Parenting

Don’t Over Schedule Challenge 5

At least two months out of the year, we take a break from activities.

 

Why

Why not?! There are so many reasons to take breaks from extra curricular activities:

• financial break
• more time to relax/catch-up on house stuff/be together as a family
• sanity break (which I know will only get worse as we have more children involved in more activities)
• sends a good message to your kids

There are so many families who are way over scheduled! I am going to try very hard not to be one of those families. (Wish us luck, especially with five kids.)

 

Jill Savage mentions this in her book,

.  On page 28 she says, “Refrain from activity overload.  Boredom needs to be a goal of parents.  Unscheduled time encourages children to create and imagine.  It helps them to learn how to fill their time rather than expect others to entertain them.”  She also has a section titled “A Need to Rest” on page 199 where she says; “Kids need to be kids, and they need enough margin in their life for large portions of unscheduled time in their days.  This helps them maintain balance physically and emotionally.”  (Make sure to check out her amazing book, my review should be coming up on Friday!)

 

When

Usually we take off August and January. I like to take August off because I like for the kids to have a break before starting school. It also helps financially because we usually have to pay school fees, pay for school supplies, uniforms, etc, so this frees up a little money for these items.

 

I like taking January off because around here, that is usually when the worst winter weather hits. I like not having to get out in the weather. It’s also a very welcomed break from the holidays. Again school is usually starting up again from winter break and I like them going back feeling more refreshed.

 

This is our plan now, it will probably change in the future with the activities the kids choose to do.

 

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Read my 7 Solutions for Burned Out Parents review.

Read My Heart’s At Home review.

Read my Balance blog post.

Do you ever take a break from extracurricular activities?

 

Challenge

Week 1: Take this week to really think.  By the end of the week have in mind a financial and time budget.  Be strict and make sure that all activities fit into each budget.  For us, swimming in nonnegotiable, we want our kids to know how to swim.  They get a say on the other (up to 3/yr.) activities they get to do.  However, some of our kids may not be in as many activities as the others.  For instance, Cub Scouts takes up a lot of time, so when they choose to be in Cub Scouts, they have to give up something else.

Week 2: Pick a date for when to implement the changes you brainstormed last week. Mark it on your calendar and stick with it! While you have your calendar out, schedule Family Time. Place this time in as high regard as you do your other important activities. Jill Savage has some ideas in her book. Other ideas: have a movie night, game night, picnic, special activity outside the house (miniature golf, go-carting, bowling, etc), get out a blanket and a box and be creative and imaginative. Have fun and relax. As the kids get older, give them each a week that they plan for family (give them a budget too, this could even be a $0 budget and other restrictions that fit your family (staying in the house, etc). Make this a weekly activity!

Week 3: How did Family Time go? If it went well, start planning for your next Family Night. If it didn’t go well, think about why and ways to fix it. Make the necessary changes and try again this week, just make sure it happens!

Week 4: How has Family Time been going? If it’s going well, great keep it up, if not, make the necessary changes and keep at it. This week I want you to focus on planning some margin or “bored” time. We usually schedule this on the weekend sometime. The kids have around 2 hours (usually during the baby’s nap time) when they have to be quiet and entertain themselves. I like overhearing their imagination and play! 😉

Week 5: How did margin time go?  Keep it up and make necessary changes to make sure this stays part of the routine.  It will be hard for the kids to adjust to at first, so start with a small amount of time and work up.  This is when the Time Timer comes in handy!  😉