Reply to Less scheduled kids - how are they faring in high school and beyond?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you are an average adult who went to an average college, have an average job and your kids attend an average school, your kid is probably doing fine and will continue your average lives. They can also go to an average college, get an average job, marry a fellow average spouse and repeat. This is probably what happens to most people. [/quote]

This, pretty much. I also find it odd that we as a society drive kids to do, do, do, all this stuff. But we don't do it as adults. Even before becoming consumed with taking our kids to all this stuff, your typical adult goes to work, hangs out with friends, maybe fits in time to go to the gym and keep up a hobby. So by looking at the adults, our kids learn that doing all this stuff is just about the college resume but is to be dropped as soon as possible. Instead, better to do less, encourage exploration, and finding real interests that you can pursue for the rest of your life.[/quote]

I find this so sad. Almost nobody from my youth orchestra plays music 20 years later. Almost nobody is doing rec sports. It honestly sends a terrible message to our kids when they don't see the adults in their lives just following them around and doing nothing for enjoyment except "hanging out." The children grow to think the world revolves around them, and they become adults who have no interests and are kind of boring to talk to. A much better model is to continue your hobbies and involve your kids. I have kept up music, and for the past year my toddler-aged son has been obsessed with the violin, constantly "playing" his toy violin at home, at school, at church. My daughter is asking for time to play her real violin (she hasn't started formal lessons yet but I'm doing some basics with her until she demonstrates that she's ready to commit to regular lessons and practice). If we can keep up the enthusiasm, we'll be able to play music together as a family, and my children will see this as a lifelong hobby and not something that you do only until you get your college admission letter.

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The adults are now busy with their own kids and can't do all the sports and music they did as kids. Doesn't mean it was wasted.

I played piano when I was a kid, and I play it on and off, and more regularly with my kids (who play violin). I don't have private lessons and recitals anymore. But it's still a part of my life.[/quote]

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