CC of @theflockingbennetts struck a chord with parents on TikTok when she asked, “Is it normal for my 7-year-old’s rec sports league to demand so much time?” Her video, detailing a schedule of practices Monday through Thursday from 6-8 p.m. plus Saturday games, sparked hundreds of comments from parents sharing their own experiences.
As a mom of five with four kids in sports, I get it. Sports have brought my kids focus, discipline, and joy, but keeping up with their schedules is exhausting. Like many parents, I grapple with how to support my children’s activities without losing myself in the process. I believe sports should fit into our family’s life—not the other way around.
This sentiment aligns with relationship expert Esther Perel, who shared with me on the Motherly podcast that she didn’t always attend her son’s games because she didn’t enjoy them. Moms matter too, and when our needs are constantly overlooked, the whole family feels it.
@theflockingbennetts Am I the crazy one to think 4 days plus gameday is too much for recreational sports at 7 years old? #momsoftiktok #momadvice #kidssports #sportsparents ♬ original sound – theflockingbennetts
In the comments, parents shared mixed perspectives on youth sports schedules:
- @Allieoope: “Ours is 1 day a week, 1 hour. Two days would be plenty.”
- @lew_0516: “Rec football/cheer is 4 days a week plus Saturday games. It’s a lot, but they like it.”
- @Noelle: “Rec sports need 1-2 hours a week, max. We save 5 days a week for competitive sports.”
- @Kimeco: “This sounds like a coach trying to turn rec into travel. One practice, one game a week is reasonable.”
- @Dee3: “It’s not too much for the kids. I think it’s too much for you.”
The comments revealed a tension many parents feel—balancing their children’s sports schedules with their own wellbeing.
Science backs up the concerns raised in CC’s video. Research published in the Economics of Education Review found that overscheduling children in extracurricular activities can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety, with diminishing returns on academic skills beyond a certain point.
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Developmental psychologist David Elkind, author of The Hurried Child, warns that “overloading kids with structured activities deprives them of unstructured playtime, which is crucial for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.”
Moreover, experts emphasize that moderation in extracurricular involvement is key, and parents should feel empowered to opt for lighter schedules or even skip activities entirely if it benefits the family dynamic. Downtime is critical for children’s emotional and physical health, and choosing teams with more balanced schedules is not only acceptable but often better for the child’s overall development.
CC’s story reminds us that supporting our kids doesn’t mean sacrificing ourselves. Parents, it’s okay to say no to overwhelming schedules. Sometimes, less really is more—for both your kids and your family.
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