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May.
2005 |
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Slow
down, are your kids moving too fast?
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Overscheduling
can lead to cranky, tired kids
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Soccer moms (and dads) got plenty of press in recent presidential
elections as a growing segment of the population to be
courted by politicians. Lately, however, these parents
are getting attention for what they do: chauffeuring their
kids to a well-scheduled series of after-school activities
that include not only soccer practices and games, but
also scout meetings, dance and piano lessons, and classes
in everything from drama to gymnastics.
This growth of extracurricular activities among school-age
children, and parents who sometimes micromanage childhood
is a phenomenon that’s spawned episodes on daytime
talk shows like “Dr. Phil,” and led to books
with such titles as “Hyper-Parenting: Are you Hurting
Your Child by Trying too Hard?”
Schedules, of course, are a part of life — especially
for children.
What parent doesn’t learn early on the benefits
of giving kids a set bedtime, regular family meal times,
and an hour or so to “decompress” after school
each day? So where’s the harm in adding Little League
practice and a weekly art class to the agenda?
Full
story... |
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