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Know Essential Tips On How You Can Help Overprogrammed Kids To Live A Healthy Life

20th April 2023



In today’s world, competition is rising to its peak in every aspect, especially for children. They are being overwhelmed to perform well academically and in other extra-curricular activities at the same time which leads them to get over-stressed.

Nowadays, children are over-programmed which means that children are involved in too many activities from performing well academically for all the years to performing well in other aspects of activities like sports which makes them stressed and burnt out.

As a teacher, it’s their responsibility to notice these over-programmed tendencies in their young learners by understanding their life challenges and helping them to copeup with their life and also help them to lead a happy life.

In this blog post we will explore what overprogrammed actually is. And how does it affect today’s young generations? With that, we have some effective tips for Teachers on how they can help those over-programmed young learners as well.

In addition, you can also get to know more effective techniques to understand your young learners, so that they can thrive in life with our Diploma in Counselling Course for Teachers. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the topic and know everything there is related to the over-programming term.

What is Over-programmed?

As the term has “Over” within overprogrammed which means too much. It’s basically a term used to describe a situation where children are involved with multiple activities at the same time like-academic performances, sports, music lessons, dance classes, and tuition classes all at the same time.

Overprogrammed young learners after getting involved in these many activities are left with little or no time for relaxation or to have fun or play which leads to stress and burnout. If children will take this amount of pressure to perform well in every aspect of their life then it could also lead to anxiety and depression.

How to discover that your student is Over-programmed?

As a teacher, it’s your responsibility to find out whether your young learners are over-programmed or not. Some common signs are:

  • Difficulty in concentrating
  • Less Focused
  • Mood Swings
  • Irritated behaviour
  • Aggressive behaviour
  • Frequent Headaches or Stomach-aches
  • Having difficulty in sleeping or Insomnia
  • A decline in Academic Performance

If you notice any of the signs in your young learners, then try to communicate with them and try to find a work-load balance.

What effects does Overprogramming have on children?

As a teacher, you must know what negative effects Overprograaming can create on your young learners. These effects can vary; it depends on the situation where children are involved in what kind of activities. Some common negative effects are:

  • Increased level of anxiety and stress
  • Decreasing social interaction
  • Decreasing creativity and imagination level
  • More physically exhausted
  • Decreasing academic performance
  • Increasing risk of illness and injury

Notice these common negative effects on children and help them to lead a healthy and happy life and you can get more tips by pursuing our Diploma in Counselling Course for Teachers as well.

Effective Tips for Teachers to help their Overprogrammed Children:

1. Encourage students to prioritize their activities

It is important for students to learn how to prioritize their activities and to focus on the ones that are most important to them. Encourage them to think about what activities bring them the most joy and fulfillment, and to prioritize those over activities that may be causing them stress or burnout.

2. Help Students to Manage Their Time

Time management is a skill that every child should learn as early as possible in their life. Have a conversation with your students and help them to create a scheduled routine that allows time for everything which is important, academic study, extracurricular activities, and most importantly to have fun and relaxation time. Teach them to take frequent breaks throughout the day when it’s necessary to recharge themselves for leading a healthy life.

3. Teach Students Stress Management Skills

Stress management techniques can be a valuable tool for students who are feeling overwhelmed or overprogrammed. Teach them techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help them manage their stress levels and stay calm and focused.

4. Encourage Your Student to Communicate

As a Teacher, you need to make an environment that is supportive and where your students can come freely and can communicate with you about how are they feeling and about their experiences and concern regarding which they can ask for help if necessary.

How Can You Help Your Student to Balance their Overprogrammed Schedule?

As a teacher, it is important to be aware of the challenges that overprogrammed students face. By identifying the signs of over-programming and helping students find a healthy balance between their academic work and extracurricular activities, you can help them manage their stress and avoid burnout. Encourage communication, prioritize activities, manage time, and teach stress management techniques to help students thrive both academically and personally. In addition, you can learn more counselling techniques by pursuing our Diploma in Counselling Course for Teachers as well.


Written By : Abhishek


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