I have blogged about sports a few time before as TFT (sports fans and sports heroes) and now I have yet another one to ponder! A friend of me was telling me recently about her kindergarten-aged son who has just started wrestling. It had me taken aback somewhat to think about little kids wrestling, mostly because of all the contact and the potential to get hurt. Kids are even playing football as early as 1st grade (as one little kid recently told me). MN is also a huge hockey state and many people start their kids skating at age 3. I also know of many little girls who start dancing at age 2!!! It sure seems like kids are starting sports younger and younger these days! I have to admit that by the age of 4 my mom also had me enrolled in a ton of sports; we belonged to the YMCA and she sure took advantage of every possible sport we could participate in (as long as we were willing!) I played soccer, gymnastics, floor hockey, and t-ball.
What are your thoughts on kids starting sports so early? Is it okay as long as they want to play? Do you consider some sports more appropriate than others at a younger age?? How old were you when you started playing sports?
Other TFT posts this week:
I can't believe how early it starts these days. I sometimes wonder if it is to get the kids out of the parents hair sometimes. I think it is fine if they want to. I say when they are unhappy it is time to drop it. Why drag a kid to do something they hate and waste everyone's time. I think the earliest I started was swimming, really early, other than that it was little league at 9. I know we had my stepson in stuff at kindergarten. I becomes all consuming and we never have time to do "family" stuff anymore. That is the part I hate.
Posted by: Robyn | October 30, 2008 at 04:49 PM
What I hate is the fact that it feels like so much PRESSURE to start so early. And that if they don't, then they're "behind" when it was previously normal to start in elementary school. Everyone starts everything now before they even start school! So if I want to wait and let my kids play pick up games and just be kids while their little, by the time they get into school if they want to start playing soccer or football or whatever, they're already miles behind and kind of out of luck.
And what happened to it just being fun?? Now it's so expensive and so competitive so early and it's all so ridiculous that the kids are drained by it by the time they're 10!!
Posted by: heather | October 30, 2008 at 07:25 PM
What I hate is the fact that it feels like so much PRESSURE to start so early. And that if they don't, then they're "behind" when it was previously normal to start in elementary school. Everyone starts everything now before they even start school! So if I want to wait and let my kids play pick up games and just be kids while their little, by the time they get into school if they want to start playing soccer or football or whatever, they're already miles behind and kind of out of luck.
And what happened to it just being fun?? Now it's so expensive and so competitive so early and it's all so ridiculous that the kids are drained by it by the time they're 10!!
Posted by: heather | October 30, 2008 at 07:27 PM
I have to wonder if parents start their kids in sports younger now just in case there's that chance they can develop into a professional sports figure. I think younger than 4 or 5 seems too young. My nephew started hockey (or skating, I guess) when he was 4 and started t-ball this year. I don't know if he is into either of the sports as much as his parents want him to be. I think football and wrestling and rougher sports should come around 8-10 years old. I didn't start playing softball until I was 10. I wanted to get enrolled in dance earlier than that but my parents couldn't afford it. I feel like I did not have the options for sports as much as the kids do now, whether it's with the school or outside of the school.
Posted by: Dana Leigh | October 30, 2008 at 09:55 PM
I have to wonder if parents start their kids in sports younger now just in case there's that chance they can develop into a professional sports figure. I think younger than 4 or 5 seems too young. My nephew started hockey (or skating, I guess) when he was 4 and started t-ball this year. I don't know if he is into either of the sports as much as his parents want him to be. I think football and wrestling and rougher sports should come around 8-10 years old. I didn't start playing softball until I was 10. I wanted to get enrolled in dance earlier than that but my parents couldn't afford it. I feel like I did not have the options for sports as much as the kids do now, whether it's with the school or outside of the school.
Posted by: Dana Leigh | October 30, 2008 at 09:56 PM
I know Tony has a huge love for sports and Lukas has seemed to pick that up as well. Lukas really does enjoy going outside and hitting the plastic balls with the plastic bat. And not to brag, but is really good at it! With him having an interest in baseball or Tball like that, I cant see why wouldnt try to see if he'd like to play on a tball team next year. It does sound kind of early, but as long as there is good coaching and have the attitude for fun and staying healthy with exercise, I think its okay for them to interact in sports. I definitely dont want to see it get competitive too early though.
Posted by: LeeAnn Howard | October 31, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I never played sports. I took ballet for maybe 6 weeks, I played piano for 8 years. I've got friends who have their kids in sports... one of them started playing hockey at 3 or 4. I don't know. I mean as long as they enjoy it and aren't pushed too hard and are just having fun, I don't think it's that bad. It's a different story if you are pushing your kid to play sports and they don't want to.
Jasmine has been playing piano for 18 months and just started dance in August. I do think that any sports no matter what age... the kids now would rather be in front of the TV than out playing in the yard. When we were younger, all summer we were outside running around. Now, I rarely see kids outside.
Posted by: Dana | October 31, 2008 at 09:29 AM
i've always been into sports and played and watched and loved. my son started hockey at 4 with his dad coaching. i was on board with it because i knew it was a "father-son bonding" thing and very important to his dad (my ex). my ex lost his dad at age 12 and i think he really had some great memories with his father while playing hockey.
i wasn't worried about the injury aspect then, because they can barely stand up for the first year or two, let alone be able to hurt each other. and they have strict rules about checking at that age.
it's perhaps more of a time commitment than i would like, but he absolutely loves it and has some solid friendships.
he has also played football, and plays baseball in the summer. i wouldn't sign him up if he didn't want to, he begs to play, and i think that's the most important. that he has fun and wants to do it. i don't have any expectations as long as he is having fun.
Posted by: jessica | October 31, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Well, Morgan is 3 and just started skating - we are Canadian so he will most likely play hockey!
Anyway, I think it depends on the kid. In this case, it's a parent and tot thing so Brad goes with him, the same as swimming lessons.
Brad really wants him to just be comfortable on the ice (since hockey is a totally social thing here, even Brad still plays). The swimming for me is a safety issue and both kids will be in swimming until they can safely swim alone.
I'm NOT into competitiveness though, that freaks me out. We are thinking of letting him do sportball if he wants as it's a non-competitive thing where the kids do ball oriented spots, just for fun.
Personally, if your child is interested and has some energy to burn off, I don't see anything wrong with it. It only bothers me if parents make their kids when they are really resistant which means they aren't interested/are too young/are too immature.
I'm all about the fun - if they like it and it's fun for them, go for it.
Posted by: Kim | October 31, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Our rule of thumb is basically that it's up to them. We were both athletes and would love to see them find a sport they enjoy, but we don't want them to feel like they have to.
No matter what school has to come first, though. This year Alyssa is so tired after school, so I didn't sign her up for anything. Even if she did play a sport at this age we would keep it to one night a week during the school year.
I don't agree with letting any sport become the center of your schedule, life, etc no matter what age. I did that growing up in the gymnastics world...I had no childhood outside of the gym, and it really bit me in the butt when I quit gymnastics and didn't know how to live a life without sports.
I think you just have to find the balance that works best for your family, keeping the kid's best interests in mind.
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2008 at 04:41 PM