Parenting expert Jo Frost, who rose to fame with the Channel 4 show Supernanny, has issued a warning to parents about a common mistake that could lead to their children becoming stressed and unruly.
Despite the show ending in 2008, Frost has continued to be a respected figure in parenting advice, offering guidance to hundreds of parents, including through her Instagram account where she has amassed over 600,000 followers.
In her latest Instagram Story, she highlighted an issue many parents overlook. While it's often thought that keeping children busy is beneficial, Frost pointed out that over-scheduling can actually harm their well-being.
She advised her followers to avoid filling their children's schedules to the brim, suggesting instead that they allow kids time to "potter" and "play". According to Frost, packing a child's day with activities might indicate a parent's reluctance to spend quality time with them.
She explained: "Many of you schedule because you find it hard to be with your children. But, they are stressed out because it's too much - [resulting in] unruly behaviour and backchat."
Frost urged families to "reset, reclaim your rest and relax as a family," reminding parents not to over-schedule their children's daily routines. Children need time to engage in unstructured play and just be themselves without the pressure to perform, she said.
To address this issue, Frost suggests incorporating spontaneity into children's lives, which allows them to express their creativity, enjoy time with their parents, and even experience boredom occasionally.
This approach, she believes, can help reduce the exhaustion that comes from being constantly on the go. And many people concurred with Supernanny's guidance.
One individual commented: "I believe I was over-scheduled as a child. I rebelled a lot." And another person echoed this sentiment, stating: "At 18 when it was time for college I already felt burned out."
