If you could go back in time, would you put your kids in fewer structured activities?

[Anonymous]

I am seeing a lot of posts about kids not being able to entertain themselves. Such as the gaining weight post where people said their kids are usually in xyz classes and now without those classes they are couch potatoes.

I have a preschooler and I want her to be able to self-entertain (even outside of physical activity) without requiring classes. She is only in one class a week (music) and I am wondering if I should keep it at a minimum. I know we’ll probably never have another pandemic situation, but maybe having to self-entertain will make her more resourceful? What do you think?

[Anonymous]

Nope, nada, not even close.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Never over scheduled.

[Anonymous]

I think limiting activities and letting kids be bored sometimes is always good for kids, pandemic or no.

[Anonymous]

No. I am happy with the activities my child does. They serve a variety of purposes in her life and she misses them a lot right now.

1. Getting out energy so she is better behaved, e.g., swimming
2. Building friendships, e.g., Girl Scouts
3. Learning skills and trying new things, e.g., tennis and chess

[Anonymous]

My kids do rec sports, not travel. 2 kids, 2 activities max per season. On the weekends we aren’t always running to entertain ourselves so they have a lot of down time in general.

They are handling this quarantine time very well! They love to read, are fine with puttering around their rooms and the yard.
They still argue, but they haven’t been too bored even though they don’t get unlimited screens.

So for us it worked out well.

[Anonymous]

Nope. My kid entertains himself just fine, he is 7, but enjoys his Scouts, baseball/basketball, and after school clubs. He is missing those activities and the socialization that comes with them. And we are missing his being active and challenging himself in different ways.

[Anonymous]

There is so much I would do if I could go back in time and my kid's activities are not near the top of that list.

[Anonymous]

No, my kids love basketball, dance, and swim. I wouldn’t prevent them from enjoying organized sports just so they can be prepared for a future pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Nope, mine love all the activities and would do more. We are in one sport multiple times a week, scouts and music. It makes for a well rounded happy kid. Some kids thrive on it.

[Anonymous]

You have a little one, OP. It has nothing to do with not being able to entertain oneself. It is different when they are older. You can't expect a 17YO to "go run around the back yard" and get enough exercise.

[Anonymous]

God, no. I would and will add activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have a little one, OP. It has nothing to do with not being able to entertain oneself. It is different when they are older. You can't expect a 17YO to "go run around the back yard" and get enough exercise.

+1. I wish we’d pushed sports and piano/music lessons. My 15 yr old is only interested in screens (games and friends). If she’d been involved in sports and music, sheohave broader interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have a little one, OP. It has nothing to do with not being able to entertain oneself. It is different when they are older. You can't expect a 17YO to "go run around the back yard" and get enough exercise.

I disagree. I did not do many organized sports as a child. Just soccer. But I biked and rollerbladed a lot, mostly on my own, through 8th grade.

Plus, the posts about kids not knowing how to be physical mostly refer to elementary schoolers, not 17yos.

[Anonymous]

It's more work for you as a parent, but I think fewer scheduled activities are better, especially for preschool-aged children. Hard to be imaginative and (as you say) learn to occupy yourself when everything is so structured.