So the question we need to ask ourselves now is: How much is too much? And are there activities parents should refuse to let their children participate in, even if ‘everyone else is doing it’?
While there are no definitive right or wrong answers, most experts and children (the real experts on the subject matter at hand) tend to agree that one or two extracurricular activities per school semester are already plenty.
That's why in places there are some sports that are only played in the first semester while others are only played in the second. This is not ‘the law’, of course.
Ultimately, each family must decide what is best for their children. To help you, here are some great ‘rules of thumb’ you can measure your child’s 'extracurricular activity quotient' by.
1. How old is your child? A child who is not old enough to go to school really isn’t ready for structured activities that require anything beyond sharing, getting along and just having fun.
2. How much time do you and your family have together at home now? How much of that time do you feel is a healthy amount to give up, without robbing your family of too much bonding time?
3. How many children are in your family? For example, if you have one child doing 1 or 2 activities, that is completely manageable. But if you have 3 or 4 children all doing 1 or 2 different activities, well, you do the math.
4. Will the activities put a financial burden on the family? Or will other children be forced to go without something they need or want for the sake of a sibling’s activity expenses?
5. Will you, as a parent, be willing and able to support your child’s efforts? Sadly, some parents use activities as extended childcare. Don’t be this parent. While practices are optional, parents should attend all games, meets, concerts, etc. unless there are unavoidable circumstances.
6. Ask your children how they feel about their extracurricular activities. They may think everything looks fun, but are they really enjoying it? Ask these questions too:
Are they getting the physical and emotional benefits these activities are supposed to bring?
Do they want to pursue it or would they rather focus their attention on other things? It is important to emphasize to your children that doing 1 or 2 things really well brings much greater satisfaction than being average or below average at a lot of things.
Finally, try to find a copy of the book The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Pressure and read it aloud with your children. It will bring about more than a few smiles and giggles, but there’s a lot of truth in its pages too.
At the end of the day, remember that each child is unique and develops at his/her own pace. Don't worry too much about his/her extracurricular activities, or the seeming lack of it: He/she will shine when the right time comes!
