Students of all ages are busy with school, sports, extracurricular activities, community service and other responsibilities. Too often students want to do so much that they over schedule themselves. Although a full schedule keeps children out of trouble, helps foster time management and nurtures social skills, over scheduling is detrimental to health and creates children who cannot do their best because of too many commitments.

Health issues that can occur include attention deficit disorder, depression, anxiety and eating disorders that can be harmful to the mind and body.

Health issues that develop due to over scheduling at an early age can produce adults who are stressed in any situation. Children need childhood activities, which include unstructured play.

Teens and children can be overwhelmed and pressured to succeed in the activities chosen by parents. During the week, a lack of sleep can also affect mental health.

Although extracurricular activities foster discipline and prepare children for the future, they do not outweigh the lasting negative effects that come with over scheduling.

Too many commitments do not necessarily teach a good work ethic. Time commitment to a few activities rather than a multitude of activities allows real effort and development. In the short and long term, being heavily scheduled benefits no one.