Why Overscheduling Your Child Might Be the Worst Parenting Advice We Normalized in Midtown Toronto

Welcome back to Ascend with Courtney Smith.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Ari Singer, a fellow Midtown mom and pediatrician specializing in child development, with extensive experience supporting neurodivergent children. Dr. Singer is deeply grounded in the science of how children’s brains actually develop, and she is unapologetically focused on what is developmentally appropriate, not what is socially normalized.
Children are not small adults.

And many of the expectations we place on them, especially in high-achieving, affluent households, are misaligned with what their nervous systems and minds truly need.

In this episode, we challenge modern parenting norms, particularly the pressure to overschedule children from an early age with two, three, four, or even five structured programs at once. We unpack why what feels productive, impressive, or responsible on the surface can quietly undermine emotional regulation, cognitive development, and long-term wellbeing.
Dr. Singer shares her family structure, what life looks like inside her own household, how she approaches balance during busy seasons like the holidays, and the science behind why less truly is more in early childhood.
I also share a personal moment.

Last fall, I overprogrammed my daughter Lauren before she started JK. What felt normal in our neighborhood was not actually what was best for her. The guidance I received from Ari was genuinely life-changing, and I have not looked back since.

If you are a mom who wants what’s best for your children, feels the pressure of comparison, and is questioning whether “busy” really equals “better,” this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
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Real estate: Midtown Toronto, Lawrence Park, Lytton Park, Bedford Park, Davisville, Leaside, Forest Hill