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How much activity is too much activity? (quotes Denise Pope)

January 5, 2016
Boston Globe
By 
Ami Albernaz

For all of the benefits that extracurricular activities can bring to teens, packing too many in often gets a bad rap. Schedules filled with sports, music, and other activities — often on top of heavy academic loads — can leave little time to spend with family, be with friends, or simply reflect.

But how much time is too much to spend in extracurricular pursuits? A survey of more than 8,800 high school students by Stanford and Villanova University researchers sheds some light on the question. The researchers found that beyond 15 to 20 hours per week of extracurriculars, kids’ schedules began to take a toll. Compared to kids who were less involved, those who spent more hours than that in extracurriculars reported more stress, stomach ailments, depression, and other physical and emotional symptoms.

It’s worth noting that the kids surveyed went to high-achieving schools, where pressure to be involved may be higher than at other schools. Yet the vast majority of survey respondents who participated in extracurriculars — 87 percent — said they did so because they genuinely enjoyed it. Levels of enjoyment for kids who were highly involved were around the same as for those who spent fewer hours in activities.

As that suggests, the optimal amount of time to spend in activities may vary by the kid. For many, a lighter schedule may be more appropriate, said study coauthor Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at Stanford University and cofounder of Challenge Success, a nonprofit that works with schools and families to improve student well-being and engagement with learning. 

“It’s important to think about how much is too much for your individual kids,” she said. If they seem overwhelmed or aren’t enjoying their schedules — or if they’re losing out on sleep — it may be time to pull back.

Read the full story in the Boston Globe.

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