Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. Their school days are busy enough. However, after school Cathy takes the two boys from football to basketball. Then she has to take her daughter to piano lessons. The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and then it’s time for homework.
The Taylors are like many American and British parents. They take their children from activity to activity. Doctors say many children are under too much pressure. Teachers complain about teaching tired kids in the classroom.
Most children take part in after-school clubs. Activities include sports, language learning, music, and math classes. Now parents seem to push their children a lot more. They see other children doing a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same.
Linda Miller, a mother of three in London, knows all about such pressure. “In some families, competition starts from a very young age,” She says. “ Mothers send their kids to all kinds of classes when they are very young. And they are always comparing them with other children. It’s crazy. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.
Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older. “ Parents are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them. When these kids are adults, they might find it difficult to plan things for themselves.” Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves. On the one hand, children need organized activities. On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.
小题1:When do Cathy Taylor’s three children got home every day?
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小题2:What is the result(结果) of thinking too many activities to kids?
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小题3:Why do the parents make their children take part in all kinds of after-school clubs?
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小题4:Does Linda Miller agree to push kids so hard?
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小题5:Why should parents learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves?
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