It's amazing the opportunities our kids have these days. Boys or girls, they can pretty much find a club or team for every activity in the world, especially if they're in a very populated area like our author (who lives in northern NJ). At some point in their lives, they'll have to narrow their field down into one or two things, but in their very young years, they can expose themselves to as many things as you can handle, right? Click here to read the article ...

A fine line indeed!

I too have my daughter in lots of things.  All of them are of her choosing - to some extent.  As in 'do you want to do dance or gymnastics?'  Left to her own devices, I'm sure she'd be happy watching Nick Jr and playing Webkinz.  Whatever we begin, we do at least one season/year.  If she wants to sample something new the next year, so be it.

I was a swimmer my whole life.  I did band for 6 years, and did other sports from 7th grade on, but primarily a swimmer.  My most consistent friends were swimmers.  It provided a meditative environment, a great workout, and a lifelong skill.  I would NEVER have stuck with it were it not just an assumed activity.  I don't recall EVER being asked - 'do you want to be on teh swim team this year?'  It was a deftly handled foregone conclusion.  For that, I'll be forever grateful.  

At the same time, I was never pushed.  Sure, I missed hanging out at the burger joint after school.  On weekends I was at swim meets instead of playing mud ball with some rag tag group.  It definitely altered my life.  If I had it all to do over, I wouldn't change.

So, for Scarlet...I picked up a book called 'The Training of a Tiger' by Tiger's dad.  It mostly talks about how NOT to force your kid to do stuff.  I agree with this method.  At least until 12-13 years.  If you have a knack, are generally healthy, and then get exposed, I firmly believe six years is plenty of time to become collegiate competitive.  No need to go bell to bell from the age of 3 to get ready for being 18.

 

Another great article.  Thanks. 

Great article XY!  I agree with Chilly-It is important to finish out the season-if your child doesn't like it move on.  It all goes to trust and honesty- I hope I don't push my kids to much were they can't say to me "I do not like soccer."  It goes with trust and open communication. 

I was in choir-music is an awesome activity.  DH wants DS to go into sports like himself.  We get out the bat and Nolan will play but when he is done playing we are done.  True talent comes from practice-and a true love for the sport/activity 

 That chilly guy is pretty smart;)

I want Brad and Liv to experience as much as possible... So in the future they can pick out something they like to do. I will not push them... however they will be forced to finish out a season.

Brad wasn't liking soccar when we first started, by the end of the season though he really liked it...I think it was a great confidence booster for him after he learned the game a lil more... he has ask if he can play again this season coming... so we will see.

Liv loves her dance class and would prolly go every day of  the week if she could... shes totally into it.

My goal in this department of raising is to be sure that either of my children do not have too much on their plat at once.... 1 activity pre season.... thats it.

I totally agree with chilly-in-NY great points!

Zoe partakes in girl scouts, choir, band, drama, basketball, and she cheers... seems like a bit much, I know. I never planned  for it to happen like this but if she ask I don't want to snub her. You never know where your kids is going to excel. So I let her dabble in it all. I don't want to push her , so I let it be her decision. As busy as we are we still spend plenty of time together. 

Zoe's career in extra curriculum didn't start until she was school aged, BTW. We had plenty to keep us busy together in the great wide open that things like that weren't necessary. Fishing, hiking, camping and biking all that outdoorsy stuff we dabbled in that early in life.

Zoe maintains a 4.0 on top of all her extras, which I am proud of. she's learned how to multitask while juggling her schedule. When she has bitten off more then she can chew shes not affraid to throw up that flag and let me know that's she's in need of a break, which we take.

 

My kids took an interest in sports as soon as they could walk ( their dad was a great athlete) , so they played soccer, baseball, basketball,  and football.  As soon as one sport ended, another one started. Soccer was played year-round on a traveling club team. In high school they had to specialize.. One chose football, the other basketball. They both excelled as athletes.

They also took an interest in guitar and drums, so they had private lessons as long as they wanted them (until they discovered driving).

I grew up taking ballet lessons and piano lessons from an early age. I gave up on piano in high school but stuck with ballet through college and even majored in it.  I'm glad I had continuous extra-curricular activities. I was too busy to get into much trouble, and it worked for my kids, too.