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Nov. 30, 2007
Your children need free time
Extracurricular programs should enrich your kids' lives, not stress them out.
ADAM GELMON
Every year around this time, when the trees are shedding the last of their green, I tend to get a little nostalgic. When we were little, my younger brother, Michael, and I would spend hours – inspired by Halloween – converting our basement into an elaborate haunted house filled with all of the horrible gruesomeness that our young brains could conjure up. We'd relish in our ingenuity as we cooked up bigger and better ways to scare our parents if they dared to walk through our haunted landscape. Luckily for us, our parents did dare to enter our house of horrors and, more importantly, they made sure to do their best to act terrified, even if they caught a glimpse of some poorly hidden fishing line, or if the tape recorder that played our ghoulish sounds malfunctioned.
Years later, Michael and I still laugh just as hard when we talk about the time one of our stunts didn't go quite as planned and a healthy stack of encyclopedias fell from the rafters, hitting our little brother squarely on the head, rather than falling safely beside him as intended. (We did many test runs before asking Mom to walk through.)
The day after my brother and I recently recounted this story to a group of family and friends, CBC Radio's The Current broadcasted a fascinating program on the state of childhood imagination today. The program began by quoting child advocates, psychologists and educators who warned, "that the centrepiece of childhood – imagination – is under siege."
The usual suspects of imagination wreckers were put on the stand. TV, video games and movies were tried and convicted on many counts of depleting the imagination and creativity of the minds of children. I often tell my own students that TV and movies force you to see things one way, but when you read a book, you get to control how things look. So, while I do agree that too much electronic entertainment can be harmful, I also believe that kids can gain positively from electronic media that is age and level appropriate and that is taken in measured doses. Today, however, my finger points at a different type of programming.
The availability and variety of extracurricular programs for children is remarkable. Community centres, private clubs and youth athletic associations are just a few of the organizations that offer fun and enriching programs to suit all tastes and abilities. Extracurricular programs can play a large role in a child's social, emotional and physical development. Whether it be on the soccer pitch or in the dojo, extracurricular activities can help kids lead happier and healthier lives through learning teamwork, responsibility and commitment, as well as providing opportunities to forge lifelong friendships and happy memories.
With such a wide range of programs available, the tricky part is striking a healthy balance in your children's schedules to allow them time and energy for academics, after-school programs, family activities and the all-important, but oft-neglected time to just relax and recharge their batteries. A lack of regular unscheduled time can be detrimental to kids (and adults) and can lead to difficulties in other parts of their lives.
Late-night or early morning extracurricular programs can be tricky for kids and their parents to navigate. A 5:30 a.m. hockey practice often leads to a 2 p.m. nap – usually right in the middle of sixth period. If late nights or early mornings are inevitable during the week, it's important that your child's schedule returns to normal as soon as possible. Sleep deficits add up quickly and can be harmful to a young and growing body that should be getting at least nine or 10 hours of quality sleep per night. Even one night without a full rest can cause shifts in moods, negatively affect classroom performance and weaken your child's immune system.
When it comes to figuring out how many activities per week is optimal for your children, it's important to consider what else is going on in their lives. If homework loads or other academic commitments are heavier than last year, it's best to be conservative with the number of programs in which your children are enrolled, until they get used to their new schedules.
Parents also need to consider the stresses that extracurricular programs can sometimes place on the whole family. Getting your kids prepped and shuttled around town is not an easy feat. When every evening is spent suiting up the troops, packing the minivan and racing around town, the level of stress can be overwhelming for both you and your children. Extracurricular activities should enrich your kids' lives, making them happier and healthier people. These positive effects should trickle into all other parts of their lives and should not be a regular source of negative stress on them or the rest of the family.
It really comes down to finding a happy medium, so that your children can have the time and energy to be kids. A healthy schedule should allow for academics, daily exercise, a well-rounded social life and time for your kids to pursue their hobbies. All of these facets should complement, rather than infringe upon one another. In addition to all of their commitments, make sure that they have enough time to play, draw and relax with some good books ... or, as in my case, accidentally drop them on unsuspecting little brothers.
Adam Gelmon is a teacher at Vancouver Talmud Torah school who is currently completing his master's degree in education. He can be reached at [email protected].
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