FOX 11 parenting contributor on 'schedule overload'

Published August 11, 2016 6:37pm PDT

FOX 11 Los Angeles

(FOX 11) - As kids everywhere are heading back-to-school, it's easy to fall into "schedule overload." Homework, sports, music lessons and everything in between can get to be too much.

We all want our kids to have as many opportunities as possible, but we also have to remember how important downtime really is.

According to the author of "The Over-Scheduled Child," we're buying into an over-scheduled lifestyle and it's burning kids out.

By age 13, statistics show three of every four children who participated for several years in organized activities call it quits.

Over scheduled?

-Is the fun gone? Too much time in the car?

-Are you producing your child's life?

-Too much structure can strip creativity

-Say 'no' to keeping up with the Joneses

-Do schedule family and free time

Source: "The Hurried Child," "The Over-Scheduled Child"

You can find Donna Tetreault at DonnaTetreault.com, Facebook and Twitter @donnatetreault.

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