--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many kids, particularly in lower-income…" description: "\"Many kids, particularly in lower-income families, would actually benefit from more structured activities. Plenty of children, especially teenagers, thr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carl-honor-10241_activities_many-kids-particularly-in-lower-income-f_688829.jpg" --- # Many kids, particularly in lower-income families, would… ![“Many kids, particularly in lower-income families, would actually benefit from more structured activities. Plenty of children, especially teenagers, thrive on a busy schedule. But just as other trappings of modern childhood, from homework to technology, are subject to the law of diminishing…” quote by Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carl-honor-10241_activities_many-kids-particularly-in-lower-income-f_688829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carl-honor-10241_activities_many-kids-particularly-in-lower-income-f_688829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carl-honor-10241_activities_many-kids-particularly-in-lower-income-f_688829.jpg) > “Many kids, particularly in lower-income families, would actually benefit from more structured activities. Plenty of children, especially teenagers, thrive on a busy schedule. But just as other trappings of modern childhood, from homework to technology, are subject to the law of diminishing returns, there is a danger of overscheduling the young.” [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author warns that while structured activities benefit children, excessive scheduling can diminish returns and harm development. **In simple terms:** Too many activities can hurt kids. Key Takeaway Balance structure with free time. Themes parenting education balance Mood thoughtful advisory balanced Type parenting educational When to use this quote - family planning - school curricula - after‑school programs Key Concepts developmental psychology time management child welfare Questions to Reflect On - What is the optimal activity load? - How can we ensure free play? A Different Perspective Excessive scheduling may increase stress and reduce creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activities/) [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Benefit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefit/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Schedule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-schedule/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Overscheduling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-overscheduling-5476978/) [Diminishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diminishing/) [Especially Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-teenagers-2499030/) [Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Homework](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homework/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-childhood-2719279/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Overscheduling Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overscheduling-young-5476977/) [Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particularly/) [Plenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plenty/) [Returns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/returns/) [Schedule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedule/) [Structured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structured/) [Structured Activities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structured-activities-5476979/) [Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers/) [Thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive/) [Trappings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trappings/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [“As parents, we sometimes mistakenly assume that things were always this way. They weren't. The modern family is just that - modern - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-senior/as-parents-we-sometimes-mistakenly-assume-that-things-were-always/) [Jennifer Senior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-senior/) > [Relationships change even more than people. It's like two people changing. It's exponentially more volatile. Especially two teenagers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/relationships-change-even-more-than-people-it-s-like-two-people/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [There are a million moving parts to raising kids, and you can't always anticipate them all, especially when they are teenagers and their peers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/there-are-a-million-moving-parts-to-raising-kids-and-you-can-t-always/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Kids can be annoying. Especially teenagers - oh my gosh. They can be cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-jennings/kids-can-be-annoying-especially-teenagers-oh-my-gosh-they-can-be-cruel/) [Jazz Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-jennings/) > [Women are dealing with the same thing: they're dealing with expectations about how they're supposed to look and how they're supposed to interact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/women-are-dealing-with-the-same-thing-they-re-dealing-with/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I take the subway all the time here in New York. I love people watching and trying to figure out everybody's background, especially teenagers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/i-take-the-subway-all-the-time-here-in-new-york-i-love-people/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [Opera is full of trappings that make us go away from being human. You can't let them do that. You can't walk like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nelson-reilly/opera-is-full-of-trappings-that-make-us-go-away-from-being-human-you/) [Charles Nelson Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nelson-reilly/) > [Nas has always been uncomfortable with being famous and accessible. Nas makes music because he loves music, not because he wants the trappings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stoute/nas-has-always-been-uncomfortable-with-being-famous-and-accessible/) [Steve Stoute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stoute/) > [It's always been about making music. I've never gotten caught up with the trappings. You can't get caught up in the limousines and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/it-s-always-been-about-making-music-i-ve-never-gotten-caught-up-with/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [“The trappings of success bring the opposite of success in the ways most meaningful to people's lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-trappings-of-success-bring-the-opposite-of-success-in-the-ways/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I am not tempted by God but I love his trappings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-am-not-tempted-by-god-but-i-love-his-trappings/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Money, success, and the external trappings have chased after me wherever I have gone. These things show up in my life, and I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/money-success-and-the-external-trappings-have-chased-after-me/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [When I realized that nothing is perfect and no one is perfect, I was able to overcome my initial fears. I was holding myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinessa-shaw/when-i-realized-that-nothing-is-perfect-and-no-one-is-perfect-i-was/) [Vinessa Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinessa-shaw/) > [There are trappings of science fiction which I kind of embrace, but there are also cliches which I run from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/there-are-trappings-of-science-fiction-which-i-kind-of-embrace-but/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [“I've always been after the trappings of great luxury. But all I've got hold of are the trappings of great poverty. I've got hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-ve-always-been-after-the-trappings-of-great-luxury-but-all-i-ve-got/) [Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/) ## More by Carl Honore > [“Speed can give you a great feeling of excitement, and there is a place for that in life and in music," says Kliemt. "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/speed-can-give-you-a-great-feeling-of-excitement-and-there-is-a-place/) [Carl Honoré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [I always felt through writing that I wanted to rotate the world slightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/i-always-felt-through-writing-that-i-wanted-to-rotate-the-world/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [In this media-drenched, multitasking, always-on age, many of us have forgotten how to unplug and immerse ourselves completely in the moment. We have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/in-this-media-drenched-multitasking-always-on-age-many-of-us-have/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [Whether it's mending a failing company, fighting corruption, tackling disease, or rebuilding a marriage, the hardest problems defy just-add-water remedies. Indeed, slapping on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/whether-it-s-mending-a-failing-company-fighting-corruption-tackling/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [Warnings about children being overscheduled, racing from one enriching activity to the next, first surfaced in the early 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/warnings-about-children-being-overscheduled-racing-from-one-enriching/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [Smaller families mean we have more time and money to lavish on each child. Parents are more anxious because small families give them less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/smaller-families-mean-we-have-more-time-and-money-to-lavish-on-each/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [In this media-drenched, data-rich, channel-surfing, computer-gaming age, we have lost the art of doing nothing, of shutting out the background noise and distractions, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/in-this-media-drenched-data-rich-channel-surfing-computer-gaming-age/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [“While the rest of the world roars on, a large and growing minority is choosing not to do everything at full-throttle. In every human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/while-the-rest-of-the-world-roars-on-a-large-and-growing-minority-is/) [Carl Honoré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [I love all this stuff. I look at all the gadgets that come out and I think, ‘Oh, this fix works for me. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/i-love-all-this-stuff-i-look-at-all-the-gadgets-that-come-out-and-i/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [Slow parents understand that childrearing should not be a cross between a competitive sport and product-development. It is not a project; it's a journey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/slow-parents-understand-that-childrearing-should-not-be-a-cross/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [This is where our obsession with going fast and saving time leads. To road rage, air rage, shopping rage, relationship rage, office rage, vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/this-is-where-our-obsession-with-going-fast-and-saving-time-leads-to/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [“Much has already been destroyed. We have forgotten how to look forward to things, and how to enjoy the moment when they arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/much-has-already-been-destroyed-we-have-forgotten-how-to-look-forward/) [Carl Honoré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [“When people moan, “Oh, I’m so busy, I’m run off my feet, my life is a blur, I haven’t got time for anything,” what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/when-people-moan-oh-i-m-so-busy-i-m-run-off-my-feet-my-life-is-a-blur/) [Carl Honoré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [I could be working 300 hours a week. I just say 'no.' The power of slow is the power of no. I can't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/i-could-be-working-300-hours-a-week-i-just-say-no-the-power-of-slow/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [You may have heard of the Slow Movement, which challenges the canard that faster is always better. You don't have to ditch your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/you-may-have-heard-of-the-slow-movement-which-challenges-the-canard/) [Carl Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) [Explore all 67 Carl Honore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) ## More Activities quotes > [“Doing activities that you love to do, even a few minutes a day, can help you experience more flow, improve your well-being, and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-e-smith/doing-activities-that-you-love-to-do-even-a-few-minutes-a-day-can/) [Laurie E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-e-smith/) > [The activities that went on at Camp King between 1946 and the late 1950s have never been fully accounted for by either the Department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-activities-that-went-on-at-camp-king-between-1946-and-the-late/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [I was pursuing the arts with theater in school, and I was doing after-school activities, but not in any real movement towards a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-was-pursuing-the-arts-with-theater-in-school-and-i-was-doing-after/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [A day at the beach with my kids is one of the least relaxing activities I can think of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-morocco/a-day-at-the-beach-with-my-kids-is-one-of-the-least-relaxing/) [Chris Morocco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-morocco/) > [I love downtown Seattle. It's a city that has all of the outdoor activities and is still a very cosmopolitan city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lemond/i-love-downtown-seattle-it-s-a-city-that-has-all-of-the-outdoor/) [Greg LeMond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lemond/) > [We didn't discuss Covid at home and did activities like Tik Tok to divert our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuzvendra-chahal/we-didn-t-discuss-covid-at-home-and-did-activities-like-tik-tok-to/) [Yuzvendra Chahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuzvendra-chahal/) > [The United Nations will be at the heart of our international activities. France will assume its full responsibilities at the Security Council by putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/the-united-nations-will-be-at-the-heart-of-our-international/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [In my spare time, I volunteer at my daughters' schools so I can stay involved with the activities and parent/teacher community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-johnson/in-my-spare-time-i-volunteer-at-my-daughters-schools-so-i-can-stay/) [Belinda Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-johnson/) > [“Society has got a lot of activities and attractions to steal your time and to make you think less about your diminishing life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/society-has-got-a-lot-of-activities-and-attractions-to-steal-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I had never been much for outdoor activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-blake/i-had-never-been-much-for-outdoor-activities/) [Amanda Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-blake/) > [At Natura, we have long been committed to measure and improve the impacts of our activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guilherme-leal/at-natura-we-have-long-been-committed-to-measure-and-improve-the/) [Guilherme Leal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guilherme-leal/) > [There is much more to schools than buildings. There are academic activities, how it reaches the community and its proximity to other programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warner/there-is-much-more-to-schools-than-buildings-there-are-academic/) [John Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warner/) > [To the best of my knowledge, when I became national secretary and, indeed, Victorian secretary, the - my predecessors in the union had detected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-when-i-became-national-secretary-and/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Activism could be defined as activities engaged in by individuals to change there of others situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edwards/activism-could-be-defined-as-activities-engaged-in-by-individuals-to/) [Ben Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edwards/) > [Sin may result from activities that begin innocently or that are perfectly legitimate in moderation, but in excess they can cause us to veer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/sin-may-result-from-activities-that-begin-innocently-or-that-are/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) [Browse all 215 Activities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many kids, particularly in lower-income families, would actually benefit from more structured activities. Plenty of children, especially teenagers, thrive on a busy schedule. 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