Background: The activity patterns of children, especially after-school patterns, are receiving more professional attention. However, evidence regarding the value of various activities in children's lives is contradictory. The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of discretionary activities, overscheduling, and levels of stress from…

In an effort to standardize training delivery and to individualize staff development based on observation and reflective practice, the Air Force implemented the Developmental Training Model (DTM) in its Child Development Programs. The goal of the Developmental Training Model is to enhance high quality programs through improvements in the training…

Far too much curriculum time in primary schools is overly regulated and assessment driven, with the result that many children attending them are either bored or made to feel anxious. The antidote to this tendency is for teachers to rediscover the value of deregulated ("wasted") curriculum time via a renewed commitment to the value of play,…

Contrary to popular hypothesis, recent research rejects the notion that most or even many children and youth are over-scheduled and are suffering as a result. In fact, less than one in ten could be described as over-scheduled. Moreover, research indicates that only six in ten children and youth participate in organized out-of-school activities at…

This article details the school-readying routines Western Australian mothers employ in their efforts to dispatch children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder off to school in a timely manner. A grounded theory of instilling an awareness of time emerged from the data. In seeking to instill an awareness of time, mothers reveal…

Changing the scheduling system in a pediatric outpatient clinic from time-based (15-minute block scheduling) to problem-based (more extensive treatment needs scheduled for longer time blocks) resulted in a substantial decrease in waiting time by patients across all presenting problems and in increased availability of extra staff time. (Author/JW)