By ASHLEY ANTHONY
The Jackson Sun

Cassie Bond is a volleyball player, cheerleader, choir member and piano and kickboxing student.
The 15-year-old sophomore at Madison Academic Magnet High School still has homework, and has to fit in time with family and friends.

Some children have too much to do and not enough time to do it, according to KidsHealth, a Web site that provides health information about kids through adolescence.

Although Cassie can barely keep up with her tight schedule, she’s thinking about running for student council and recently considered taking up dance. Her mom, Shirley, doesn’t understand how Cassie does it.

“She has the ability, but she allows herself to get too involved,” Shirley said.

South Side High School counselor Mitzi Kirk said high school students especially try to fit a lot into their schedules.

They want to excel in everything, but that’s not always possible, she said.

Cassie’s dad, Howard, said he likes that his daughter is self-motivated to be active
at school.

“With some children, you have to push them to get involved,” he said.

Each activity Cassie is involved in was her decision. Her parents have never forced her to join a group.

The groups have taught her about herself and what she’s capable of doing, Cassie said.

Although busy, Cassie still enjoys socializing with friends.

Her number one distraction is the phone.

“Cassie loves to talk on the phone,” Shirley said. “Then she has to make up that time she spent on the phone and study.”

When Cassie got home from cheering at basketball games last year, the first thing she did was call a few friends. There wasn’t much time for school work so Cassie’s grades slipped.

Sports are good for Cassie’s health, Shirley said. But she doesn’t want them to cause Cassie to fall behind in school.

“She had to do extra work, and it stressed her out last year,” Shirley said. “I don’t want her to have to go through that again.”

Licensed clinical social worker Francine Owens said it’s important for parents to recognize if their child’s schedule causes stress.

Some of the signs are loss of energy or the child complaining of headaches, Owens said. Most times, if a child is stressed, he or she is not enjoying the activity.

To eliminate some stress Owens suggests children write down their goals. Also, with each program, factor in how much time it requires.

Teens have various reasons for being active. They’re motivated by friends or family. Some children are more capable than others of handling many activities.

It’s better for children to stick to one or two extracurricular activities, Owens said.

Children still need time for themselves and family, she said.

Cassie’s grades slipped last year when she concentrated too much on her extracurricular activities and not enough on school work.

This year, Cassie set goals and taped them to her bedroom mirror.

“My number one goal is to study,” she said. “Study first, not last, because I don’t want to have to pay for it later.”

Owens said everyone needs a sense of direction.

“Our children need to know how to plan.”

Parents should also help their children set a limit on the amount of activities they can join, Owens said.

Dawn Clark doesn’t want her 3-year-old daughter, Gracie, and 11-year-old son, Hunter Todd, to be involved in too many activities during the school year.

Gracie, a preschooler, takes tennis lessons once a week and Clark is considering letting her join a dance team.

Hunter, a sixth-grader at East Intermediate School, goes to chess club on Wednesdays, tennis lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays and guitar lessons every other Saturday.

He is also a member of the school’s Beta club, where he has to complete community service hours.

“I think he’s pretty well rounded, and he’s doing plenty at this time,” Clark said. “It’s not too much for him. He’s never complained about it.”

Her husband, Jason, said they don’t mind adjusting their schedule.

“We try to keep them as diversified as possible and make sure they’re socially developed, especially in this day and age,” he said.

Ownes said it’s important for families to spend time together.

“I know that families sometimes go to these activities together, but they should have a certain amount of quality family time too,” she said.

Although she can barely keep up with her tight schedule, she’s thought about running for student council and recently even considered taking up dance.
Her mom, Shirley Bond, asked her, “How can you possibly do all that?”

“She has the ability, but she allows herself to get too involved,” Shirley said while sitting beside Cassie at their house in Jackson.

Some children have too much to do and not enough time to do it, according to KidsHealth, a Web site that provides health information about kids through adolescence.

Mitzi Kirk said high school students especially try to fit a lot into their schedules. Kirk is a counselor at South Side High School.

Liked what you read? Buy me a coffee!

Sphere: Related Content