Overscheduling children with sports, lessons and academics may increase stress and anxiety, making free time an important part of healthy development. Children who participate in too much may develop “hurried child syndrome,” a term coined by developmental psychologist David Elkind. Elkind suggests kids are being pushed to grow up too fast by maintaining these jam-packed schedules. Health experts suggest prioritizing quality over quantity when it comes to the activities that children participate in and leaving time for free moments. The threshold of overscheduling varies by child, and parents should watch for signs of burnout.