If they want to do nothing they better get their resume intact.

 

Now you're talkin'! :thumb:

Now you're talkin'! :thumb:

I can't understand letting a kid just sit around and do nothing. Both my brother and I were HIGHLY involved with sports and other extra-curricular activities. We also worked during the summers and did seasonal farm work.

I would never force my kids to do something. I would strongly encourage them to give it a try, and if they didn't like it, then they wouldn't have to play again. They would finish out the season. I'll never let them quit something, unless there is a very strong reason in which I agree with. So far I've been very fortunate with my daughter. We had her try soccer at 2, and now we can't keep her off the field. Between soccer and baseball, she plays year round. My boy starts soccer tomorrow at the age of 2 also, so we'll see how that goes.

I can't understand letting a kid just sit around and do nothing. Both my brother and I were HIGHLY involved with sports and other extra-curricular activities. We also worked during the summers and did seasonal farm work.

 

Agree. If you're going to be at home, the house better be spotless, the laundry done, & the yard/landscaping looking nice.

Like, say, cheerleading?

 

My daughter wanted to quit basketball and be a cheerleader in 8th grade. I said you don't have to play basketball but you absolutely cannot be a cheerleader!

 

She had already promised the 8th grade coach that she would play ball so I told her if she didn't want to play, she had to be the one to call him if she was going to go back on her word...and she still couldn't be a cheerleader!

I know to many parents who are reliving their glory (or lack there of) days through their kids. I adamantly would not even consider forcing a kid to play sports.

I would never force my kids to do something. I would strongly encourage them to give it a try, and if they didn't like it, then they wouldn't have to play again. They would finish out the season. I'll never let them quit something, unless there is a very strong reason in which I agree with. So far I've been very fortunate with my daughter. We had her try soccer at 2, and now we can't keep her off the field. Between soccer and baseball, she plays year round. My boy starts soccer tomorrow at the age of 2 also, so we'll see how that goes.

 

I agree with you except that some kids are harder to "strongly encourage" and may need to be forced into trying something. That kid may already be convinced they aren't going to like something even if they've never tried it. I agree that after they try it and finish the season without being allowed to quit, if they don't like it, they won't have to do it again.

I agree with you except that some kids are harder to "strongly encourage" and may need to be forced into trying something. That kid may already be convinced they aren't going to like something even if they've never tried it. I agree that after they try it and finish the season without being allowed to quit, if they don't like it, they won't have to do it again.

 

Each kid is definitely different, but I personally could never force my child to try something. For instance, my daughter likes to shoot hoops on our little plastic goal that goes up to 8'. I constantly ask if she wants me to sign her up, and she still says no. This past weekend, she made her first shot on a regulation goal with a men's ball. Now she wants a real goal at home. Well, now I'm back to trying to convince her to play basketball next winter. If she continually says no, I'm still not going to force her even though I know she'll enjoy it. The kid loves her soccer and baseball, so I really can't complain.

I'll be bummed if my future kids don't want to play sports. I wouldn't ever force them to play though. I could see myself doing things like take them to football/baseball/basketball games in an attempt to get them excited about athletics.

I dunno...I personally did a LOT of activities in high school. I played football, I was in student senate, I was in speech/drama, and I participated in the Cov Cath/Notre Dame plays. I also tried out a couple things like throwing shot & discus, the quick recall team, and a few other various clubs. As I figured out what I liked and the sports and activities that I wanted to make my priorities, I dropped the others that I didn't want to do so much. Shot & discus, quick recall, ski club, and a few others of that type didn't make the cut. I don't see anything wrong with that...

I dunno...I personally did a LOT of activities in high school. I played football, I was in student senate, I was in speech/drama, and I participated in the Cov Cath/Notre Dame plays. I also tried out a couple things like throwing shot & discus, the quick recall team, and a few other various clubs. As I figured out what I liked and the sports and activities that I wanted to make my priorities, I dropped the others that I didn't want to do so much. Shot & discus, quick recall, ski club, and a few others of that type didn't make the cut. I don't see anything wrong with that...

Did you drop them mid-season?

I'll be bummed if my future kids don't want to play sports. I wouldn't ever force them to play though. I could see myself doing things like take them to football/baseball/basketball games in an attempt to get them excited about athletics.

Excellent strategy!

Did you drop them mid-season?

 

Not "mid-season", per se. Maybe like 4 or 5 weeks in...

I'll be bummed if my future kids don't want to play sports. I wouldn't ever force them to play though. I could see myself doing things like take them to football/baseball/basketball games in an attempt to get them excited about athletics.

 

I remember my dad waking me up at night to watch the Twins clinch in the final inning of the 1991 World Series. I also have clear memories of when he let me stay up with him to watch Cal Ripken break Lou Gehrig's Ironman streak. I've loved baseball my whole life. If this was his strategy... it worked.

Like FKYW said... If my future kids aren't involved in sports, they better build one heck of a resume. My family is very sports oriented though, so hopefully that continues when I have kids. People who actively participate in sports are a little more prepared for life. They learn how to work hard, work in teams, respect authority, develop social skills, and improve their physical fitness. I never want one of my kids to pass up that opportunity.