The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap

This book had to be written! It needs to be read by every parent battling the loss of leisure. Setting limits defies the seeming perfect parent syndrom we have adopted. For those of us who have let the rat race control too much of our lives, it's not too late for change. Do you ever have one of those days when you just have to get away from it all, but can't because that unrelenting calendar is demanding every minute of your day? Do you have time to smell the roses, sit and enjoy your child chasing a butterfly, or find a quite romantic moment to spend alone with your spouse - talking about anything but the kids and who has to be where when? If the answer is no to any of these questions, this book is for you. If you have ever been seriously ill, as I have, you realize that it's the little things: the family time, the unscheduled time, the laughs and talks, that, above all else, create an atmospher our children can thrive in. Dr. Rosenfeld and Nicole Wise bring it all into focus, and make us realize that by "doing it all" and "being it all", we are not helping our family, we are breaking down the fabrics that holds the best part of it together. This book must be read by every parent with a busy lifestyle. It's refreshing to know that we can stop hyper-parenting and start learning again to have spontaneity, relaxation and a place we can truly feel at home.

If you've fallen victim to seeing parenting as a competitive sport, you need to read this book. Rosen has nothing against Baby Mozart, soccer leagues, and all the other activities that parents and kids adopt for the best intentions. But he and his coauthor are reasonable voices, pointing out that by micromanaging our children's lives, we're giving them the message that they can neither function or make judgments without parental intervention. This is an excellent book that will help both parent and child.

Dr. Rosenfeld and Nicole Wise remind us of what is really important and valuable in our lives. So many parents, in the process of pushing themselves and their children to win, succeed and outstrip the next guy, lose sight of what truly matters. The authors also remind us of the loss of joy and delight that parents deprive themselves of in the rat race to raise overscheduled and underappreciated kids. A highly readable book for parents which can help them lead more meaningful lives.

Hyper-Parenting is perhaps the best parenting book I have ever read. In a world full of opportunities and choices for our kids, its refreshing to get clear, helpful advice from experts who clearly understand what our children are going through. I found this book extremely well-written and useful, and would highly recommend it to any parent who loves his/her children and wants to do what's best.

The authors put their fingers on a real phenomenon: parents over-programming their kids to the detriment of parents and children alike. The first step to solving a problem is admitting it. In clear, straightforward language thankfully free of jargon, Rosenfeld and Wise give the reader an opportunity to reconsider the meaning of good parenting. I discussed the book with two of my kids who responded with a loud "Duh, Dad, didn't you know that?" I admit, I didn't, but I do now.