To effectively prevent burnout, parents need a clear picture of what their child’s daily life actually looks like. Conducting a simple “life audit” can reveal imbalances between work, rest, and play that may be contributing to stress. A clinical psychologist’s framework provides a perfect model for this evaluation.
The foundation of this audit is the ‘Play-Rest-Learn’ balance proposed by clinical psychologist Meghna Kanwat, especially for younger children. Over a typical week, track the hours your child spends on each of these categories. How much time is dedicated to schoolwork and structured learning? How much is for unstructured, free play? And crucially, how much is for genuine rest and downtime?
For older students, the audit can be adapted. Look at the balance between academic work, structured extracurriculars, social time, and true downtime. This is where Kanwat’s concept of ‘Non-Academic Days’ becomes relevant. Does your teen have any time that is completely free from obligations and performance pressure? The results of this audit can be illuminating.
Once you have the data, you can identify areas of imbalance. Is the scale tipped too heavily towards “learn” with not enough “play” or “rest”? Is your teen’s schedule packed with no room for spontaneous fun or quiet reflection? This audit provides concrete evidence to guide conversations and decisions.
This is not about creating a perfectly rigid schedule, but about fostering a conscious awareness of how time is being spent. By regularly performing this simple audit, parents can make informed adjustments to their child’s routine, ensuring that their daily life is structured in a way that supports their well-being, not undermines it.