PARENTING
Too much too young
T 24
independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2023
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ennis, gymnastics, swimming, violin lessons, rugby practice, maths club, even Mandarin. Some children’s lives are so busy that most adults would struggle to keep up. And behind every dizzying schedule is a parent rushing from one activity to the next, tutting at red lights and dishing out snacks in the car. As parents it can sometimes feel like we are failing our children if we don’t sign them up to every available opportunity. So we enrol them in a multitude of classes that promise to develop their talents and bolster their chances of future success in life. And school holidays are no exception, with an endless checklist of enriching activities, intensives and residentials vying for our children’s participation.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK
Are we in danger of over-scheduling our children? Becky Dickinson looks at the benefits of unstructured time