ECAs
Well, we started our new series yesterday, UNDER MY ROOF. There was some great take-aways from the message, I thought. As VISION becomes clearer, OPTIONS become fewer and DECISIONS become easier. You must begin with VISION and work BACKWARDS. VISION always begins with a BURDEN. That's pretty powerful stuff.
But, for many, those things got lost underneath the one statement I made about ECAs (Extra-Cirricular Activities). Some got the idea I was against them. I am absolutely NOT. Actually, I believe, that at least by the High School years, they should be mandatory. Every child should be expected to find their niche.
What I see however, are children being placed into highly-organized, highly-competitive and high time demanding activities much too early. Multiply that by 2 or 3 kids, then multiply again by 2 or 3 activities, some overlapping, and what you have is the beginnings of a performance-based, dysfunctional family, where the first thing to go is usually anything of spiritual nature.
The Bottom Line:
*ECAs are good
*ECAs should be postponed (Some kids are ready at 5. Most aren't.)
*ECAs should be limited to one at a time. No overlap.
*ECAs that impact or effect the entire family negatively are not allowed
*ECAs should be what the child wants, not the parent
*ECAs should not negatively impact what a child has to look forward to. (If they get it all today, what's there to look forward to?)
*ECAs should be kept in priority (Church is always a higher priority)
*ECAs expose a child's strengths, but also a child's weaknesses. DO NOT force them to expose their weaknesses publicly.
*Chill out.
Today, parents in the Burbs can adopt "Sign-Up" Parenting. They want their kids "signed-up" for everything. We want them to have "everything every other kid has". Inadvertently, we have given them everything but a parent and the right to just be a kid. They only get one childhood. Don't steal it.
But, for many, those things got lost underneath the one statement I made about ECAs (Extra-Cirricular Activities). Some got the idea I was against them. I am absolutely NOT. Actually, I believe, that at least by the High School years, they should be mandatory. Every child should be expected to find their niche.
What I see however, are children being placed into highly-organized, highly-competitive and high time demanding activities much too early. Multiply that by 2 or 3 kids, then multiply again by 2 or 3 activities, some overlapping, and what you have is the beginnings of a performance-based, dysfunctional family, where the first thing to go is usually anything of spiritual nature.
The Bottom Line:
*ECAs are good
*ECAs should be postponed (Some kids are ready at 5. Most aren't.)
*ECAs should be limited to one at a time. No overlap.
*ECAs that impact or effect the entire family negatively are not allowed
*ECAs should be what the child wants, not the parent
*ECAs should not negatively impact what a child has to look forward to. (If they get it all today, what's there to look forward to?)
*ECAs should be kept in priority (Church is always a higher priority)
*ECAs expose a child's strengths, but also a child's weaknesses. DO NOT force them to expose their weaknesses publicly.
*Chill out.
Today, parents in the Burbs can adopt "Sign-Up" Parenting. They want their kids "signed-up" for everything. We want them to have "everything every other kid has". Inadvertently, we have given them everything but a parent and the right to just be a kid. They only get one childhood. Don't steal it.
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