Life in the Hurried Family
Many child centered families are making extraordinary sacrifices to provide their youngsters with the best education and enrichment opportunities.
Children may be scheduled in classes or sports activities from the time they get home from school until bedtime.
Parents' schedules are as impacted as their children's due to the press of these activities.
The whole family races through life for at least six days out of seven! This frenetic pace increases stress levels for all parties.
Parents begin to feel unappreciated and resentful, while children feel rushed and pressured.
The result is more family friction and less quality time together.
Balancing the needs of all family members is part of the solution.
It is important to pick those commitments which provide the best return for the whole family.
Developing "islands of competency" is a wonderful way to improve self-esteem and increase life satisfaction.
However, few families have the time or resources which would permit the indulgence of all parties' needs all of the time.
That is why it is useful to prioritize involvement so that parents and children have the time to fully explore and develop those areas which will provide the best opportunities for ongoing growth and development.
Not all activities are equal.
Sometimes, the structured activities which parents choose for their children are a reflection of the parents' needs, rather than the child's.
Another issue is that families who become rushed and over-scheduled find themselves going in different directions much of the time.
Normal family routines give way to hurried interactions; parents become frustrated and angry with children who need a much slower pace.
The daily rituals such as mealtimes and bedtime become unimportant tasks, sandwiched between dance lessons and soccer games.
Yet, these routines are part of the framework for a secure childhood.
Maintaining regular routines and honoring family rituals is way to calm the pace and ensure that parents and children have some breathing room each day to play and to reflect.
There is a need to balance child-centered parenting practices with common sense.
Prioritizing activities, honoring family routines and rituals, and allowing for some unstructured time each day help families maintain a more balanced, unhurried lifestyle.
Children may be scheduled in classes or sports activities from the time they get home from school until bedtime.
Parents' schedules are as impacted as their children's due to the press of these activities.
The whole family races through life for at least six days out of seven! This frenetic pace increases stress levels for all parties.
Parents begin to feel unappreciated and resentful, while children feel rushed and pressured.
The result is more family friction and less quality time together.
Balancing the needs of all family members is part of the solution.
It is important to pick those commitments which provide the best return for the whole family.
Developing "islands of competency" is a wonderful way to improve self-esteem and increase life satisfaction.
However, few families have the time or resources which would permit the indulgence of all parties' needs all of the time.
That is why it is useful to prioritize involvement so that parents and children have the time to fully explore and develop those areas which will provide the best opportunities for ongoing growth and development.
Not all activities are equal.
Sometimes, the structured activities which parents choose for their children are a reflection of the parents' needs, rather than the child's.
Another issue is that families who become rushed and over-scheduled find themselves going in different directions much of the time.
Normal family routines give way to hurried interactions; parents become frustrated and angry with children who need a much slower pace.
The daily rituals such as mealtimes and bedtime become unimportant tasks, sandwiched between dance lessons and soccer games.
Yet, these routines are part of the framework for a secure childhood.
Maintaining regular routines and honoring family rituals is way to calm the pace and ensure that parents and children have some breathing room each day to play and to reflect.
There is a need to balance child-centered parenting practices with common sense.
Prioritizing activities, honoring family routines and rituals, and allowing for some unstructured time each day help families maintain a more balanced, unhurried lifestyle.
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