The author states that today, there is growing pressure to engage ever-younger children in a dizzying variety of activities and experiences. Have you experienced this pressure and what role do you think this has in your child's sleep habits?
I have certainly experienced this pressure and my children are still pretty young(7&5). My husband and I made the decision to not enroll our children in sports until they are in kindergarten. Our daughter began playing soccer last fall and then wanted to sign up for TaeKwonDo. In the spring, she wanted to play softball. The couple of months where she was going to TKD and softball just about did us all in! We were all exhausted from having somewhere to go every night with time slots that were often not ideal for an early bedtime! We chose not to enroll her in soccer this year because we didn't want her to be overextended at the beginning of the school year. She continues to take TKD and that takes up alot of time on its own. It's a tough choice to make because alot of parents want their child to be able to compete with their peers whether it be in the area of academics, sports, fine arts, etc...People are concerned that their child will be left behind if they don't allow them the opportunity to participate in a variety of activites. But at what cost to the child? We see so many children at school who are exhausted and unable to focus or unable to use self-control to manage their behavior as a result of living an overbooked fast-paced lifestyle. Whenever I am tempted to enroll one of my children in an after-school activity, I ask myself how this will impact our familiy's schedule and ultimately my children's bedtime. If an activity is going to effect bedtime on a regular basis then we just choose not to participate.
I have definitelt felt the pressure to have my kids participate in everything. HOwever, I think that some of this is becasue of the way I was raised. I took piano lessons, swam year round, did girl scouts, my brother played very sport, every season. So I am used to going constantly. However, my mom did not work. She got all of the housework done while we were at school. SO running us to our activities every afternoon was not a big deal. AT night when it was time for bed, she could sit with me and help me unwind so that I could sleep. Working mothers today don't have that luxury. I work all day and then have to get housework donea and take the kids to their activities. I am exhausted and as we have seen in this book, how we as parents react to our children plays a large role in their behavior. I constantly have to remind myself that I am not superwoman and it's ok to slow down and not do everything! It's not easy!
How true!!!! It does take a lot of energy to still remember that they need to settle down after the busy day, when you are exhausted and just want a little time to still put up those clothes on the bed.
I have certainly experienced this pressure and my children are still pretty young(7&5). My husband and I made the decision to not enroll our children in sports until they are in kindergarten. Our daughter began playing soccer last fall and then wanted to sign up for TaeKwonDo. In the spring, she wanted to play softball. The couple of months where she was going to TKD and softball just about did us all in! We were all exhausted from having somewhere to go every night with time slots that were often not ideal for an early bedtime! We chose not to enroll her in soccer this year because we didn't want her to be overextended at the beginning of the school year. She continues to take TKD and that takes up alot of time on its own. It's a tough choice to make because alot of parents want their child to be able to compete with their peers whether it be in the area of academics, sports, fine arts, etc...People are concerned that their child will be left behind if they don't allow them the opportunity to participate in a variety of activites. But at what cost to the child? We see so many children at school who are exhausted and unable to focus or unable to use self-control to manage their behavior as a result of living an overbooked fast-paced lifestyle. Whenever I am tempted to enroll one of my children in an after-school activity, I ask myself how this will impact our familiy's schedule and ultimately my children's bedtime. If an activity is going to effect bedtime on a regular basis then we just choose not to participate.
ReplyDeleteI have definitelt felt the pressure to have my kids participate in everything. HOwever, I think that some of this is becasue of the way I was raised. I took piano lessons, swam year round, did girl scouts, my brother played very sport, every season. So I am used to going constantly. However, my mom did not work. She got all of the housework done while we were at school. SO running us to our activities every afternoon was not a big deal. AT night when it was time for bed, she could sit with me and help me unwind so that I could sleep. Working mothers today don't have that luxury. I work all day and then have to get housework donea and take the kids to their activities. I am exhausted and as we have seen in this book, how we as parents react to our children plays a large role in their behavior. I constantly have to remind myself that I am not superwoman and it's ok to slow down and not do everything! It's not easy!
ReplyDeleteHow true!!!! It does take a lot of energy to still remember that they need to settle down after the busy day, when you are exhausted and just want a little time to still put up those clothes on the bed.
ReplyDelete