08/28/2026
UNPOPULAR OPINION: Kids do not need more activities.
Some kids desperately need to be home. 🤍
And I think we’ve gotten so caught up in giving our kids the “best childhood” that we’ve accidentally convinced ourselves that childhood has to be FULL.
Sports.
Dance.
T-ball.
Gymnastics.
Music.
Playdates.
Camps.
Birthday parties.
Library story time.
Church activities.
Lessons.
Field trips.
And then we wonder why our kids are melting down in the car on the way home.
Maybe they’re not “acting out.”
Maybe they’re exhausted.
Maybe their little nervous systems are begging for a break.
Because here’s the thing…
Your child doesn’t need a childhood packed with experiences to have a beautiful childhood.
Sometimes the best childhood memories are incredibly ordinary.
Running through the backyard barefoot.
Eating popsicles on the porch.
Making a fort out of couch cushions.
Watching a movie in pajamas at 2 PM.
Playing with the same toys they’ve had for three years.
Riding bikes until dinner.
Helping Mom make pancakes.
Lying on the floor coloring.
Getting bored.
And then figuring out what to do with that boredom.
We have somehow made “I’m bored” sound like an emergency.
It’s not.
Boredom isn’t something we always need to fix.
Sometimes boredom is where imagination begins.
Sometimes a slow afternoon at home is exactly what a child needs.
And I think we need to stop measuring good parenting by how busy our children’s calendars are.
Your child doesn’t need to have a new experience every weekend.
They don’t need to be signed up for five activities.
They don’t need a Pinterest-worthy childhood.
They need time.
Time to play.
Time to rest.
Time to daydream.
Time to be silly.
Time to be loud.
Time to be quiet.
Time to just exist without someone telling them what comes next.
And honestly?
Some kids thrive on busy schedules.
That’s wonderful.
If your child loves sports, activities, and being constantly on the go, keep doing what works for your family.
But some kids come home from an activity and completely unravel.
Some kids need hours of downtime.
Some kids are deeply affected by noise, crowds, transitions, unfamiliar environments, and constant stimulation.
Some kids don’t need another activity.
They need to take their shoes off…
crawl into your lap…
and be home.
And maybe that isn’t “doing less.”
Maybe that’s actually giving them exactly what they need.
I also think moms need permission to admit something:
You don’t have to fill every second of your child’s childhood to make it meaningful.
You don’t have to spend $300 every month on activities.
You don’t have to drive all over town every night.
You don’t have to say yes to every birthday party.
You don’t have to create a childhood that looks impressive from the outside.
Your kids aren’t going to grow up and say,
“Mom, thank you for making sure I had something scheduled every Tuesday night.”
They might remember the random Tuesday you made pancakes for dinner.
They might remember laying beside you watching a movie.
They might remember you sitting on the floor playing with them.
They might remember the summer afternoons when nobody had anywhere to be.
They might remember that home felt like a place where they could finally exhale.
And honestly…
I think that’s pretty dang beautiful.
So if your family is in a season of saying no to more activities…
if your weekends are intentionally slower…
if your kids spend a lot of time at home…
if you don’t feel the need to constantly entertain them…
you are not doing less for your kids.
You might be giving them something our overstimulated world doesn’t give them nearly enough of:
space.
Space to just be kids.
And maybe that’s exactly what childhood was supposed to be. 🤍
Tell me I’m not the only mom who thinks kids need more “nothing” days.
And if you know a mom who is exhausted from trying to keep up with the never-ending activity schedule, share this with her. 🤍
