I am a former preschool teacher and a mom of 3 teens. I worried about these things for years. Especially when other parents talked about their kids’ packed schedules of lessons and sports. We chose lazy afternoons, backyard play, and letting our kids dig in the landscaping (sorry, Dave!) instead of rushing to practices and weekend tournaments. But what actually happened? My kids developed problem-solving skills, learned to rely on each other, and found their own interests in their own time. Research shows children develop deeper skills when activities genuinely interest them. Your child’s unique path might surprise you if you let them take the lead. For parents feeling the pressure to fill every afternoon with structured activities: You have permission to choose differently. If you want to read more about this, comment AFTERNOONS and the bot will send you the link to the free article ❤️ #intentionalparenting #independentplay #parentingtips #afternoonsathome