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Deanie Wimmer Reporting All good parents want their children to be successful. But can good intentions go bad? Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics says yes.
We found children, even toddlers, are sometimes under too much stress.
We saw the research and knew this was something many Utah parents face, with all the kids' lessons and sports. But the drive for achievement comes at a price. Here's how to Stay Safe from doing more harm than good for your kids.
It starts early.
Mary Tipton M.D./ Pediatrician: "Parents will start asking in utero or newborns, what music should they be listening to? What shapes they should teach their kids."
That quickly leads to a flurry of movement classes, music classes.
Too often, the hectic pace of flash cards, tutors, and development classes has kids who aren't even school age overbooked and overstressed.
Justin Alvey, M.D./ Wee Care Pediatrics: "It's something we see a lot, actually."
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report stating play is essential to development, that it helps maintain strong parent-child bonds.
But free play time is so lacking, researchers now urge pediatricians to evaluate kids for stress during checkups.
Peggy Wade: "Too many parents push their kids. They have to be in tap dance or ballet, or they have to be in tutoring or something."
Parents here say they enroll young kids mostly because they seem to like it, but keeping up with the Jones' is never far from mind.
Daisy Richardson/Mom: "I think as a parent you're always watching other kids and what they know, and thinking, 'Oh, mine doesn't know that. Should he know that?'"
Adding to the pressure is the reality that child development is big business. Private tutors in the U.S. are now a two-and-a-half billion dollar industry.
Math classes at the Salt Lake Kumon Center start for five year olds.
Gymboree offers infants to five year olds everything from yoga to art to multicultural classes. The owner strives to offer a safe environment where kids and parents interact, at the child's pace.
Vasyl Green/ Gymboree Play and Music: "We ask them to not force their children into a social environment. We let them explore however they want to."
But some child experts believe the child development industry preys on parents who fear that without extra curricular pursuits, their kids won't keep up.
Cheryl Wright Ph.D./ Family and Consumer Studies/ U of U: "I think it's really a lot of wasted money, and in fact could have some long term negative consequences to your child's development."
Dr. Justin Alvey: "What this study is saying, is trying to point out, is packing this much stuff in might not be the best way to get to that."
"It might actually backfire."
So how do parents better balance development with free play?
Experts say give them simpler toys, like building blocks, dolls, toys with no batteries. TV doesn't count as downtime.
Watch child's cues, like a short attention span and passive resistance.
