This Common Habit Can 'Backfire' in Families
The common habit in question? Overscheduling."We get it, parents want to give kids every opportunity—but overscheduling can backfire," Gallant tells Parade. "Kids need downtime for healthy brain development. When every afternoon and weekend is filled, their stress hormones spike, sleep suffers and behavior struggles follow." Instead, parents and grandparents may want to embrace giving kids and grandkids more unstructured time to just "be.""Free play is not 'wasted time,'" she explains. "It’s when creativity, problem-solving and self-regulation actually build."Related: The Genius Trick for Easier Mornings With Kids: ‘It Changes Everything’
"A busy family: Lots going on, but kids still have unstructured time to rest and reset.An overscheduled family: No breathing room. Every moment is structured, and kids (and parents!) feel like they’re sprinting through life without recovery."
She adds, "Busy can be joyful. Overscheduled leads to burnout."
How To Avoid Overscheduling
It might feel impossible, but there are ways to avoid overscheduling within your family dynamic. Gallant suggests the following helpful tips:
"Start with one activity per child per season.Look at your whole family calendar, do you still have regular family dinners? Nights at home? Lazy Saturday mornings? Protect those like gold.Remember: kids don’t need to try everything at once. Childhood is long."A post shared by Toddler Experts (@biglittlefeelings)
Related: 4 Phrases Parents and Grandparents Should Avoid Using Right After School—and Why
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Courtesy Alex Stone Photography
Kristin Gallant, parent coach with “Big Little Feelings.” With a background in international affairs and a concentration in maternal and child education, Kristin is a vocal mental health advocate whose mom-of-three realness shows you how to make that expert advice work in your home.Hence then, the article about this common habit can backfire in families parenting expert warns was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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