The Children Who Are Overloaded With Activities

In this time and age, many children are overloaded with leisure activities. While most of their overprotective parents think well and are convinced that they are doing the best for their children, they do not realize the harm it does to their offspring.

An overload of activities usually does not even match the child’s interests and preferences. But instead it has to do with the parents’ inability to spend some of their free time with the children after the school day is over.

In other cases, it is also about the obsessive desire that some parents have for the children to “be competitive” and “have the best opportunities”.  While this is a good wish, it is what such authoritarian parents are not aware of, that they put a lot of stress and pressure on their little ones.

Furthermore, they take away children’s right to play freely. By overloading them with recreational activities, f rarøver the them practically from childhood freedom. It may sound exaggerated, but it is the world’s way and it must be said.

A schedule overloaded with activities

Congestion of children begins with leisure activities. Children go to regular school, do homework and then have to adhere to a busy schedule that also includes sports activities, as well as learning instruments, language, art and activities on the computer, just to name a few.

What’s worse is that – for the most part – not even the children are interested in such pursuits, but the parents just do not listen to them. In some sad cases, children may not even know what they really want, because they are so used to their parents forcing them to do things.

This overload of activities extends to the weekends in many cases, and there is simply no free time to play what they want to play with other children (of your choice). In general, they have to participate in presentations and competitions on those days because they are part of the leisure activities.

Then the holiday season is also filled up. During this time, many children participate in all kinds of summer camps, which are known for their extensive activity program. Then they also participate in cultural events and presentations dedicated to children.

Children often like a lot of what they do, but the rigid organization of their activities gives them little room to interact spontaneously with other children. This makes it more difficult to be spontaneous and to play freely.

Without free play, there is no childhood

We are not trying to say anything bad about leisure activities here. The thing is, though, that children do not have time for everything.

In the meantime, free and spontaneous play with other children is crucial for their development. However, the desire that parents have to fill their children’s free time often leaves them with less and less time to play.

Here we are talking about the spontaneous play that does not have a didactic, competitive or specific educational purpose. This is where they – not adults – define the rules. This is not just fundamental to the healthy growth of children. It is the perfect formula for socializing, learning to deal with emotions, stimulating creativity, improving self-esteem and de-stressing.

Children need to play for the toy itself, not for special learning purposes. This learning comes as standard as children are constantly learning.

However, the time a child spends playing freely with other children becomes less frequent – especially in urban areas. This includes neighborhoods without recreational areas or places where children are trapped in their homes while both parents work.

Children today are faced with something that their parents and grandparents probably did not do, and that is what affects the development of social skills. Young children need to play with older children because it promotes their brain development. Everyone also needs to play outdoors to create and share without their parents imposing anything on them.

Overloaded with activities: Remove the load

Parents try to fill their children’s days because they most likely have no other choice or want to do it “for the child’s best.” However, it is still possible to keep children busy without filling in the schedule.

Here are some tips to help you do just that:

• Keep the child’s interests and temperament in mind. If you need to fill their free time, you can do so with activities they enjoy and with which they can easily integrate. Skip all activities that strengthen school content, because that’s what school is for.
• Do not overload your agenda. Children need plenty of time to do homework, relax, spend time with family and opportunities to talk. They also need opportunities to get bored. The child must be free from leisure activities for at least two days per week.
• If they do not like an activity, do not force them to do it. There must be a balance between encouraging them to keep going and knowing when to take a step back. Before you commit to a particular activity, let them try it for a few sessions first. A child should like to spend his time on it.

• Do not become a source of stress for your child. If they show symptoms of fatigue, insomnia or general distress, they may not be able to continue. You need to give them the space they need to just relax and do nothing if they so wish.
• Organize play meetings. Help your children find opportunities to meet other children just for play purposes. You do not need a lot of planning, it’s just about promoting time with other children so that they freely decide how and what to do.

Playing is as important as breathing and eating

Spontaneous play is just as important for children as breathing and eating. It is the key that opens the doors to their relationship with the world around them.

The organization of leisure activities is mainly in accordance with the parents’ interests and needs. Instead, it must be about the child. Their plan must allow for them to play just to enjoy the pleasure of playing.

Children who are overwhelmed with activities are not happy and do not thrive. Stop torturing your children with your high expectations of their success.