Are Kids over Scheduled?

I currently have a position as Cub Master in the local Pack.  We have only a hand full of boys since we are associated with the local church and that is how we recruit.  Nothing really outside the church membership.  Thus our numbers have not reached over 5 boys in the 2 1/2 years since I was called to this position.
During this time I have fought with the ever constant problem of other activities interfering with our meeting schedules.  Things like Baseball, Soccer, Piano Lessons, Choral groups and the like.  In your area the list could go on.  All worthy activities right?  The problem is we seem to take a back seat to some of these other activities.  We have had boys that don't show up for Den Meetings for a a month at a time since it is not working with the current baseball schedule or games and/or practice.

So are we over scheduling our children?  Are we signing them up for way to much stuff?  Are we trying to pass of our innate need to parent on someone else?

I know that in today's world there are the single parents that have to fill up activities or day care while they are off at work.  And then there are the families where both parents work to make ends meet.
But, then there is the classic "Soccer Moms" thus named since they are racing all over town dropping off their kids at some soccer event.  They spend a large portion of their day ferrying their children around to their million activities.  And they are likely the same ones that are waiting line at the local In-n-Out burger drive-thru that almost always has a line.

Have we forgotten how to interactive properly with our children?  Have we forgotten how to use cooking dinner as a teaching moment by deciding to place our kids in a cooking class.  What will they learn there that you could not teach them while at home.  Imagine the interaction and learning that would occur as you help your child pick out a recipe; fine the ingredients already present at home and then shop for the remain items and finally cook the food!

or how about the young 3-4 years olds doing cheesy ballet at the park with an instructor.  Can't mom do hopping and the like with their child anymore?  Or do you have to get your exercise at the gym and your child in a structured overpriced class you could just as well do at home?

So as we struggle to find a good meeting time that will get the most boys to our meeting we sit and wonder..... what is really more important.  Cub Scouts or something else?  And/or why can't you find a way to do both?


Buaidh - NO  - BAS