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Soon your child or children will be heading back to school. As I watched young people this summer (mostly around the ball park I must admit) I heard them say how busy they have been. I couldn't help but wonder if they had any summer vacation at all. I wonder if they had time to be kids.
Summer seems to be getting shorter every year. Obviously the number of days are the same but what goes into those days changes quite a bit.
Take the kids I work with in the summer. They tell me they have basketball, weight lifting and usually have a job to go with it. They come to the ball park tired and hoping for a couple hours of fun. Sometimes relaxing and having fun is more valuable than having no fun playing what is really a game.
A couple kids I had played travel ball. That meant weekends away and a multitude of games. Their bodies show the wear and tear.
Some kids could not fit everything in they wanted to this summer. When that happens they usually chose the sport where the most pressure is put on them to participate. That leaves the question, is that really fair to the kid?
Is there an answer?
If there is it has to be with the parents. They have to observe their child or children and make sure they are still enjoying what they are doing.
Did your child get some time this summer to fish, camp out, hang out with friends, take a day off, sit and read or just enjoy some quiet time?
Look at your findings and you will have your answer.