You Never See Your Kid Just Doing Nothing(01 of10)
Open Image ModalYour Child Has The Constitution Of An Old Man(02 of10)
Open Image ModalOK, so maybe there's no hunchback or gray hair yet, but it's a warning sign if your child looks and acts tired, complains of headaches and pains, isn't sleeping well, or "just doesn't feel right," according to Dr. Kate Cronin, a pediatric physician at the Nemours/AI duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. Irritability and grumpiness are also signs that their life balance is out of whack, she says. Pay attention to those "grumpy old man" symptoms -- there might be underlying issues. (credit:Alamy)
Your Kid No Longer Loves Her Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream, Flute, Or Justin Bieber Singalongs(03 of10)
Open Image ModalHis Or Her Grades Are Dropping(04 of10)
Open Image ModalIf you can't read your child's face, head to the data -- look at the grades. One of the most oft-cited signs for an overscheduled child is that his or her grades start to drop. School should be a top priority, and if activities are sapping a child's time and energy away from homework, something needs to get cut. "I hear of kids getting up as early as 5 am to get their homework done because they didn't have time to finish it the night before due to all their activities," says Cronin. That kind of scenario can't be good for grades. (credit:Alamy)
Your Car Has Become The Fourth Member Of The Family(05 of10)
Open Image ModalYour gas bills have shot up. Your car has become an extension of the home. You're spending more time with your kids in the car than anywhere else, because you're constantly shuttling them back and forth to activities. This is a sign that activities and schedules are dominating as the focus of family time. "What's worse is that nowadays everyone is plugged in to separate devices," says Hallowell. He suggests unplugging and at least using the car time to have conversation and bond. (credit:Alamy)
Your Child Is Moody And Anxious(06 of10)
Open Image ModalDr. Bob Block, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has been seeing an increase in the rate of depression in kids, and he links it partly to overscheduled lives. "The more activities a kid is involved in, the more opportunities there are to not do well in them -- not live up to a standard, either their parents' or their own." Signs of depression and anxiety include bad moods, being very quiet, avoiding friends and family. Which leads us to... (credit:Alamy)
Her Best Friend Isn't Around Anymore(07 of10)
Open Image ModalYour child and her best friend used to be thick as thieves -- now you never see her. Ruling out a fight, a sign your child is too busy is when he or she no longer connects with friends, according to Jennifer Little, Ph.D., an educator for over 40 years. If there used to be sleepovers and phone chats and impromptu catch games, but now your child seems more isolated, take that as a warning sign that she's too busy. (credit:Alamy)
Family Mealtimes Are A Thing Of The Past(08 of10)
Open Image Modal"Families have priorities, and some of those might be mealtimes with the family," says Block. If your kids are dropping out of mealtimes for choir practice or dance rehearsal, then it's time to re-assess priorities. Think back to the past week or two. How many meals did your child eat on the go or in the car? If it's more than a few, it may be time to sit down and redo your child's schedule. (credit:Alamy)
Your Child Is Suddenly Needy(09 of10)
Open Image ModalIf a child starts to look to you to tell him what to do at every turn, this might be a sign he's overscheduled. "I can often tell if a child is overscheduled by the way they behave in a social setting," says Sheela Raja, clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "When there is not a set agenda, is the child able to use his own imagination? Does the child continually look to adults for what to do next? This is a red flag that a child needs some unstructured or down time. It's actually very important for their cognitive and social development," she says. (credit:Alamy)
You Yourself Are Tired(10 of10)
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