Harvard, Soccer and Over-Scheduled Families

The over-scheduled child-rearing style is currently being touted in the USA and in much of the rest of the developed world as the best way to raise children. However, this over-scheduled lifestyle may be damaging marriages; getting unhappy children diagnosed as learning disabled, ADD, bipolar and depressed; and causing adolescents to be involved with drugs, alcohol and premature sex (Luthar & Becker 2002). Renowned American child and adolescent psychiatrist Alvin Rosenfeld points out that the dangers and risks to children of this intensive lifestyle are known, but, he asks, 'Is anyone listening?'