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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUN
TIPS FOR OVER-SCHEDULED FAMILIES
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 counseling.
Media Contact: Tricia Whittemore
Porter Novelli
Phone: (619) 687-7018 or (603) 219-6088
E-mail: tricia.whittemore@porternovelli.com
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