Pediatricians weigh in on sports and extracurricular burnout in kids

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – It’s not uncommon to want your children to be involved in sports and extracurriculars throughout the year, but when does that busy schedule turn into burnout?

Dr. Angie Houchin is an assistant professor at UK’s general pediatric clinic.

She said it’s a fine line between balance and burnout for kids.

“I think each family is unique; it kind of depends. It’s natural to want to want to try lots of different things and try and find what you’re good at and what you like, and that’s great, as long as we’re not overdoing it to where we feel overwhelmed,” she said.

Pediatrician Dr. Katrina Hood added if kids aren’t directly saying they’re overwhelmed, they’ll show it in other ways.

“It’s the crying every time you get in the car to go take them somewhere. I think it’s the child complaining even when they’re six, seven, or eight, ‘I’m just tired,’ or ‘my tummy hurts,’ or they’re manifesting more of a physical symptom because they can’t say what it is,” Hood added.

Hood said while these activities can be taken too far, there are benefits to a busy schedule for kids.

“You’re building your resume, and so as you are filling out college applications or you’re needing to do some sort of internship or that sort of thing if you have a lot of these activities, it does create a very well-rounded individual,” Hood added.

Houchin said if the parents feel stretched too thin with practices and events during their spare time, chances are the kids feel the same way.

Both Houchin and Hood said having downtime for kids to just be kids is also important.

“Being a kid is a one-time thing. If we feel it all up until they’re eighteen, they’re no longer a kid anymore and they never get that back,” Houchin said.

Dr. Houchin added that it’s best for kids to stick with something until the season or obligation is up, but that it’s also okay to quit something and pick it up again later on.

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