For many children, the end of the school day heralds the start of a wealth of after-school activities.

From sport and music lessons to dance and drama, there are so many different things on offer it is possible to find something to interest even the most difficult-to-please child.

After-school activities can introduce children to a whole world of activities that are never even touched on by the school curriculum. But they can also help a child develop a deeper interest in something that they may only have time to sample during the school day, such as an interest in a sport, art or drama.

Enrolling in a club, or participating in a team activity, can also build confidence and develop social skills such as team working. But although there are great benefits to taking up after-school hobbies - and there is a lot to choose from - it can be easy for children to become over-scheduled.

Most adults are well aware of the need for a good work/life balance but, because children often seem to have boundless energy, we sometimes forget that it is equally important for children to have time to relax and unwind after a day at school.

Children, especially the younger ones, need time to absorb and process all the things they have learnt during the school day, and taking on too much outside of school hours can mean that class work gets less attention than it should.

It is, of course, vital to encourage children's enthusiasm for their hobbies and interests, but if you are concerned they may be over-stretching themselves, try to limit the new activities they take on to just one per term. This will give them a chance to really concentrate on one thing at a time, making it easier for them to absorb new information and still leave plenty of time to relax.

Best of all, it can help free up even more time for parents (who would otherwise be spending their time being an unpaid taxi service) to relax at home, while their children can practice and demonstrate their new found violin/football/acting skills to a captive audience.