|
If
you or someone you know has a mental illness and you don't know where
to turn, please call us at (614) 221-1441. |
Children's
Mental Health
Tips for the Overscheduled Family
Does this sound like your family?...Your children are involved in several
activities outside school. Consequently, you and your spouse are spending
a lot of time making sure everyone gets where he or she needs to be. Most
days you and your children donÕt have any time to relax. These are just
some of the signs that your family may be overscheduled. Additionally,
children in overscheduled families are more prone to stress, depression
and lower self-esteem. Some experts suggest that children need strong
family relationships for good development and mental health. Therefore,
balance between scheduled activities and family time is important.
Ways for parents to lighten the load:
- Try to limit each child in the family to one or two extracurricular activities.
- If your child wants to add an activity, they may need to consider giving up the current activity in exchange for a new one.
- Find out what activities your child does not enjoy anymore. Try to eliminate the activities that your child is less interested in. For instance, if your child spends most of the time on the soccer field picking the grass and using his or her cleats to make circles in the dirt, he or she may not really enjoy playing soccer.
- Help your child learn to say ÔnoÕ to additional activities. Assist them with placing appropriate limits on their activities away from home.
- Do not say ÔyesÕ to any new activity for yourself or child until you have weighed the costs (financial, emotional, loss of family time, etc.).
- Brainstorm ways to slow down as a family. Do you find yourself, frequently saying, "Hurry up, we are going to be late?" What activities can you or your children give up or decrease in frequency?
- Set priorities for your family. How many hours a week do you want to be together as a family?
- Resolve to eat dinner together as a family at least 3-5 times a week, even if this is sandwiches before you head out to a game or lesson.
- Set family nights on your calendar. Order pizza and play board games. Avoid scheduling anything else on family night.
- Take time to play in a creative way. Schedule "goof-off time" for your family and children. Give your child time to explore a hobby or play outside.
- Take time as a family to enjoy nature and the outdoors away from home (go to a park, go for a bike ride, go hiking, etc.).
About
Us
The Mental
Health Association of Franklin County is a private, not-for-profit organization
established in 1956 to provide mental health education and consumer support
services for the residents of Franklin County. We are the only agency
in Franklin County whose broad mission is to educate the public about
mental health and mental illness. We provide information and referral
to community mental health services, support groups for families and persons
with mental illness, community and professional education, advocacy for
people receiving mental health or alcohol/drug treatment, a newsletter
for first-time parents, and media outreach among other services. We also
act as a clearinghouse for information on mental health topics. We receive
funding from the United Way of Central Ohio and the Franklin County ADAMH
Board. You can also visit us online at www.mhafc.org
