What Sport or After School Activity Are Your Kids Involved In??

What sport or after school activity are your kids involved in?? Do you have an overwhelming schedule? Do you personally take them to practice and games or do you let them ride with someone else?? Do you stay while your child practice or leave? Are you involved, if so, how?

 

My son's dad signed our son up for soccer last week without my knowledge. And took our son to his first soccer practice last week. The thought was nice, but he should have discussed it with me first. We have joint custody, our son stay with me from Sunday to Sunday, then with his dad from Sunday to Sunday. Anyway, today I took my son to his second soccer practice. We waiting for at least an hour for the coach and other team members. By this time I was boiling, because not only did no one show up for practice, the location was extremely far from where I lived. I asked my son was he positive that this was the correct location where he practiced last week. My son said that he was unsure because he rode with his neighbor down the street from his dad's house last week to practice. I was extremely pissed off by then because his dad lied to me about taking him to practice. I called his dad and had a heated conversation with him. I also advised him that before he signs our son up for anything he needs to discuss it with me. And if he wants his son to play sports, he needs to make time to take him to practice and attend his games, not let our son ride with someone else, because he was too busy.

I'm sorry if this was a long story, but I had to get it off my chest.

 

Well, as for me and my brother, we've always been really active in everything possible. I played softball and basketball up until my county stopped having enough girls interested (about 6 years until I was 13 or 14) and my brother has been playing baseball and basketball for 10 years. My parents have always been REALLY involved in that.

I would also recommend band, especially marching band, to everyone. Musicians tend to be smarter and I know it was a great experience for me, even though I had to quit.

We've also both been involved heavily in 4H, and now I'm the editor of the literary magazine, in the literary club, officer in the Foreign Language Club, one of the founders of the Film Club and the History Club, and in Beta and National Spanish Honor Society. There's really NOTHING to do in my town, and it's kind of rural so I can't walk anywhere, so doing lots of things afterschool is my way to stay entertained.

On parent involvement- if you child wants to do something, let them do it. A great way of staying active in your child's life is showing interest in your children's activities. One of the reasons I'm alot closer to my mom is because she always comes with me to all my club stuff and shows alot of interest in it. I've kind of grown apart from my dad because unless it's sports, he really doesn't care. It may kind of suck running your kids around everywhere, but it really pays off, in my opinion.

 

Oh, and normally I get rides because my brother has baseball all the time and since my dad typically coaches and my mom is scorekeeper for his team, it's just easier to get a ride with someone else although my parents try to give me rides whenever they can. For the big things, they always come unless my brother had a game- and then one parent goes with me and the other goes to the game.

 

I think it is wrong of your ex to have just signed you son up without discussing things with you. But there are worse things then sports. The general idea was great, since so many children today grow up as couch potatoes with only a minimum of exercise.


Very bad is that he lied to you about how your son got there. If is was for a good reason, why would he have to lie about it? There is basically nothing wrong to send your kids with a neighbour that you know and trust, but he should have told you.

When I was doing sports as a kid, (soccer and swimming), we always went by carpool to the events such as the training and the competitions. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, it's better for the environment, cheaper (gas is expensive here in europe) and every parent takes turns.
Here in germany it is also very uncommon, and usually the supervisers don't like to see it if parents stay during practice. Unless it's a special parents-children-activity.
And why should a parent attend? The age children usually start sports, they are already independent enough to stay an hour away from home, when they are given a ride to and from the activity. Sport supervisors here need to have some sort of accreditation, where they learn things about safety and first aid, and the clubs are usually accredited by the county, so I'd say it is a pretty safe thing. And I'd say even that children enjoy this indepented time. Maybe they are scared first, but this doesn't go away if a partent is always there. As soon as the practice become part of their routines, things should go well.
A good thing to do is, to ask friends they know from school to also sign up. That way there is always someone around they know.

For competitions, this is different of course. My dad always went to the competitions with me, and cheered. he even organized it, that I can go to the military pool to have tests for different badges. In a way this was a very special time between me and my dad. And he never attended any practice, except the ones in the military pool, where he sort of was my personal trainer.

 

I don't like organized sports, run by adults. It is WAY too competetive, and I don't feel it is good for children's self esteem to think that they are only worthy if they "Score." (And in 19 years of raising chilrdren I have NEVER met a PE teacher or "coach" who didn't have this attitude, even if the claimed otherwise.) Parents get TOOO involved and the kids get to overscheduled and stressed. If kids want to play sports, let them go out to a field and get a game with NO ADULTS.

My 16 yr old Moon is in the Anime Club (cough)dork(cough.) Lennon, my nearly 14 year old boy, is in a group of kids who are Consciesious Objectors (I know I massacared the spelling, Lennon can spell it, though.) My 19 year old, Sunshine, was involved in the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) She is straight, but has Gay and Lesbian friends and wanted to be in the organization. Sage is five and just goes to Nursery School, reads with Mama and plays.

4-H ROCKS, MUCH better for children than adult oranized sports in all aspects.

 

I've never had a coach who did have that attitude. I guess I lucked out. I loved playing sports growing up. I played basketball and soccer. I lost interest in soccer when I was in middle school, so I quit, but I played basketball into high school. My parents never pushed me at all, and I never thought that scoring was the only way to be "worthy". It was expected of us from the begining that we respected our team mates and the other teams. Most of the people in the league, regardless of what team they were on, were friends by the end of the season, so that made it even more fun. It was healthy and fun. I wish I played more sports growing up. I regret never playing baseball and hockey, which are now my favorite sports.

BrownTripleQQ: I do agree that it was bad of your husband not to talk to you about it first, and much worse, to lie. It wasn't fair to you or your kid. That's a stupid thing to lie about, too.

 

My 6 yr old daughter is in gymnastics and my 12 yr old son is in a weight lifting/fitness class. I agree with Maggie..I really don't like organized sports. Sometimes, I feel as if it is more for the parents than the kids.

Thankfully their activities fall at the same time at the same building with a wonderful playground there where I can hang out an let little 2 yr old play. I take them everytime..we don't carpool.

 

Femhip, I am glad you had such good coaches. We live near Chicago, which is a psychotic sports town. There is just too much emphasis on sports in all ways. If more coaches were like yours, organized sports might not be so bad. But the time requirement is just ludicrous. My now 19 yr dd wanted to play soccer in HS, just for fun, and the had a SEVEN DAY A WEEK practice schedule. That is stupid. Sports should never be the ultimate focus of anyone's life, unless that is what you do for a living as a professional. Personal goals are great, but a bunch of adults living out what they didn't get to do with a bunch of innocent kids, by almost killing them with nonstop practice and degradation (which is what you see in Chicago style kids sports) is dangerous and damaging to the entire family. I know families who haven't had dinner together in YEARS because someone is always at some practice. I just don't think too many organized sports (the way I have seen them done) is good for kids, parents or the community. I am sure it can be done differently, but not where I live.

 

Maggie, that sounds awful!

I think the number one thing in kids sports should fun, and not a career thing. I think I alwys saw my swimming as fun. And when I didn't, I quit. I naver had practice more then once a week.