The importance of life balance for kids

These days, both parents and kids can feel pressure to participate in a variety of activities. The goal of having a well-rounded college application that includes sports, academics, volunteering and work often takes priority over free time and rest.

While participating in multiple activities can enrich your child's life, it can also make them feel stressed and pressured in an unhealthy way. It is possible for a child to be too busy. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure your child achieves a healthy balance. Help your child manage their schoolwork and activities while still having much needed downtime by following these steps.

Let your child choose their activities

"It's important for parents to let kids have some say in what they are doing," says  Alice Ann Holland, Ph.D., ABPP, a board certified clinical neuropsychologist and the Research Director of the Neuropsychology Service at Children's Health℠. "Don't force your child to stay involved in activities that they've given a fair shot, but clearly don't enjoy. Even if your child used to enjoy a particular activity, if they've lost interest or have started to feel more frustration than joy, don't force them to stick with it. Talk with your child about what is important to them."

Dr. Holland says you can ask your child which activities they want to participate in each year, so they can choose the ones they find fun. If your child enjoys their activities, they will foster relaxation and reduce stress, which is the ultimate goal of extracurricular activities.

Set realistic expectations

Sometimes parents get overexcited if their child shows talent in an activity. Parents may start to believe that this talent is going to be the key to paying for college or having a successful career. Dr. Holland advises parents to keep in mind that most children do not receive talent-based scholarships and even fewer will become professional athletes or musicians.

"It's important not to burden children with expectations," says Dr. Holland. "If they are playing sports or an instrument and are good at it – great. But don't set that expectation that they have to work to achieve incredible things. The added pressure and burden can take away the relaxation and stress reduction."

Why is free time important?

Everyone, including kids, needs time to relax and recharge. When looking at your child's schedule, be sure they have time to have fun and be themselves every day.

For children, free time is about more than relaxing. It's also a time where they pick up new information about the world.

"Lots of learning happens during free time,” says Dr. Holland. "If it's free time and they play with friends, they are learning how to navigate social situations, how to be leaders, how to be cooperative followers, how to share, and how to navigate conflicts."

Dr. Holland says it's not just free time spent with others that gives children an opportunity to learn; they learn a lot playing and exploring on their own, too.

"Children need time to be creative, to explore nature, to learn more about the world around them," says Dr. Holland. "It's easy to look at a kid digging a hole in the backyard and say there’s no learning going on there, but there is – everything from cause-and-effect learning to literally unearthing new knowledge about the world."

By helping your child balance schoolwork and activities with daily free time, you give their minds the opportunity to grow and learn in a healthy way.