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Parents w/ kids

Very important. Kids must be given something social to do or they will stagnate. Parents should not take kids sports too seriously, or they run the risk of becoming morons. Everyone knows this.
 
theflyingpig said:
Very important. Kids must be given something social to do or they will stagnate. Parents should not take kids sports too seriously, or they run the risk of becoming morons. Everyone knows this.
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When you were growing up did you organize the kids into a national democratic freedom defense league and teach them the proper operation and procedure to unjam, fire, and reload an ak-47 while fleeing from an invading army of oppressors?
 
I think it is very important ... socialization, learning sportsmanship, and plenty of exercise. Of course, my kids (1.5 and almost 4) aren't in anything yet, but they will be.
 
My kids are 7 and 6 and just started organized activities (outside of swimming lessons) for the first time this summer.

My son played baseball and my daughter is in gymnastics.

We don't take it especially seriously. I want them both to do their best and have fun. That's it.
 
7window said:
How important is organize sports for your kids? How serious do you take it?
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Absolutely non-existent, unless they choose to pursue it. Then it can be exactly equal to any other hobby, but never more so. It's NEVER important. Ever. There is nothing positive taught by sports that can't be taught another way, and too many negatives that are difficult if not impossible to avoid.
 
I've always advised parents to pick 1, maybe 2 sports & that's it. Once they get beyond a couple sports a year, it starts taking over the families life and actually gives the kids less time to, well, be kids. I've seen too many kids who are just TOO involved with sporting activities. The families rarely have any real family time - it's just hauling the kids all over the place/waiting for practices/games to get over. Starting at about 8 years old, some of the sports practice 5 or 6 nights a week, plus games. In my neck of the woods - including the city I used to live in, many of those games were out of town, involving a half hour drive or more. 1/2 hour wait until the game. Games last about an hour, then the drive back home. Other sports are far worse - I know families with young kids who pretty much pick them up after work and drive them to hockey games 1 1/2 hours away - many don't get home until 11pm or later, on school nights! I'm not just talking about "older kids" either - even some of the younger kids have schedules like this. A girl up the road from me often had hockey practices 1 hour away, let alone games; and that was at the age of 10. I know parents who have kids on travel volleyball teams who travel many hours for some of their games, not to mention half way across the country occasionally.

Toss in a 2nd kid and it gets even worse, unless they're twins. Different age groups often practice at different times, have games in different places, etc., and that's even if both kids are participating in the same sport. Those sports end up taking over the family's lives.
 
It's good that it gets them outside, meet new people, play a game, learn how to win and lose. We don't take it too seriously though.
 
DrPizza said:
Toss in a 2nd kid and it gets even worse, unless they're twins. Different age groups often practice at different times, have games in different places, etc., and that's even if both kids are participating in the same sport. Those sports end up taking over the family's lives.
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I'm currently in that situation and it's gonna get worse, with kid # 3 getting to the age to play. Currently each of my older kids take turns playing a season (switching between spring/fall & sometimes summer). Even harder since it's just me, w/ mom working 2nd shift.
 
I don't know if step kids count for your question, but not important at all unless they have some sort of inclination to do it themselves. Maybe suggest things if they seem interested in nothing, but don't force them into any sort of hobby.
 
child of wonder said:
My kids are 7 and 6 and just started organized activities (outside of swimming lessons) for the first time this summer.

My son played baseball and my daughter is in gymnastics.

We don't take it especially seriously. I want them both to do their best and have fun. That's it.
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How do you manage or will manage, if the time comes, if your son is not good enough he is in the bottom of the batting order?
 
dfuze said:
It's good that it gets them outside, meet new people, play a game, learn how to win and lose. We don't take it too seriously though.
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Unfortunately, as they get a little older, the coaches & other parents often take it TOO seriously. I mean t-ball practice. 6 days a week? Come on!
 
9 years old, city league soccer, 10 weeks, 2 days/week, spring and fall. No pressure from me. Will never let the sports rule the home life like travel ball. Grades first but he's smart like his Mother so that hasn't been an issue.
 
6 days a week for t-ball? Ours was luckily only 2x a week and that was with the league commish running our team (great guy w/ a lot of patience!)
 
I have no kids, but I think formal, structured, organized sports for kids is stupid. They are likely better off playing outside in unstructured environments. Maybe if they really like a certain sport, then they should be signed up for a league, but IMO, it's better off if kids are allowed more imagination and freedom and less rules.
 
PrinceofWands said:
Absolutely non-existent, unless they choose to pursue it. Then it can be exactly equal to any other hobby, but never more so. It's NEVER important. Ever. There is nothing positive taught by sports that can't be taught another way, and too many negatives that are difficult if not impossible to avoid.
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I have to agree with you but could you elaborate? My daughter is currently in club soccer and she has to drive two hours for a one hour game. The parents insanity is even worse.
 
AyashiKaibutsu said:
I don't know if step kids count for your question, but not important at all unless they have some sort of inclination to do it themselves. Maybe suggest things if they seem interested in nothing, but don't force them into any sort of hobby.
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Treat step kids different and it will show. They shold be fully integrated into the family unless they are old enough to reject the family unit.
 
I think it really depends on the age. I'm not going to force my kids into baseball/soccer/football/ect when they are young (pre-high school). If they are interested in it, great. But I won't sign them up because "it's what kids are supposed to do".

In high school on the other hand, I'll encourage sports entirely. There is just a combination of life skills and relationship building that happens there that can't be replicated in other areas. It's hard though, because if they don't do sports earlier then their skills/fundamentals in those games aren't as great later.
 
I won't force my kids into sports, but I will support it if they choose. There are so many other social activities that kids can be involved with that aren't competitive, so if my kid doesn't have a competitive nature, I won't mind. I know I didn't, I just rode BMX bikes, skateboarded and snowboarded with friends to pass the time and stay in shape.

I watched my nephew get really burned out with baseball and soccer, so I won't push my kids into that. Plus, some parents at these parks are crazy now, I hope I don't need to be around that crowd.
 
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DrPizza said:
I've always advised parents to pick 1, maybe 2 sports & that's it. Once they get beyond a couple sports a year, it starts taking over the families life and actually gives the kids less time to, well, be kids. I've seen too many kids who are just TOO involved with sporting activities. The families rarely have any real family time - it's just hauling the kids all over the place/waiting for practices/games to get over. Starting at about 8 years old, some of the sports practice 5 or 6 nights a week, plus games. In my neck of the woods - including the city I used to live in, many of those games were out of town, involving a half hour drive or more. 1/2 hour wait until the game. Games last about an hour, then the drive back home. Other sports are far worse - I know families with young kids who pretty much pick them up after work and drive them to hockey games 1 1/2 hours away - many don't get home until 11pm or later, on school nights! I'm not just talking about "older kids" either - even some of the younger kids have schedules like this. A girl up the road from me often had hockey practices 1 hour away, let alone games; and that was at the age of 10. I know parents who have kids on travel volleyball teams who travel many hours for some of their games, not to mention half way across the country occasionally.

Toss in a 2nd kid and it gets even worse, unless they're twins. Different age groups often practice at different times, have games in different places, etc., and that's even if both kids are participating in the same sport. Those sports end up taking over the family's lives.
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It seems like you encourage it and yet the middle of your post seems like its a lot of work and discouraging.
 
vi edit said:
I think it really depends on the age. I'm not going to force my kids into baseball/soccer/football/ect when they are young (pre-high school). If they are interested in it, great. But I won't sign them up because "it's what kids are supposed to do".

In high school on the other hand, I'll encourage sports entirely. There is just a combination of life skills and relationship building that happens there that can't be replicated in other areas. It's hard though, because if they don't do sports earlier then their skills/fundamentals in those games aren't as great later.
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Good point but how can you compete or join a h.s. sport when most of the kids on the team have several years experience doing the activity?
 
There are intermural sports in high school that the child is not expected to be completely proficient at.

Also, there is a difference in starting up a sport as a freshman in HS vs as a Senior.
If one has any skills and desire, they have the ability to compete. Desire will offer a chance to improve the skills.
 
7window said:
Good point but how can you compete or join a h.s. sport when most of the kids on the team have several years experience doing the activity?
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It really depends on the sport an the size of the school. If it's a smaller school (like I'm used to and my kids will go to) they'll take anyone that walks on because they need to fill positions. I played Ironman Football in HS...I sat out maybe 4 plays an entire game. And that was common. They'll teach you what you need to do to play your position.

Same thing with sports like cross country and track. You just show up and they work you into the mix. No real background required so long as you can move your feet and/or your arms.

But like I said...I came from a small school where every kid has a legitimate opportunity to play any sport. My wife has a similar high school experience even though she grew up 1000 miles away from me and it's the reason why we chose the school district we did to raise our kids in. It also helps that our school district is also one of the top 5% in academics in the state.
 
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