What's wrong with a kid being "overscheduled"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While it's great to consider what a child wants or what they think they want, there are many things to consider, like finances and other siblings. While one kid might want an overscheduled childhood doesn't mean they all do.

Just because they WANT it doesn’t mean it’s good for them.

Thats the exact point i was trying to make.

[Anonymous]

I think y'all are missing the point that to excel in a sport kids have to start early and play club, and clubs are expecting three times a week practices by age 8/9. So if your kid isn't ready to specialize in just one sport and wants to keep options open across two or more sports, they are going to be "overscheduled" with activities. But whether it's overscheduled or not really depends on your family dynamics and whether the kid is happy and getting unstructured time too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing, mine is in daily activities, sometimes more than one a day and very active. Its usually about the parents not wanting to spend the money or drive. My parents had all kinds of excuses why we couldn't do activities and sports but it came down to them not interested and their needs came first.

Your parents had jobs and likely knew how to budget.

Mom had a 9-5 job and dad had lots of flexibility. They had plenty of money. Again, excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is data that shows that higher amounts of scheduled time have negative effects (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775723001504?via%3Dihub)

That evidence is a little off from how these conversations tend to happen on DCUM. because it shows the effects being concentrated in high school (whereas most posters here seem more concerned about scheduling at younger ages) and it includes time spent on homework (which I feel like most posters here are fine with, especially by high school).

How about some kids want and enjoy it and not doing it impacts their mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents who are like this tend to have hyper kids that are hard to be around. Non-hyper kids don’t need this level of entertainment at all times and the parents need fewer breaks from them too.

No, but mine enjoy it and its better than video games or social media for hours on end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents who are like this tend to have hyper kids that are hard to be around. Non-hyper kids don’t need this level of entertainment at all times and the parents need fewer breaks from them too.

No, but mine enjoy it and its better than video games or social media for hours on end.

So the only other thing they could do is technology? There’s nothing else for kids to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think y'all are missing the point that to excel in a sport kids have to start early and play club, and clubs are expecting three times a week practices by age 8/9. So if your kid isn't ready to specialize in just one sport and wants to keep options open across two or more sports, they are going to be "overscheduled" with activities. But whether it's overscheduled or not really depends on your family dynamics and whether the kid is happy and getting unstructured time too.

Lots of kids change sports or move from rec to club later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents who are like this tend to have hyper kids that are hard to be around. Non-hyper kids don’t need this level of entertainment at all times and the parents need fewer breaks from them too.

No, but mine enjoy it and its better than video games or social media for hours on end.

This is supporting the idea that kids who don’t get screen free downtime don’t develop skills. The fact that you don’t see a third option is sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents who are like this tend to have hyper kids that are hard to be around. Non-hyper kids don’t need this level of entertainment at all times and the parents need fewer breaks from them too.

No, but mine enjoy it and its better than video games or social media for hours on end.

This is supporting the idea that kids who don’t get screen free downtime don’t develop skills. The fact that you don’t see a third option is sad.

Pathetic

[Anonymous]

Over scheduling is good for most American parents because if they had to quietly sit with their spouse and kids you know they would go crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents who are like this tend to have hyper kids that are hard to be around. Non-hyper kids don’t need this level of entertainment at all times and the parents need fewer breaks from them too.

No, but mine enjoy it and its better than video games or social media for hours on end.

This is supporting the idea that kids who don’t get screen free downtime don’t develop skills. The fact that you don’t see a third option is sad.

Pathetic

What is pathetic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over scheduling is good for most American parents because if they had to quietly sit with their spouse and kids you know they would go crazy.

None of this comes across as very genuine. Why do people care what other parents do with their spare time? It’s like the redshirting debate. They care because they fear their own kids are missing out, will be left behind in the dust, or that playmates can’t entertain their own bored kids giving them the downtime they, the parents want, but refuse to pay for or drive their kids to. Figure out how to entertain your bored kids without trying to drag everyone else down.

[Anonymous]

Bored kids are boring kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bored kids are boring kids

Yet it’s the parents of the kids making mud pies in the backyard complaining. If their kids are so occupied and entertained what do they care what another family’s schedule looks like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over scheduling is good for most American parents because if they had to quietly sit with their spouse and kids you know they would go crazy.

None of this comes across as very genuine. Why do people care what other parents do with their spare time? It’s like the redshirting debate. They care because they fear their own kids are missing out, will be left behind in the dust, or that playmates can’t entertain their own bored kids giving them the downtime they, the parents want, but refuse to pay for or drive their kids to. Figure out how to entertain your bored kids without trying to drag everyone else down.

It’s hard to give kids a normal childhood when all the other kids around them aren’t around. This is not about giving myself downtime.