We might think flashcards, apps, and enrichment programs will launch our babies toward brilliance. Actually, babies don’t need a syllabus in the crib — they need play, curiosity, and connection.

It starts with one after-school activity — soccer, maybe. Then comes piano, karate, tutoring, coding, choir. Suddenly your seven-year-old has a calendar more crowded than your own, and you’re sprinting from one parking lot to the next like you’re competing in the Triathlon of Parenting. Let's explore why we do it, how it backfires, and how to reclaim sanity before you need an oil change every month.