How do you Balance Your Child's Extracurricular Activities?

Piano lessons. Art class. Scouts. The options for children and teens and their parents are numerous. And with spring sports season gearing up things are only going to get more hectic.

As a child, Glen Burnie Patch Editor Maya Prabhu was a bit of an introvert and her mother decided the best way to cure her was to enroll her in every extracurricular activity known to man when she was in kindergarten. Ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics and girl scouts, not to mention after-school clubs and activities.

At first the activities were a fun way to spend time with newly-formed friends while burning off some of the seemingly-endless amounts of energy Maya had, but after a while being so busy began to wear on her physically and academically—not to mention its effect on her parents' wallets. She had to choose to continue in only one or two of the activities she loved.

For some, becoming busy means becoming more organized. Some students benefit from structure and knowing they must complete their homework in a few hours before bed because that's their only free time. For others, activities in addition to school can be overwhelming.

So how do you regulate extracurricular activities with or for your kids? What's too much? Have you or your child had to make the decision to cut back?

What topic would you like our Moms Council to explore next week? Vote in the comments below or e-mail maya.prabhu@patch.com.

1. How should sodas and/or fast food be allowed in a child's diet, if at all?
2. At what age should you start children on solid foods?
3. How much "screen time" is too much?