This opinion piece, A Packed Schedule Doesn’t Really ‘Enrich’ Your Child, by Dr. Shalini Shankar, professor of anthropology and Asian American studies at Northwestern University makes many excellent observations, including that “there are good reasons to give children time to be bored.” Ms. Shankar invites parents to pause “before return[ing] children to their hectic pre-pandemic schedules.”

Achievement pressure and packed academic and extracurricular schedules all constructed for the college admissions’ race have long adversely affected kids’ mental health.

Unrelenting schedules have stressed kids and parents alike and saddled college students with unfathomable amounts of student loan debt. And despite all the exhaustive efforts by students and parents, employers bemoan college graduates’ lack of listening, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

I invite parents to take their own and their kids’ time back. Unstructured time is essential for human thriving. Time to sleep; space to practice stillness; room to connect with our interests; and freedom to become curious about our connection to the community around us.

Boredom provides an opportunity to connect with our inner voice. It is a gift to explore what makes us come alive.

Boredom is essential.

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[ Interested in learning more about the impact of academic pressure and packed schedules on our kids? Watch my 2021 Illinois State PTA Convention mini keynote, Our Kids Were Not Alright Before the Pandemic. A Call for Renewal and Renovation ]

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