Children who are overscheduled are not the only ones affected. It usually affects the entire family. Families who are at odds with each other, constantly feeling stressed and drained are indications that things are out of balance.

Also check out... Play It Safe: Sports Activity Musts Extracurricular Activities: When to Say... Overweight Children Need After School... Balancing Youth Sports and Family Life

Over scheduling one child is bad enough but when you have more than one child, the family can find themselves caught in a whirlwind of activity that sucks every ounce of energy and joy from within. If your family is not able to enjoy each other, then you might want to look at cutting out some activities from your children's routines.

Does Your Child Get Enough Downtime?

Downtime is important. Bodies need to work but they also need to rest. Without proper rest, they can begin to break down. If your child is constantly sick or complains of frequent headaches or stomach aches, they may be taking on too much.

Kids need time to just be kids. They need time to play, to rest and to socialize. If they never have time to just sit and do nothing, to hang out with friends or play at the park they are missing out on the joy of being a kid.

It's important that we don't try to make mini adults. Children only have a limited number of years to enjoy being a kid. The day will come soon enough when they will have the responsibilities that adults do. While they are young, let them enjoy it.