{"id":2076255,"date":"2023-10-23T08:16:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T12:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/to-keep-your-kids-mentally-strong-stop-the-overscheduling-and-let-them-play\/"},"modified":"2023-10-23T08:21:45","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T12:21:45","slug":"to-keep-your-kids-mentally-strong-stop-the-overscheduling-and-let-them-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/to-keep-your-kids-mentally-strong-stop-the-overscheduling-and-let-them-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Let your kids play and avoid overscheduling for their mental strength."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fto-keep-your-kids-mentally-strong-stop-the-overscheduling-and-let-them-play%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2076255&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Impact of \u200cOverscheduling on Children&#8217;s Mental Health<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/megyn-kelly-sends-warning-to-heads-of-schools-shoving-critical-race-theory-down-the-throats-of-their-students\/\" title=\"Megyn Kelly Sends Warning To Heads Of Schools Shoving \u2018Critical Race Theory Down The Throats Of Their Students\u2019\">article published earlier<\/a> this year in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeds.com\/article\/S0022-3476(23)00111-7\/fulltext#secsectitle0010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Journal of Pediatrics<\/em><\/a>  explores the effects \u200dof overscheduling on\u2064 children\u2064 and their \u200bmental well-being. The researchers investigate the\u2063 connection between the rise in \u200bmental\u200b disorders among children and the decrease in \u200cfree and unstructured time available to \u2064them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Our current culture \u200dhas witnessed \u200ba <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2020\/05\/28\/one-in-three-americans-now-show-signs-of-clinical-anxiety-or-depression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dramatic increase\u2064 in anxiety and depression<\/a>, affecting not only adults but \u200calso children and\u2063 young\u200b teens. According\u200c to the\u200b article, this rise in mental \u200ddisorders can be attributed to the decline \u2063in\u200b opportunities\u2064 for children\u2064 to engage in independent activities without constant \u2064adult supervision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1051787267\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d934f8edc39feee9739cfac134463da6 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-d934f8edc39feee9739cfac134463da6\"><\/div>\n<p>The researchers argue that self-directed activities play a\u2064 crucial role in promoting mental well-being. These activities not only provide \u2063immediate satisfaction but also\u200b build\u200b mental \u2064characteristics that\u2062 help \u200cindividuals effectively\u2062 cope with life&#8217;s stresses. Reflecting on our own \u200dchildhood experiences, we can recognize \u2062the truth in\u2062 this claim. Moments of independent problem-solving and decision-making often shape us\u2064 the most.<\/p>\n<p>While society \u2063celebrates the \u2064decline in teen \u200dpregnancy and traffic\u200b fatalities, we have overlooked \u2063the consequences of depriving\u2064 children of unstructured and unsupervised time away \u200dfrom adults. This lack of independence and \u200bself-determination \u200bcontributes to the development of\u2063 mental disorders, as noted \u2063by researchers.<\/p>\n<p>Overscheduling is one of the main culprits responsible \u200cfor eradicating \u2063children&#8217;s free time. In suburban neighborhoods, it is not uncommon for three-year-olds to participate in multiple activities, in addition\u200d to attending preschool or daycare. \u2064Children are expected to engage in more activities at\u200b younger \u2064ages,\u2062 from sports to music lessons and various classes.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sports: Adult-Led, Not Self-Directed<\/h2>\n<p>Many adults\u200d believe that sports are \u2062a healthy physical \u2064activity for kids, \u200bassuming that more is \u2063better. However, it \u200dis important\u200b to recognize that sports are adult-supervised and \u2063directed. Children do not\u200b have the autonomy to\u2062 negotiate\u200b rules among themselves; instead, they are expected to \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/to-keep-your-kids-mentally-strong-stop-the-overscheduling-and-let-them-play\/\" title=\"Let your kids play and avoid overscheduling for their mental strength.\">follow predetermined \u2063rules set<\/a> by adults.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-60b9d2117e587f5ebb2580645eacd0e0 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-60b9d2117e587f5ebb2580645eacd0e0\"><\/div>\n<p>While sports can teach valuable life skills such as discipline and\u2063 teamwork,\u2062 they do not provide the opportunity \u2062for developing the mental characteristics \u200bthat \u2064promote happiness \u2062and\u200c resilience. To raise independent and self-directed adults, we must allow our children to experience\u2062 true independence and self-direction. Unfortunately, children\u2062 are increasingly \u200bpushed towards organized sports and structured activities at younger\u200c ages. But\u200b why?<\/p>\n<p>In \u2064a society with\u200b a declining birthrate, there is less widespread understanding of children&#8217;s needs and how they thrive. While it used to be considered inhumane to say &#8220;children should be seen, not heard,&#8221; we \u200bnow\u2064 live in a society that often acts \u200bas though children\u2062 should be neither seen nor heard.<\/p>\n<p>Many parents struggle to handle their children&#8217;s seemingly boundless energy. After \u2064a long school\u2064 day, children can come \u2062home\u200d bursting with noise and physical activity. Sports \u200dmay seem like a way to channel that energy and avoid the challenges of having energetic children at home. Unfortunately, this has led some parents to schedule activities for almost \u200ball non-school\u2064 hours. In \u200csuch a tightly\u200c packed\u200b schedule, children \u2062have no time for independent\u2064 activities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-581713e76df32a44bf2bb61c05ac3edf fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-581713e76df32a44bf2bb61c05ac3edf\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fostering\u2064 Independence Opportunities<\/h2>\n<p>Does this mean we should\u2063 neglect children and leave\u200b them \u200bunsupervised?\u2064 The alternative to overscheduling and\u2064 the resulting mental disorders is\u200d not\u2062 laziness \u200bas a parent. \u200dA growing movement of parents\u200c recognizes the importance of directing and overseeing their\u2062 children&#8217;s health and \u200bsafety while providing real opportunities for independence.<\/p>\n<p>Lenore Skenazy, known as &#8220;the world&#8217;s worst \u2064mother,&#8221; advocates \u2064for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freerangekids.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free-range parenting<\/a> and allowing children\u2062 to engage in self-directed activities. She emphasizes the benefits of facing our\u2062 fears and\u2062 finding ways for children to exercise independence. Similarly, Ginny Yurich started <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1000hoursoutside.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1000 Hours Outside<\/a> to encourage parents to prioritize unstructured outdoor time for their children, away from screens \u200dand structured activities.<\/p>\n<p>Spending several hours outside each day may seem unconventional, but it is achievable\u2064 and provides a solid \u200cfoundation for independent and unstructured activities. By instilling\u2063 outdoor habits\u2062 in \u2062our daily lives, \u200bwe\u2063 can protect \u2062our\u2063 children&#8217;s\u200c mental \u200band physical well-being.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-66043c55cb1186558f370603bafd7e17 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-66043c55cb1186558f370603bafd7e17\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What can\u200c parents, \u2063educators, and society do\u2062 to\u2063 prioritize\u2064 and promote unstructured and self-directed play for children&#8217;s mental well-being<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Al \u200cactivity, leaving parents exhausted and yearning for \u2062some peace and\u200c quiet. In an attempt to keep their children\u2064 occupied\u2063 and quiet, parents \u200benroll them in\u2064 various activities, from soccer practice to ballet lessons. However, this constant \u2062scheduling leaves little room for children to engage\u2062 in self-directed and unstructured play, which \u200bis \u200cessential for their mental well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Unstructured \u2063play, where children are \u2063free to explore, make decisions, and create their \u2064own games, \u2064allows them to\u200c develop important cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Through self-directed play, children learn to problem-solve, think critically, \u200band \u200bregulate their \u2063emotions. They also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utahs-republican-governor-vows-to-veto-bill-protecting-womens-sports\/\" title=\"Utah\u2019s Republican Governor Vows To Veto Bill Protecting Women\u2019s Sports\">learn important life skills<\/a>, such as\u2062 negotiation, cooperation, and communication. Research has shown that children who engage in unstructured play \u200bhave higher levels of creativity, resilience, \u200cand self-confidence.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, \u2062unstructured play\u2064 provides children with an opportunity to \u2062relax \u2063and recharge.\u2064 Free \u200cfrom\u2063 adult supervision\u2063 and expectations, children can relax and unwind, reducing stress and anxiety. They have the chance to engage\u2062 in activities that bring them joy and allow them \u2062to\u2062 express themselves \u2064freely. This downtime is \u200bcrucial for\u2062 mental health, as it allows\u2064 children to rejuvenate and \u200ddevelop a\u200d sense of well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Overscheduling \u200bnot only limits \u200cchildren&#8217;s free\u200c time \u200bbut \u2062also \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-everything-wrong-with-new-mexicos-incredibly-dangerous-new-election-law\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s Everything Wrong With New Mexico\u2019s Incredibly Dangerous New Election Law\">puts undue pressure<\/a> on them. Many children today are overwhelmed by\u2062 the demands\u200c of school, extracurricular activities, and homework.\u2062 They are constantly rushing from\u2062 one activity to\u2062 another, with no\u200c time\u200b to pause, reflect, and relax. This constant busyness can lead \u2063to burnout,\u2063 stress, and\u2064 a decreased \u200csense of happiness \u2062and fulfillment.<\/p>\n<p>It is important for parents, educators, and society as a \u2062whole to recognize the \u2062importance of unstructured and self-directed play for children&#8217;s mental health. We need to create opportunities for children \u2064to\u2063 engage \u200din\u200c unstructured \u200dplay, whether \u2062it be through designated free play time at home or in school, or through community programs that encourage creativity and exploration.<\/p>\n<p>As a society, we must prioritize the\u2064 mental\u200b well-being of our children. We \u200dneed to create a balance \u2063between\u200b structured activities and unstructured \u200cplay, \u2062allowing children to\u200d develop the \u200dskills and resilience necessary to navigate \u2063life&#8217;s challenges. By \u200bembracing unstructured play, we can support children&#8217;s\u2064 mental health and create a healthier, happier future for them.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, overscheduling has a detrimental impact on children&#8217;s mental health. The decline in unstructured and self-directed playtime has \u2064contributed to the \u2063rise\u200c in mental disorders among children. It\u200d is crucial\u200d for parents, educators, and society to recognize the importance of unstructured play in\u2062 promoting children&#8217;s mental well-being and to provide opportunities for \u2064children to engage in self-directed activities.\u2062 By doing \u2062so, we can \u2064help children develop crucial life skills, reduce\u200c stress and anxiety, \u2063and create \u2062a healthier and happier generation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics explores the impact of overscheduling on kids. Researchers investigated the potential connection between the rise in children&#8217;s mental disorders and the decline in their free and unstructured time. Our society has witnessed a significant surge in anxiety and depression cases, highlighting the need for further examination.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1752,"featured_media":2076256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2076255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2076255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1752"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2076255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2076255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2076256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2076255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2076255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2076255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}