Developmental Stages of a Child

[Anonymous]

Right now our kids are competing for spots in private schools. We have a 6 year old who seems to live in a world where we are competing for just about everything. We, as parents, are very concerned. With summer looming, we are feeling like spending some time sheltering our child from all this competition and feel the only way to do that is to do nothing. It seems anywhere we go, comparisons between kids is inevitable....even in a pottery class!! Are we the only folks who value down time as a way of respecting the developmental process? It seems like a good idea in terms of our child getting to know who they are and who we are.

[Anonymous]

No, you're not the only parents who feel this way. We choose our friends and even the community we live in to minimize the insane competitiveness in this area. And there's plenty of psychological literature to back you up in doing what you're doing. Keep it up!

[Anonymous]

I just finished reading "The Hurried Child" which was very interesting. I don't live in DC but I felt the same competition between parents and their kids when I did. Nobody asked me "How is _______?" They asked "What is ________ doing this summer/schoolyear, etc?" Very tiresome eso since he is only 3! Where I live now, people tend to care less about other people's kids and more about their own. They have less disposable income too which mean fewer choices for camps, activities, private school, etc. Let them have a childhood even if they are the only ones around allowed to do so. I love that I had all summer to do whatever I wanted as a child (swim, play w/ neighborhood kids, have sleepovers in backyard tents). I want something similar for my son. It might be a hard change if you kids are used to lots of structure and activities but they will love it.