Children have many demands on their time. Communities offer multiple opportunities to participate in sports, theater, art, and other enriching programs. Take it from a mom whose children hosted a full calendar, you need foresight before diving into things.

Balance

Keeping a balance in your child’s life is important. If you’re like me, you don’t want your child to miss out on any opportunity. But here’s the thing: if you don’t say no to some of them, your child may burn out.

For example, my daughter excelled in dance, theater, singing, art, soccer, swimming, and volleyball. Plus, she participated in our church’s mid-week program. Often, she would finish one practice and eat a rushed dinner on the way to another practice. We’d review spelling words or math facts in the car.

Basically, I signed her up for everything. This left her so busy that her commitments became more of a chore than a source of joy. Worse, she had little down time. Time to read. Imagine. Or simply unwind and do nothing. Relentless pressure caused her to lose interest in some of the activities she loved most, proving that more is not always better.

Sound familiar? If your child is constantly eating on the run, hustling from one event to the next, or has little time to relax, his life may be out of balance.

How Does This Happen?

We often push our kids into ventures because we fear that if they wait until they are older to participate, they’ll fall too far behind their peers to catch up. There may be some truth to this. As a child, I never tired of activity. By the time I hit high school, I played clarinet, helped run the school newspaper, and participated in volleyball, track, basketball, and softball.

But there are also many examples of people who started late and still excelled.

My sister, for example, didn’t join a competitive swimming team until high school. After learning the ropes the first month, she broke several school records and earned a full scholarship for swimming. Another friend of mine picked up volleyball in college. After a slow freshman year, she earned a starting spot and graduated MVP her senior year.

My point is, don’t let fear control your decision making. If your child needs a break or shows since of chronic stress, it’s okay to trim the number of activities they are involved in. They might even do better focusing only on one skill.

Keep Your Priorities Straight

In the end, deciding what your child participates in comes down to priorities. Before you sign up, pray. Then consider the pros and cons of the activity, its time and financial commitments, and how it will impact family dynamics. Having a calendar with the whole family’s obligations listed may help organize your thoughts. Then, make the choice that benefits your child the best in the long run.

A Fiction Book Series For Athletes

Speaking of sports, do you know a middle grade or high school child who loves sports? Check out Inside the Ten-foot Line, the first book in my MG/YA sports series, releasing September 20, 2022. If you’d like to join my launch team, sign up at linktr.ee/lori_z_scott. I’d love your support. And be sure to sign up to receive updates of each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog. Follow us for new book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

By Lori Z. Scott

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