And many middle schoolers dive right in.

This is mostly good. Activities are fun and build friendships. They teach respect for peers and adult leaders. They steer children away from simply “hanging out.” And they are an important part of a successful college application.

But there can be too much of a good thing. Academics are the most important part of school. If your child has three activities a night and is too tired to crack a book, it’s time to cut back.

In general, children should spend less than 20 hours a week on extracurricular activities. Sometimes there are special cases. For example, there might be extra practice during the week of a play or show. Plan ahead of time to get schoolwork done.

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