Sports for younger kids?
Posted August 27, 2015 - 9:38am
I really want my 4th grader to do a sport, but this would be our first time to do anything. Have you had particular success with a sport for your younger, not so athletic kiddo? We don't even know what to try. She just wants to read all the time, so she's not really giving me much input.
justamom
Make some suggestions. What does she like to do? There's swimming, biking, rollerskating, horse back riding, walking, bowling, ping pong. It sounds like she's not interested in competitive sports, so individual sounds like the way to go. Try to combine it with something she likes to do. If all else fails I used to send my kids outside & lock the door. I told them they had to spend an hour outside before I'd let them in unless it was too hot or raining of course.
CandyOvercaffed
Haha! Actually our biggest problem is we live in Houston so we can't just have her go play outside. With a regular heat index of over 100 degrees in summer months we have to get creative. You know, someone else suggested individual sports for her but I really wanted her to get a team experience because I think it's so valuable. Maybe I shouldn't be so stubborn?
Frugal Minded M...
My kids aren't overly athletic either, but when my daughter was in 4th grade we did do the swim team through the school. It was great in that they had terrific workouts for practice and where challenged to beat their own times, not really worry about others.
CandyOvercaffed
Swim is super competitive here. It's like a whole new world. Either those things didn't exist when I was growing up, or I lived in too rural of a community to experience it. It's hard to find activities in my suburban area that aren't overly competitive. :(
Mommy Ramblings
My kids are pretty athletic but what about track and field? Does your school offer that? Tennis as she gets older, golf?
sunnykathleen
At that age my daughter liked swimming, track and field and tennis. She tried volleyball in 6th grade as well. Good luck for your daughter!
CandyOvercaffed
Thanks! It's a tough sell but we are working on it.
Hallz105
She sounds like me as a kid! My parents put me on a bowling league. My kids think that is hilarious. Hubby is big into sports so all 3 of our kids started very young with basketball, baseball and soccer then football for my son. Is she shy? With softball, at-bats might be nerve wracking. Soccer seems pretty safe but she would need to be at least somewhat agressive to go after the ball. I wish I had some good advice — does she WANT to play a sport?
Frugal Minded M...
I was never a big sports person either. I tried gymnastics at around 7 and they were trying to teach me to do a one handed cart wheel before I could do a regular cartwheel. Then at 11, I tried soccer and we ended up loosing the championship game because I had my hands behind my back so I wouldn't touch the ball and the ball hit my hands. THe other team got a penalty shot and won the game. Those two events sort of ruined me for sports and honestly my kids aren't sport driven either.What I feel is in all honestly how many of these kids are going to get sports scholarships and is it worth giving away all your time and energy to go all out in it unless the child really loves it.
CandyOvercaffed
If she had her way she would just sit and read all day. The goal is to get her moving and give her the opportunity to learn more about a sport and playing on a team. With long school days and hot Houston weather, we can't just rely on old fashioned playing outside like we did when I was a kid. I agree - anything with a bat may be a bad fit!
Frugal Minded M...
What about Karate?
Hallz105
There are academic scholarships too! If a child doesn't enjoy sports I'd probably just try to find something active that they do enjoy like biking, hiking, rollerblading etc. and encourage them to be active.
CandyOvercaffed
If we can't find a basketball program we'll probably look at taekwondo, but I was hoping for a team sport.
Mommy Ramblings
What about dance class or gymnastics? Swimming is also something she may like.
Your Kid's Table
Maybe even a yoga class, so it is just for exercise. Lots of kids yoga classes have popped up. Otherwise maybe just involvement in another type of activity if you are looking for socialization. Maybe she should try an art or pottery class.