WHY DOWNTIME IS CRUCIAL FOR YOUR CHILD’S SCHEDULE

We all need time to unwind — even kids. With so many school obligations to complete and after-school activities to attend, downtime becomes vital. If you’ve never considered your child’s schedule or are concerned that your kid is overscheduled, it’s time to think about downtime.

Learn why downtime is crucial for your child’s schedule below, along with how to identify an overscheduled child and ways to add downtime into their routine.

Is Your Child Overscheduled?

When it comes to busy schedules, adults aren’t the only ones with too much to do. An overscheduled child is involved in plenty of clubs, sports and activities. From the second their school day begins to the end of the day, overscheduled kids are regularly doing something. Involving your kid in multiple extracurricular activities is done with the best intentions. But sometimes, you could be putting too much on their plate. Constant practices, games, competitions, studying, homework and family obligations pack a schedule and leave no room for downtime.

Still not sure if this applies to your child? An overscheduled child could experience these effects:

• Overly organized schedules:If your child has a strict calendar or daily schedule to adhere to, they could be overscheduled. You may find yourself rushing your child from one activity to the next or setting reminders to go to practices and meetings.
• Poor sleeping habits: Kids with busy schedules may not sleep well. Whether they’re missing out on sleep by trying to get everything done or losing sleep due to stress, it could be a sign of a stressful schedule.
• Poor school performance:Children who do too much outside of school may not have time to dedicate to their studies. They may be too stressed due to a lack of downtime to concentrate in class or on their studies.

Having too much to do doesn’t just impact teenagers or older kids, either. Parents of overscheduled toddlers may try to perform excessive learning activities in one day instead of letting their young children play.

Importance of Downtime for Your Child

Downtime is simply time to relax. It’s a time when your child doesn’t have to be anywhere or do anything. An overscheduled child will have fewer moments for downtime, which can be detrimental in many ways. Their physical and mental health may suffer, as can their social and school lives. The importance of downtime for your child includes its ability to help:

• Improve sleep:Sleep, in a way, is a form of downtime. And when kids have time to relax, it can calm their minds to help them fall asleep later in the day. They won’t have to stay up to get assignments done due to an overloaded schedule. And they won’t stay up late to get in relaxation and downtime they missed out on earlier.
• Improve school performance:With more relaxation and less stress comes the chance to do better in school. Kids can navigate a freed-up schedule to accommodate for homework and study time. They may also concentrate better in school if they’re not tired or stressed.
• Give time for family and friends: When kids have downtime, they get the chance to socialize with friends or family. That’ll contribute toward improving social skills and reducing stress. They’ll learn skills like cooperation, problem-solving, patience, and different ways of interacting with others.
• Teach kids to prioritize their time: Getting to relax teaches your child to value their time, even their downtime. They’ll prioritize their schedules to include relaxation time and experience less burnout. Kids can also learn not to say yes to every activity, club, or event. They will recognize that their time is valuable, even the time they spend relaxing.
• Inspire creativity and free play: Unstructured play involves no schedule or guidelines for what a kid should do. If kids play during their downtime, they’ll use their creativity and imaginations. It can also improve their problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Provide physical activity: Physical activity during downtime can reinforce some of the above benefits. It can reduce stress and help kids’ sleep schedules. Kids could also experience an improved mood when they exercise.

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