Ages and Stages 6 to 10

Your after school schedule may consist of soccer practice, saxophone lesson, Explorers Club, and kickboxing classes. You hope all this fun and enrichment keeps your child busy and fulfilled. So why, do school age children say the main reason they're not happy is they're bored? That is the finding in a recent study from England. How can that be?

While kids say they're bored, it's actually a lack of satisfaction they're experiencing, contends lead study author Karen Pine, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Psychology. "Kids often have so much on their plate that they don't feel they have enough time to play and enjoy the things they want to do. Dr. Pine offers tips on helping kids stay motivated and happy:

1. Stop over scheduling. Instead, give our child time after school or on the weekends to pursue his own hobbies and spend time with friends.

2. Let them be. Kids can find their own way to amuse and fulfill themselves which spark curiosity and creativity.

3. Welcome the Web. In moderation, online comm unities can help kids share ideas and develop social skills. Sign you child up in a protected kids' site and encourage responsible usage.