Parents everywhere are facing the familiar, frantic scramble of the sign-up season. We want to give our children every possible opportunity to explore their passions, whether that means gliding across an ice rink, molding a clay masterpiece, learning a second language, or kicking a soccer ball into the net.
After a much-needed summer break, you’re preparing to sign up your child for fall extracurricular activities. You're considering soccer, music lessons, and a robotics club. You’ve read about the benefits of extracurriculars, and you’re feeling good about your decision. But here’s a question worth asking: What if the unstructured time between those activities is just as important as the activities themselves?
Q: I am wondering about after-school activities. How busy should my child be?
Events like the Calgary Stampede draw nearly a million visitors each year, but for parents of anxious children, the thought of navigating those crowds canfeel overwhelming. Rather than avoiding these experiences entirely, research shows that gradual exposure with proper support helps children build confidence and resilience.
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