Comments on: Scheduled Families http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/ mom blog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:07:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Beth http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-101 Beth Fri, 23 May 2008 13:49:16 +0000 http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-101 Hi - I have you bookmarked so was back for another browse around, I really enjoy your writing! I've always wondered who these over-scheduled kids were myself, maybe we'll see them in high school but they love this stuff now! I'm always a little torn in the summer when I'm not teaching (but have other sporadic professional activities) about taking my kids to school/daycare. Fact is we have to pay if they are there or not and I can get more done and be a sane person when they are there. Why not let them be in a place where someone is providing educational and fun activities, they have peers to play with, they eat all their vegetables, and they get in a solid nap? I did the stay at home mom thing for about 9 months and though it wasn't the disaster I thought it might be I can't say I was great at it either. As my oldest heads toward kindergarten we will have a two week "summer vacation" when he stops attending his daycare/pre-achool and is home with me (not to mention the many family vacations we have prior to that.) The question will then be do I keep baby home that whole time too while we continue to pay tuition for her? Probably will do a little of both. Son and I can have some older kid activities on our own (like a decadent matinee of a kids movie), while she gets in a good nap and learns new skills interacting with her friends. Hi - I have you bookmarked so was back for another browse around, I really enjoy your writing! I’ve always wondered who these over-scheduled kids were myself, maybe we’ll see them in high school but they love this stuff now!

I’m always a little torn in the summer when I’m not teaching (but have other sporadic professional activities) about taking my kids to school/daycare. Fact is we have to pay if they are there or not and I can get more done and be a sane person when they are there. Why not let them be in a place where someone is providing educational and fun activities, they have peers to play with, they eat all their vegetables, and they get in a solid nap? I did the stay at home mom thing for about 9 months and though it wasn’t the disaster I thought it might be I can’t say I was great at it either. As my oldest heads toward kindergarten we will have a two week “summer vacation” when he stops attending his daycare/pre-achool and is home with me (not to mention the many family vacations we have prior to that.) The question will then be do I keep baby home that whole time too while we continue to pay tuition for her? Probably will do a little of both. Son and I can have some older kid activities on our own (like a decadent matinee of a kids movie), while she gets in a good nap and learns new skills interacting with her friends.

]]> By: Lis Garrett http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-66 Lis Garrett Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:36:28 +0000 http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-66 I recently wrote a post about over-scheduled kids. I don't think one activity a day is too much. I think "over-scheduled" is when the kids are no longer happy, or they are exhuasted and cranky from being shuffled from one activity to the next. I see it mostly in older children (kids my two older children go with) who are in school all day and then have activities until 5 or 6 at night. To me, that's too much, especially when you have to factor in homework. I absolutely took advantage of library story hour, gymnastics, and swim lessons when my kids were younger and, your're right - moms need the break, too! I recently wrote a post about over-scheduled kids. I don’t think one activity a day is too much. I think “over-scheduled” is when the kids are no longer happy, or they are exhuasted and cranky from being shuffled from one activity to the next. I see it mostly in older children (kids my two older children go with) who are in school all day and then have activities until 5 or 6 at night. To me, that’s too much, especially when you have to factor in homework.

I absolutely took advantage of library story hour, gymnastics, and swim lessons when my kids were younger and, your’re right - moms need the break, too!

]]> By: the mama bird diaries http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-61 the mama bird diaries Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:21:51 +0000 http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-61 Thank the heavens for kids' activities!!! My 3 1/2 year-old has so much play time that she doesn't know what to do with herself. She loves preschool and other activities. And I love it too. Makes me a much better mum if I can have a little downtime during the day to watch, observe and rest. Yes, kids need to play. But they also need to learn, experience, be challenged, try new things, yada, yada, yada. You speak the truth! Thank the heavens for kids’ activities!!!

My 3 1/2 year-old has so much play time that she doesn’t know what to do with herself. She loves preschool and other activities. And I love it too. Makes me a much better mum if I can have a little downtime during the day to watch, observe and rest.

Yes, kids need to play. But they also need to learn, experience, be challenged, try new things, yada, yada, yada.

You speak the truth!

]]> By: Elle Bee http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-59 Elle Bee Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:59:49 +0000 http://sleepybreeze.com/2008/03/10/scheduled-families/#comment-59 Hi Breeze. Thanks for stopping by my blog (I'm really enjoying the Ultimate Blog Party). I think you hit the nail on the head. There's a big difference between "scheduled" and "over-scheduled". As a type-A mom of three boys, I'm all about schedules. :grin: Over-scheduling can be prevented. If it's not longer fun, fulfilling or productive and it causes nothing but headaches, perhaps it's time to cross it off the list. We have a pretty busy schedule, although it's seasonal. Son #1 and Son #2 are in Boy Scouts - they get a lot out of that (comaraderie, service projects, and they learn a lot). Son #2 and Son #3 play baseball (teamwork, good sportsmanship, physical fitness). I'm unashamed to admit that baseball allows me a couple of hours of fresh air and time to read a book, knit, chat with other adults... :oops: Free play is very important, too, but the fact is, it's a very different world from when I was growing up. We'd hop on our bikes in the morning, were told to be home by dark and that was pretty much it. I'm enjoying your blog and will visit again. Please stop by mine from time to time. Hi Breeze. Thanks for stopping by my blog (I’m really enjoying the Ultimate Blog Party). I think you hit the nail on the head. There’s a big difference between “scheduled” and “over-scheduled”. As a type-A mom of three boys, I’m all about schedules. :grin:

Over-scheduling can be prevented. If it’s not longer fun, fulfilling or productive and it causes nothing but headaches, perhaps it’s time to cross it off the list.

We have a pretty busy schedule, although it’s seasonal. Son #1 and Son #2 are in Boy Scouts - they get a lot out of that (comaraderie, service projects, and they learn a lot). Son #2 and Son #3 play baseball (teamwork, good sportsmanship, physical fitness). I’m unashamed to admit that baseball allows me a couple of hours of fresh air and time to read a book, knit, chat with other adults… :oops:

Free play is very important, too, but the fact is, it’s a very different world from when I was growing up. We’d hop on our bikes in the morning, were told to be home by dark and that was pretty much it.

I’m enjoying your blog and will visit again. Please stop by mine from time to time.

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