Spend More Quality Time With Your Kids! Take the Time Off Challenge! by Holly Budde

Some of the best days with your kids are completely unplanned – and unscheduled. I am a long-time proponent of not over-scheduling kids in too many extracurricular activities. Of course, activities are wonderful for kids! Mine are always involved in something. I'm not saying "no," just that we should not overdo it! Kids need time to:

• relax
• use their imagination 
• simply "be" 

There is a bonus to that, too! First, the mom taxi is parked for a while! YOU get time to lose the watch, too! Everyone decompresses. Stress levels reduce, which usually means less arguing and more fun together! The next time you get the chance, take the "time off challenge!" You never know what the day may bring. (And exercise won't have to be scheduled later either!)