One of the signs that a child is overscheduled is chronic fatigue. Involvement in numerous extracurricular activities can tire children and teens to the point of exhaustion. In addition to wearing on the child physically, extracurriculars can also disrupt concentration and sleep cycles. If a child is constantly worried about what is on her schedule for the next day, she has trouble falling asleep. Extracurricular activities that run late into the evening further disrupt sleep patterns. If a child is constantly on the go up until bedtime, she does not have the chance to relax and destress at the end of the day. A cycle is created where stress and worry cause lack of sleep, which creates a deficit for the next day and the child becomes even more exhausted.
Children thrive during playtime. This is when their imaginations take over, allowing them to create and daydream. Many parents see unbridled playtime as impractical or a poor use of time. They undervalue creativity and emphasize the importance of specific skills. Children who are scheduled into a steady stream of extracurricular activities are constantly following rules in a structured environment. This causes them to lose their spontaneity and hinders their creativity. Creativity is an important part of many careers, particularly in the high-level jobs parents are aiming their kids toward. By overscheduling, parents are raising children to follow rules and to never question authority, which is counterproductive to the creative process.
Overinvolvement in extracurricular activities creates dependence of the child on the parent. Children never learn time-management skills because a parent is always present to keep them on a tight schedule of appointments. The child never makes decisions about what she wants to do or where she wants to go because her schedule already has been filled with activities. In addition, parents often try to socialize their children so that they are friendly and comfortable with their peers. For the shy or introverted child, this causes stress because being outgoing is contrary to his disposition. Introverted children are energized by being alone with their thoughts, and their energy is depleted by constantly being surrounded by people.
Parents often think that involving their kids in numerous activities is a way to open doors for the future. They think that if their son plays piano and basketball as well as speaking French he will have a better shot down the line with college admissions and in the job market. Parents schedule their children in a variety of activities instead of focusing on their children's strengths and talents. Children feel forced to take part in activities they have no passion for, and their true passion is often pushed to the side or left undeveloped. Parents should encourage their children's talents instead of scheduling activities that will look good on college applications.