Extracurricular Activities Are Supposed to Be Fun

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Extracurricular Activities Are Supposed to Be Fun

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060801/latu119.html

 

Tuesday August 1, 1:33 pm ET

Tips for Over-Scheduled Families

 

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you find yourself wearing more soccer jerseys than regular clothes? Do you decorate cupcakes for 30 Brownies or Cub Scouts instead of making home-cooked meals? Are you referred to as "Coach" more than your actual name? If so, you have the classic symptoms of an overbooked parent.

 

When families become consumed by demanding schedules, they lose the chance to spend personal time with their families. To help busy families, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists offers tips on how to manage time and lighten the family schedule:

 

Limit each child to one or two extracurricular activities. If a child wants to add an activity, replace the child's less favorable activity with a new one.

 

Consider the costs of joining a new activity by weighing the potential outcomes financially, emotionally, and from a scheduling standpoint.

 

Help manage your family's quality time by setting priorities. Include dinners together and have a family night.

 

Have fun and play in a creative way. Give your child time to explore a hobby or play outside. Take time as a family to enjoy nature and the outdoors by going on bike rides, hiking trips, or to the park.

 

Develop a schedule that manages your priorities and will help your family enjoy their activities to the fullest.

 

At times, over-scheduling may be difficult to manage and it may be necessary to seek professional help. A mental health professional such as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) can successfully help ease common sources of stress, including financial worries, family problems, and heavy workloads. If you or someone you know may need the help of a MFT, visit www.therapistfinder.com to find one in your area.

 

About CAMFT

 

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, with 27 chapters throughout the state, is an independent professional organization, representing the interests of licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. CAMFT provides TherapistFinder.com as a resource to the public looking for Marriage and Family Therapists located in California. For more information about CAMFT, please call (858) 292-2638 or visit www.camft.org or www.therapistfinder.com

 

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Source: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists