ðWestchester
ðRockland
ð Putnam
School Report Cards
ð Bedford
ð Chappaqua
ð Katonah-Lewisboro
ð Byram Hills
ð Yorktown
ð Somers
ð Pleasantville
ð North Salem
ð Westchester
ð Rockland
ð Putnam
| If today is
Tuesday, it must be soccer day
PETER GERSTENZANG | |
With all the choices, from athletics to art and music to educational enrichment programs, it can appear overwhelming for parents and children to agree on appropriate and fun pasttimes. Start
slowly
Maureen
Lindell, director of Bedford Prep, said when it comes to
extracurricular activities, parents just need to use a little logic
and common sense.
"It's all about helping
kids explore their strengths," she said. "Children should want to go
to these things. Usually, they'll want to dig deeper into subjects
they're already interested in."
Lindell advised parents to
start slowly. "Let your kids do one or maybe two things after
school. You don't want them so overbooked that they start to hate
the whole notion of doing things after they've had a day of classes.
See what they like and let them try it. But find some balance
between everything they do and some down time. All young children
need some of that."
Lindell's approach is
echoed by Michael Wiltsek, owner of The Bedford Discovery School.
"Our approach here, and
one that is valuable for parents generally, is to be
child-sensitive," he said. "We like to see what parents'
expectations are and what a child wants to do when he or she comes
to our after-school programs."
Each child can be
different. Some children need time for homework, Wiltsek said,
adding, others have been working hard and want to have fun and
games. He said making work fun is the best approach.
Exposure to different
activities and encouragement are key as well, Wiltsek said. "One of
the things I have found over the years is that a child will let a
parent or an instructor know what they want to do and how much they
want to do it. All of the kids who come here, come because they want
to. Basically, I think you shouldn't press your child too much.
Trust them to find what they want to do after school and then let
them tell you."
Making
choices
Dr.
Lorraine Innes is a mother and psychiatrist living in Katonah. She
has her own theories ÷ and battles ÷ when it comes to the hectic
after-school life of her two school-age boys, not to mention
children in general.
"I also believe that
balance is the key when it comes to young kids and activities.
Especially in sports," Innes said. "Certainly, don't overschedule
your kids. My two boys like to play sports, they play whatever is in
that season, but I like to monitor it when I can. My sons are 6 and
9, so I try to let them play something for an hour or so. Not much
more."
Just being outside and
having free time is also very healthy for kids, Innes said. And
sometimes they need to be able to do nothing.
Ultimately it is up to a
parent to "read" their child to gauge how much is enough. "Some kids
really do need to busy all the time," Innes said. "So let them."
As a mother, Innes is no
stranger to the desire to get her sons interested in things she
likes, even if they haven't shown interest in those things.
"I have my own inner
struggles as a parent," Innes said. "For instance, I like to play
tennis and I would like my kids to play, also. They don't show any
interest in it yet, though. So I wonder, 'Should I push them?' "
Innes sees how this can
become a problem for parents and kids. "My philosophy is take your
kids' feelings and interests into account. Let them figure out what
they want to do and how much they want to do. It will probably make
everyone happier in the long run."
When it comes to physical
after-school activities, there are specific things parents should
pay attention to.
Dr. Kathy Purvis, a
pediatrician with The Katonah Medical Group in Katonah, said there
are ways to avoid injuries, and other health and emotional problems,
for even the littlest athletes.
"I tell my patients and
their parents that they should try to avoid repetitious activities
that are contained within a certain sport," Purvis said. "Certain
strokes in swimming, for instance, over and over, can cause an
injury. Or anything that puts stress on a particular part of the
body.
Purvis said she is a firm
believer in exercise, but it works much better, especially for kids,
if it's an overall kind. She cited tae kwan do as a good example of
something that keeps the body active, but is nicely-balanced.
Purvis also thinks young
children can encounter psychological issues if certain sports are
introduced at too young an age.
"It's just my opinion,"
she said, "but when kids are 5, 6 and 7, they really are not
prepared mentally for anything that's too competitive. It's too much
for kids, who haven't yet learned how to have a good time when
playing.
"Let your kids learn how
to enjoy themselves when they do after-school sports," she said.
"Once that kicks in, they'll be more able to keep the notion of
competition in perspective."
|
|
