{"id":7870,"date":"2014-11-25T23:01:37","date_gmt":"2014-11-25T23:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metrokids.com\/index.php\/2014\/11\/25\/after-school-how-busy-is-too-busy\/"},"modified":"2014-11-25T23:01:37","modified_gmt":"2014-11-25T23:01:37","slug":"after-school-how-busy-is-too-busy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrokids.com\/after-school-how-busy-is-too-busy\/","title":{"rendered":"After School: How Busy Is Too Busy"},"content":{"rendered":"
Modern multitasking begins early in life. Many of today’s kids are <\/span>overscheduled<\/span>, attending school all day and shuttling from one extracurricular activity to the next after the bell rings. Parents spend their post-work hours car-pooling, struggling to find time to serve a basic family dinner in between sports practice, music lessons, test prep and play rehearsal. Homework takes up the remainder of the evening hours, leaving little time for play or for kids simply to unwind.<\/span><\/p>\n In November’s MetroKids<\/strong>, we asked whether homework is helpful or harmful<\/a>. The same question can be posed in reference to the overscheduling of extras.<\/p>\n What’s behind the compulsion to pile on after-school extracurriculars? “Many parents believe that enrolling their child in a variety of activities provides opportunities for advancement,” says Robin Hinmon, executive director of Brandywine Academic Services<\/a> in Wilmington, DE. “The world we live in is increasingly competitive, and having a diverse re\u0301sume\u0301 is believed to be necessary for acceptance into colleges. Parents want their children to try everything so that they can determine where their gifts may lie.”<\/p>\n Jason and Noel Buchanan of Elk Township, NJ, know this scenario well. Two of their children, 8-year-old Austin and 6- year-old Alexa, are extracurricular poster kids: Both participate in gymnastics, soccer and church activities. Austin also plays baseball; Alexa takes ballet and tap dance and has been learning three different roles to perform in The Nutcracker<\/em> ballet this holiday season.<\/p>\n “We figure while they are young, they should try as many things as possible. As they get older they can narrow down to what they enjoy doing,” says Jason. “Our only caveat was that our kids needed to do something after school. It has been their choice to do so many different things, and if that’s what they want, we are going to make it happen.”<\/p>\n So far, the Buchanan kids are handling their busy schedule well. But how can parents tell if their child is becoming overwhelmed by the academic\/extracurricular balancing act?<\/p>\nWhy so busy?<\/h3>\n
Are they overwhelmed?<\/h3>\n