Dear Thursday: Baby’s First Sport
This is a cross post with Deep Into Sports
- Montage by Chris Darling
Now here’s something that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately as an expectant mother: should I enroll my child in a sport, and if so, how should I go about it?
I still remember my first trip to the YMCA when I was seven-years-old. My mother took my sister Liz and me on an informal tour around the premises. And we observed the classes that they offered there every Saturday morning for kids: Swimming, T-Ball, Gymnastics, Racquetball, and Karate. She told us that we could choose whatever class that we wanted, and it seemed like a great treat.
I chose swimming. And my sister chose swimming, because I chose swimming and she was in the habit of copying me exactly when we were children.
Liz really took to swimming and is still quite a good swimmer today. I thought swimming was fun, but eventually went on to try gymnastics, which I really loved. Though I did give both racquetball and karate a chance before fully committing to gymnastics for the next five years of Saturdays. I was no Mary Lou Retton, but I was a physically fit kid, which is something you can’t take for granted these days. And this makes me want to give my unborn daughter the same chance I was given to take an interest in sports.
I don’t think YMCAs offer the same variety of sports these days, so I’m not sure how to go about getting my daughter interested in sports. Should I do as my mother did and take her around to a bunch of different sports, even if they’re in different facilities? Also, should I encourage her towards a team sport, so that she learns how to get along with others and stay physically fit at a young age? One of the reasons that I’m a writer is because I like not having to work with a bunch of other people to get things done. However, my husband, was enrolled in AYSO soccer as a first sport and he’s one of the best team players that I know of.
So I guess my question is which approach is best? Should I let my daughter choose her own sport from the get-go or enroll her in a team sport that will also teach her how to get along with others? Advice very welcome in the comments.
I think that as soon as the baby starts moving you should toss it in a pool and make it learn to swim. Get that out of the way. People actually do that: http://www.infantswim.com
My parents definitely encouraged sports, and I'm grateful for that. They drove us all over the place to participate. They tried to let us pick our own thing, but I'm pretty sure they made us take swimming lessons, and steered us toward gymnastics and tennis. I think most kids need a push in the right direction.
I think that as soon as the baby starts moving you should toss it in a pool and make it learn to swim. Get that out of the way. People actually do that: http://www.infantswim.com
My parents definitely encouraged sports, and I'm grateful for that. They drove us all over the place to participate. They tried to let us pick our own thing, but I'm pretty sure they made us take swimming lessons, and steered us toward gymnastics and tennis. I think most kids need a push in the right direction.
Is there even a question here? I've got 4 words for ya…LA Junior Derby Dolls! She can start following in her mama's footsteps when she turns 8. Done and done!
Is there even a question here? I've got 4 words for ya…LA Junior Derby Dolls! She can start following in her mama's footsteps when she turns 8. Done and done!
I like how your mom went about it. Let you pick something, pick something else, settle in or not. I am not going to push Sekou into any particular sport or sports at all for that matter. I will push him to have some kind of formalized activity or hobby (e.g., sports, music, etc.) but I will lead him to water if you will and they fall back and see what happens.
I like how your mom went about it. Let you pick something, pick something else, settle in or not. I am not going to push Sekou into any particular sport or sports at all for that matter. I will push him to have some kind of formalized activity or hobby (e.g., sports, music, etc.) but I will lead him to water if you will and they fall back and see what happens.
I let each of the kids pick what they wanted to do, it is fun to see how what sport they pick matches their personalities. Christina played volleyball, Joshua took fencing, Jeramiah played ice hockey and Hunter played soccer. The sports they chose really seemed to fit their individual personalities. I say wait until she is old enough to choose and let her pick what is right for her. Maybe the reason you chose gymnastics is because even at a young age you did not like working with other people to get things done you just prefer to rely on yourself to accomplish a goal. I think that is why Joshua chose fencing he is the same way, when it comes to getting things done he would rather do it himself. Christina loved being on a team because that is her personality she likes working together with other people. I say as long as Betty is having fun and getting some exercise any sport is great. It's really all about the experience.
I let each of the kids pick what they wanted to do, it is fun to see how what sport they pick matches their personalities. Christina played volleyball, Joshua took fencing, Jeramiah played ice hockey and Hunter played soccer. The sports they chose really seemed to fit their individual personalities. I say wait until she is old enough to choose and let her pick what is right for her. Maybe the reason you chose gymnastics is because even at a young age you did not like working with other people to get things done you just prefer to rely on yourself to accomplish a goal. I think that is why Joshua chose fencing he is the same way, when it comes to getting things done he would rather do it himself. Christina loved being on a team because that is her personality she likes working together with other people. I say as long as Betty is having fun and getting some exercise any sport is great. It's really all about the experience.
I was enrolled in multiple sports/activities starting before my 3rd birthday all the way through high school. The earliest ones were picked because that's what my friends were doing too.
I don't know that you need to start with her quite so young, except for swimming lessons. Swimming is good to master early on.
I certainly wouldn't suggest encouraging a little virtuoso like Tiger Woods' dad. Doing only one sport, among other things, increases injury risk substantially.
See what she's into. She'll eventually pick something, then after a while if it's an individual sport you can see if she'd go for a group sport to round out her interpersonal skills.
I always played exclusively individual sports. I am not much of a team player, but maybe I could have been.
I was enrolled in multiple sports/activities starting before my 3rd birthday all the way through high school. The earliest ones were picked because that's what my friends were doing too.
I don't know that you need to start with her quite so young, except for swimming lessons. Swimming is good to master early on.
I certainly wouldn't suggest encouraging a little virtuoso like Tiger Woods' dad. Doing only one sport, among other things, increases injury risk substantially.
See what she's into. She'll eventually pick something, then after a while if it's an individual sport you can see if she'd go for a group sport to round out her interpersonal skills.
I always played exclusively individual sports. I am not much of a team player, but maybe I could have been.