A child’s life, or so we adults seem to think, is free of all the cares of adults and filled with only those frivolous things like parties and play dates and just fun, fun, fun. If life is so filled with fun, then how come so many kids get those awful morning stomachaches or don’t want to go to bed at night or act so moody that we wonder who they are? Could it be that it’s not all fun?

Consider what many kids have to contend with in their lives. They not only have to go to school, they have to maintain their grades, do their homework, be involved in organized after-school activities and look forward to weekend “academies” for additional drills on math and reading as well as summer camps for college prep courses. Oh, how much fun could one kid want?

How would you feel if your every waking hour, or so it seems, were filled with nothing but organized and demanding activities? When I was a kid, I could go outside and explore the moss that grew on the side of trees or hunt for wild orchids in the woods. Summer was time off from school and I dreaded that awful “Back to school!” signs the merchants plastered all over their windows. I didn’t want to go back to school. I wanted to play and swim and catch crabs at the dock and just enjoy life. Unrealistic, I know, but I wasn’t giving a thought to growing up.

I’ve heard mothers complain that they are just chauffeurs for their kids, shuttling them from one activity to the next and always worrying that they might not get into the “right” college. Just what is the “right” college and is that “right” for the kids. We’re hearing from professionals who indicate that “a little stress” is good for a child because it pushes them to finish projects and work harder. Who measures how “little” a “little stress” and how does a parent know when it’s too much.

Agreed that children aren’t the ones to make long-term career goals for themselves and it’s a good idea to get a good education, but weigh the risks here, please. Over-scheduling a child and leaving them no time for the wonder of imagination can mean leaving them vulnerable to school-related anxieties, phobias and depression.

Remember that everyone needs some downtime.

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