How to Avoid Over-Scheduling and Choose the Important Activities for Preschoolers

The first five years of a child's life are very important and set a foundation for the rest of their life. Many parents want their preschool aged children in lots of activities in order take advantage of this time of rapid growth and development. They may feel that exposing their children to as many different learning situations as possible will give their preschooler and edge. While most preschoolers enjoy the activities that are available for them, it is important to avoiding having an over scheduled preschooler.

When deciding on which activities are right for their preschooler, parents should consider that children of this age need some structured time and some unstructured time. It is not good for every hour of a young child's day to be spent involved in some activity over which they have no control. Blocks of time in which a preschooler is allowed to simply play, using his or her own imagination to decide the course of the play will strengthen his or her creativity. Unstructured physical play allows a child to get to know his or her body while learning to climb, jump and run. The over scheduled preschooler might not have enough time for this important unstructured play.

Just as they need time for running, jumping and playing, preschoolers also need down time. Some young children still require daily naps so setting a quiet time in which a preschooler can rest and even sleep if it is still necessary is very important. Preschoolers need time to get away from stimulation and to be inside their own heads. This can only be accomplished at points during the day when the scheduled activities stop and free, quiet time begins.

Parents should give their children some say in which activities they are involved. Preschoolers should be allowed to follow their interests and their apparent abilities should be taken into consideration. Before a child is old enough to know what his or her interests are, parents should be able to pick up on things that their child enjoys. A child who loves music should be introduced to music classes. The preschooler who loves physical activities should be encouraged in age appropriate athletics. The over scheduled preschooler might not have time to pursue activities that they really love.

Quality time with family and other people that a preschooler loves is very important. The over scheduled preschooler might not have enough time for cuddling, playing, laughing or simply being with those that they love most. This time with his or her favorite people is very important in developing self-esteem and self-worth that will last through his or her life time.

The most important thing to practice as a parent of a preschooler is not pressuring a young child to perform, especially at a level above the other children his or her age. All parents believe their child has untapped potential and that is it their job to find activities which bring out the child's amazing talents. Within reason and while taking care to avoiding having an over scheduled preschooler, this idea is great. Parents simply need to keep a child's real needs of unstructured play, quiet time, and quality time in mind when planning activities for their preschooler.