Should My Kids Play Sports?

 

 

We are getting to the ages (five for him, three for her) when sports and lessons and activities become a part of life.  Gus's friends are playing soccer, Greta's are taking dance.  Mine, they play in the yard.

Let me start by saying that I was never one for organized sports.  One season of gymnastics under my belt, I was totally cool until they wanted me to do a front flip on the trampoline.  I think I was eight, maybe?  Then there was this whole performance thing we were supposed to do at the end of the season and I totally skipped that. (Introvert for life.)  But then in middle school I decided I wanted to try out for soccer.  Everyone else "trying out" had already been playing town soccer forever.  Needless to say, I didn't make the team.  In fact, I don't think I ever had a chance because I wasn't already playing.  Starting in seventh grade was just too late.

Other than swimming lessons, we have not yet made our way into the world of organized activities and rushing out to games on Saturday mornings.  Sometimes I think I'm ready to get them involved in something but then I decide that time at home is just as good.  In fact, we own soccer cleats and shin guards and everything, ready to go, but Gus doesn't express any interest in soccer when we mention it.  He's not big on activities where he doesn't know anyone, even though it's very likely he's going to know someone in kindergarten-only town soccer.  But without the guarantee of a familiar face, he's not into it.  He's very much like his mother in that respect.  We've talked about putting Greta into a toddler gymnastics program, but who knows if she'd even like it?  She's three, and it's $300 for the spring session.  That's a lot of money for playtime.  We've tossed around violin lessons, too, because the earlier you start, the better.

Between the cost of registration and gear, the will they/won't they guessing game, and the schedules (games at 9am on Saturday? UGH.) I don't feel like pressuring them into joining up, but then I wonder if I'm doing my kids a disservice by not putting them into a sport.  They would learn teamwork and new skills and confidence, maybe.  They would get to be with other kids their age and would most likely have fun.  So is it selfish of me to not push them into it because of those negative aspects, or does it really not matter if they don't really care either?

In warmer weather they are happy to play in the yard.  We have the sandbox, we have kids next door, and we have space to run.  They are outside most of every day in the summer, making up their own games and getting dirty.  They play at their leisure and are pretty happy with that.

Did you do organized activities when you were little and/or are your kids doing activities now?  How would you decide what to start with and when?  Is it key for their development, or are they just as good off using their imagination?

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In case you missed it: I'm Bored! (And Why That's Okay) and Cleaning House.