Originally Posted by ashley
Lack of free, unstructured time is not an indicator of hothousing - most intense, gifted kids that I know are busy doing something structured that they hardly have any free time (I know a few that are very good at violin, chess and soccer and each of them is so busy at a young age).

Unstructured play has so many cognitive, emotional, and social benefits that failure to provide it should be considered a failure to properly nurture your child in all three domains.
http://www.psmag.com/books-and-culture/value-unstructured-play-time-kids-81177
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/08...y-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain