That is the question I have been asking myself lately when it comes to getting my kids involved in sports/activities. I was in 4-H and piano growing up and also started wrestling in 2nd grade through my high school years. I started working at a greenhouse when I was in third grade earning less than a dollar an hour! Crazy to think about. I like the fact that I was involved in several different things growing up because it gave me experiences that I use in my life. But I find myself wondering what activities do I want my kids to be involved in and what are my reasons for it.
Getting involved in sports
This is one of the biggest challenges for parents and kids alike it seems like in today’s society. I live in a small town, which seems like the pressure should be less when it comes to being involved at a young age, but I find that it is just as much. In a large city, if your kid does not start participating in sports at a young age, the common thought pattern is that the chances of them making any level of that sport in high school is slim to none. In a small town, if you do not start your kid young, the chances of them making the varsity line up or your team ever building a long term successful program is diminished if enough parents don’t commit to getting their kids involved. It seems more and more people I know are getting their kids involved younger and younger and bringing them to a tournament half across the state because that is what it takes if you want them playing varsity or if you want a state winning team later. Gone are the days of going out for a sport to simply have fun and to learn teamwork skills. You go out for sports to compete at the highest level and to win titles. At least that is the way it seems listening to people talk. I am not sure where I fall in this realm. It is fun to be successful and hard work paying off teaches a lot of values, but the thought process that if you don’t start them young they have no chance to succeed seems counter-intuitive to me. My daughter tried basketball because her friends were in it for two years and this year decided she did not want to do it. It was a relief to me. She wasn’t having fun and I knew her playing time was going to get less and less because she is not Maya Moore nor cared to want to practice hard enough to become her. I have not put my two boys in any sports yet because they have not shown much interest in any of them and would rather play at home with each other and friends. Maybe by the time they want to join, it will be to late. I guess we will cross that bridge when it comes. Sports are great for kids as they teach them a lot. So my hope is that if my kids want to join sports when they are older, they are not discouraged by those that have been there for since their youth. Or told they have no chance for playing time because they have not been a part of the team all along.
Getting involved in activities
Another challenge. What activities does a person put their children in. My daughter is musically inclined and has been taking piano lessons but does not love them. Loves to play piano but is lazy musically like I was when I was younger. She is talented but wants to play music by ear and just learn on her own. I would rather her learn with an instructor because she will be a better player that way and learn more but I do not like forcing her either. I am thinking we will try 4-H one of these years, though I did not love it as a kid, but it taught me a lot about deadlines and different interests that I maybe did not know I had as a kid growing up. I was also in band from 5th grade through my senior year and will more than likely have my kids at least be in band and or choir in junior high years, but then if they want in high school will be up to them. I will encourage them to as band/choir/knowledge bowl/math league/speech team/FFA etc… are great activites to be in and kids can learn a lot of life skills from them and also look great on a resume.
Whats your thoughts on this? I don’t want my kids to just sit at home and not be involved but it is tougher to be a casual participant in youth sports and activities. Tried and there is a lot of pressure on the kids to make every practice and go to all the games everywhere. So I will have to come up with other ideas so my kids stay active and learn those important team work, hard work leads to success, winning and losing skills that are very important.
Day number 25 for me during my Whole 30 and going strong. This time next week I will have started adding some food groups back to try and find out what my issue is. I think I have found one food as tomatoes have given me instant heart burn and makes my stomach upset. Which really stinks as spaghetti is my favorite food.
