaches conversation. Encourage your child to talk about their day. Some studies show that children who eat with their families even earn higher grades at school.

Things to consider

While some stress is good for children, some types of stress can negatively impact a child’s health. Major stress—called toxic stress—can happen after a traumatic event, such as a divorce or death in the family. Long-term stress—like that from being overscheduled—can negatively impact a child’s health. Children under these stresses may suffer from high blood pressure, headaches, stomachaches, and extreme tiredness.

Also consider your child’s sleep pattern. If your child is so busy that he or she must stay up late to complete homework, you don’t have a good balance. School-aged children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night. Teens should average 8 to 9 hours each night. Set a consistent bedtime for your kids.

Overstressed and overscheduled children are more at risk for depression and anxiety. Stress disorder, which can trigger severe anxiety, can happen at any age. Stressed children also can show an overall lack of creativity and have fewer problem-solving skills.

Lastly, think about the example you’re setting. If you limit your child’s screen time—but you spend many hours with your device or watching television—that may send the wrong message to your child.

When to see a doctor

Stress can cause an increase in infections and illnesses because it impacts your child’s immune system. If your child is frequently getting sick, look for symptoms of general stress. Relieving stress for your child could be as easy as modifying his or her schedule.

Chronic stress symptoms will be more severe. If your child is showing symptoms of anxiety, sleep problems, the inability to concentrate, or is not eating normally, you should contact your doctor.

Questions for your doctor

• My child wants to do everything but there’s not enough time to do it all. How do I help them limit activities?
• If I don’t schedule my child’s time, they will choose to play video games all the time. How can I steer them toward creative play during free time?
• My child wants to quit the team halfway through the season. If I let them, am I teaching my child to be a quitter?
• My child is shy and doesn’t want to participate in extracurricular activities. How do I encourage involvement?
• How old should my child be before beginning scheduled activities?
• What is a realistic number of activities for my child to select?

Resources

National Institutes of Health, Are kids too busy?

U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus, Stress in childhood