Overscheduled Kids

In today's fast-paced world, most parents ask themselves, "When do I enroll my child in extracurricular activities?" and, "How many are appropriate?" On the one hand, parents don't want to miss the opportunity to cultivate a child's interest or innate talent. But on the other hand, most parents don't want to stress their children or themselves by hauling kids to numerous scheduled activities, making everyone cranky and on edge.

Most of your children will not earn their living from sports or music careers. But hopefully you can help your kids cultivate lifelong interests that will provide many enjoyable hours away from the demands of academia and career.

With the right balance and the right motives, extracurriculars can be rewarding for both you and your child. Read on for the questions and practicalities every parent needs to consider.