Too Many Kids Activities? Finding Your Child's Spark (and Staying Sane)
- FindMeActivities
- Oct 25
- 4 min read
By: Mundhavni Cheema | October 25th, 2025
Let’s talk about building a skillset in kids and why we try a lot of activities to find the right fit for our children. We see it everywhere – the pressure to fill our kids' schedules. Sports, music, art... the message seems to be: more is better. And we want to give our kids every opportunity.
Studies often show figures like this: nearly 70% of US school kids are in activities, and the average family spends over $700 per child each year. Some of us fall into the reported 25% spending upwards of $4,000 annually chasing that elusive "spark," and we know families with serious athletes or performers often invest significantly more.
For years, I was that parent. Voice, piano, guitar, aerial silks, painting, swimming, tennis, pickleball... you name it, we probably tried it (we are not talking summer camps here). Most of the time I was super pumped about having classes everyday, thinking we were on a perfect schedule - school, eat a snack, go for an activity, I do groceries or a walk while she was at her class, pick her up, come back home, cook, clean up, study, bedtime routine... and we would sometimes get late to bed because our schedule was so packed - too many kids activities. And that is why sometimes I did feel like an overwhelmed supermom in chaos. And when I didn't see my daughter practice on the off days, I wondered - Was she really passionate, or were we just checking boxes? To be honest, there were times I wondered if we were just wasting time and money.
This year, middle school hit, and things got complicated. Her schedule became less predictable, school practices and social plans popped up, and suddenly, cancelling pre-paid classes last minute became the norm. The stress was real. So, I did something radical: we stopped. No after-school classes this year! She chose band at school and picked up the clarinet.
And you know what? Something amazing happened. I saw her glued to her instrument. Practicing more consistently and joyfully than I'd ever seen with paints or guitars. It made me realize: you can't schedule passion. The spark wasn't forced; it showed up when we finally created some space. Now, I'm actually back in search mode, looking for a great private clarinet teacher who can really nurture this newfound interest and bring out the best in her.
Sometimes, the calling comes when you let go. Trying lots of activities is great for exposure, but maybe taking a break is just as important. I know I feel like a better artist when I return to painting after some time away. You can't learn new things under stress or self-created pressure.
That feeling – the calm, the focus, the simple joy of getting lost in something you love – that's what hobbies and passions are supposed to bring us. They ground you, bring you calm, bring you happiness, bring mindfulness into the chaos. They remind you to just be, to listen to your body, to realize you're alive and breathing.
But finding that means finding balance. It means not filling every single minute. It means allowing time to just sit, enjoy the beautiful nature we're in, and be nice to yourself. There’s real truth and weight in going slow, but mindfully.
Never stop looking for the things that bring that calmness and content. But you'll only find them if you aren't overwhelmed with too many things.
This whole journey is exactly why FindMeActivities exists. It's not about adding more to your plate, but about making the search for the right things easier. Finding that perfect clarinet teacher, or discovering the weekend art workshop your child will truly connect with, shouldn't add to the overwhelm. Our platform helps you filter, compare, and discover options efficiently, reducing the stress of the search so you can focus your energy on finding the activities your child genuinely loves – the ones that bring that spark. Less time searching means more time connecting.
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What kind of content would help you navigate this balance?
Ideas for active weekend adventures around Nashville?
Tips on restorative practices and finding calm for kids and families?
Simple family craft or hobby ideas?
Let us know what you want to see, and the FindMeActivities team will do some buzzing for you!
Till then, be kind to yourself, enjoy the moments, and embrace the beauty of going slow—occasionally, at least, if not often.
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