Are we Over-Scheduling our kids?

The world is so competitive for kids these days. The competition is not amongst the kids, rather I feel the competition amongst mothers. How many activities does your child goes to after school depicts whether you are a concerned mother? Does it really?

Well I got into the race as well. Madly I was searching on internet for the activities my kids should join. Asking all the parents in school about different activities available in my area. I think that’s how mothers go mad about their first child. I was under immense pressure that my child should not be left out from any opportunity. Being a good mother it is my duty to provide all the opportunities to my child.

So a mother of a friend of my daughter suggested for Taekwondo classes. A mother in me thinks self-defence is very important for girl child. So I enrolled her for the same. Then living in a country surrounded by water it’s important for the child to learn to swim. Then my daughter loves to dance so I should be looking for dance classes. And how can I forget that we are residing out of my home country so the child should be learning my own language. So we must enrol for language classes. Was I missing the academic aspect in my child’s life? It is extremely important for my child to get into selective school. So a mother suggested that my child must join a coaching centre for that as her foundation needs to be strong. So I rushed to enquire about that. Also in my country of residence if the child plays good netball the child hold chances of getting into a good high school under sports category. Hmmm …did I get to breathe after all this? And what about my little child who is just 6?

My daughter goes to school. She gets homework. She gets extremely tired after school so needs rest. As suggested by doctors a 6 year old must take minimum 10-12 hours of sleep per day. But since she needs to go for an activity which a ‘good mother’ has decided for her she can’t sleep for long and must wake up. We rush for the activity. My daughter is cranky but somehow we manage to reach on time. After the activity we must finish the homework because we can’t afford to neglect academics at the expense of leisure activities. But was it really a leisure activity for my child. Did it actually relaxed her? The whole week goes off like that and during the weekend she has language classes.

But is this forced routine doing any good to my child. STOP is the reaction from my heart. Stop listening to your brain and listen to your heart. Heart that’s more sensitive towards a 6 year old child. My child had no time to be a child. All day she is busy in the rat race to follow. But will this make my child a leader? ‘No’ was the answer. I stopped going mad about activities. My child should follow her instincts. I have no authority to snatch her childhood. I left her to herself. She has more time to explore her creativity. She loves dressing up. She loves to wear my dresses and make new fashion styles by clubbing her creativity in it. She loves to do pretend play. She likes going on swings. She is less cranky and willingly wants to go to swings where she can meet new kids and make friends. She is learning to socialise. She loves to swim. Without being cranky she finishes her homework so that we can go for swimming. She is developing swimming as a part of her daily routine.This is because she wants to do it.

Let the children be themselves. Unless children explores things themselves, the children never get to know their interest area. As parents we need to keep the world open to them instead of giving them limited horizon. The activities we choose for them should be based upon their interest area and age suitability. Overburdening a child with list of activities doesn’t help. Research reports say that kids play longer and more creatively without toys. Let the kids explore the hidden scientist, an artist, a designer in them. That’s how the child becomes successful.It is more important to make a good human being rather than a money earning machine. A child who knows herself better will always succeed in life. Let them find their own path instead of leading them all the time.

That’s how leaders are born. Make your child a leader and not a follower.