Parents often joke that their child’s timetable looks more complicated than theirs. Soccer on Monday, coding on Tuesday, music on Wednesday, tuition on Thursday, for many families, this isn’t an exaggeration. It’s daily life. But at what point does enrichment turn into overload?

Developmental psychologists have a name for this: the over-scheduling hypothesis. It suggests that beyond a certain point, structured activities do more harm than good. According to a study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2012), while extracurricular activities can positively impact social skills and academics, excessive participation is associated with increased stress and reduced well-being.

Related story: What Is Your Parenting Style

In other words, the benefits of piano lessons, sports practice, or debate club can plateau and even reverse when they begin to crowd out sleep, downtime, and free play.

What Recent Data Shows

A 2024 analysis of time-diary data from more than 4,000 school-age children revealed that the academic boost from organised activities flattened out after a certain threshold. Meanwhile, signs of anxiety, irritability and depression rose sharply (Hechinger Report, 2024). The researchers also noted a troubling squeeze: kids were not only swamped with structured activities but also heavier homework loads, leaving very little room for unstructured time.

Related story: Rest and Recharge: Embracing Horizontal Parenting

At the same time, Mahoney’s earlier brief (2008) cautioned against assuming all children are over-scheduled. Only a small percentage fit the extreme definition. For many children, participating in a few clubs or sports teams can be a healthy activity. The problem begins when choice and balance are lost.

What Over-Scheduling Looks Like

The signs are often subtle. A child who once enjoyed an activity starts dreading it. They’re more irritable, or they complain of headaches and stomachaches. Homework takes longer, even though they’re sitting at the desk for hours. Their sleep shrinks. They drift away from friends.

Another overlooked consequence is the decline in self-regulation practice. When adults make decisions every hour, kids miss opportunities to learn time management, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Those are the very skills they’ll need most as adults.

And then there’s creativity. Boredom is not a flaw, but a natural part of a healthy childhood. Without pockets of unstructured time, imagination and problem-solving have little room to grow.

Related story: 6 Strategies to Ease School Anxiety in Children

How to Find the Balance

There’s no magic number of hours. What’s sustainable for one child may overwhelm another. Still, research and practice point to a few key principles: build in blank spaces, let children have a say in what they do, protect sleep and family time, and regularly reassess schedules. A smaller number of meaningful activities beats a long list of obligations.

Related story: This Mindset Can Reduce Stress and Help Raise Smarter Kids

Parents can start by asking three simple questions:

• Does my child still enjoy these activities?
• Is there at least some unscheduled time each day?
• Are sleep and family meals being squeezed out?

If the honest answer is no, it may be time to scale back.

A childhood spent racing from one structured task to the next can set a lifelong tempo of busyness and burnout. By showing children that success includes rest, play, and self-reflection, parents teach them balance early, a skill as critical as any math or music lesson.

Extracurricular activities aren’t the villain. Done well, they nurture skills, friendships and confidence. Done to excess, they can erode the very well-being they’re meant to enhance. The real trick is not saying no to everything, but learning when enough is enough.

Related story: Working Parents’ Guide to Setting Limits for Kids

We see you! Get exclusive access to the best parenting advice from experts. Sign up today.