Only if your kid got into an Ivy in last 5 yrs. - how'd you do it?

[Anonymous]

some passions for 3 - 8 year olds --painting, swimming, soccer, running, dancing, singing, tennis, performing, field hockey, drama, reading, reciting, creating .......

[Anonymous]

It's nutty parenting to force certain activities on your children, forgoing their own legitimate interests, in the hopes that your choices will make them more attractive to an Ivy League school eventually.

I have forced activities such art, music, sports, books, numbers, and languages on my infants when they were young (if by force you mean scheduling these activities and ensuring the kids participate). These activities mirror my interests and passion. My children have no problem with this. They continue to enjoy these activities and express gratitude for the early exposure as they see the rewards they are reaping on a daily basis.

My parents did the same for me and 4 sibs. No of us have expressed any issues with our parents sharing their interests with us at a very early age. Participation was not at gun or knife point but it was required at an early age.

I guess one size doesn't fit all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are examples of the passions developed by your 3 to 8 year-olds?

Better yet give us examples of the passions found by your 3 to 8 year olds?

Curious

OK - I'll answer this seriously and sincerely and then sign off, because it will elicit snarky and hurtful comments. But you asked. Music. Piano. We rented a house and the owners left behind a piano. Kid played it. Turns out, he "found" a passion for piano. but since we gave him lessons, I guess that is pushing him and planning for his Ivy League future, eh?

Kids are not idiots. Many may not find a "passion" at a young age, but that doesn't mean nobody will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's nutty parenting to force certain activities on your children, forgoing their own legitimate interests, in the hopes that your choices will make them more attractive to an Ivy League school eventually.

I have forced activities such art, music, sports, books, numbers, and languages on my infants when they were young (if by force you mean scheduling these activities and ensuring the kids participate). These activities mirror my interests and passion. My children have no problem with this. They continue to enjoy these activities and express gratitude for the early exposure as they see the rewards they are reaping on a daily basis.

My parents did the same for me and 4 sibs. No of us have expressed any issues with our parents sharing their interests with us at a very early age. Participation was not at gun or knife point but it was required at an early age.

I guess one size doesn't fit all.

You might not have read the rest of the sentence, which I bolded. Sounds like your "forced activities" would fit into the sentence before the one you quoted, the one about how good parents expose their children to a variety of things so that they can develop their own interests.

[Anonymous]

some passions for 3 - 8 year olds --painting, swimming, soccer, running, dancing, singing, tennis, performing, field hockey, drama, reading, reciting, creating .......

Did you get this list from an application? But, "how" did your 3 to 8 year-old find this passions? From on high? From TV? Did they ask you to drive them to these activities? Were these activities their sibs or parents or uncles and aunts participated in?

Most of these activities would require organization, supervison and time management by an adult supervising parent. Did your kids pursue these passions without parental management?

[Anonymous]

Maybe people are upset - early decision results are coming in as we speak.....

[Anonymous]

OK - I'll answer this seriously and sincerely and then sign off, because it will elicit snarky and hurtful comments. But you asked. Music. Piano. We rented a house and the owners left behind a piano. Kid played it. Turns out, he "found" a passion for piano. but since we gave him lessons, I guess that is pushing him and planning for his Ivy League future, eh?

Kids are not idiots. Many may not find a "passion" at a young age, but that doesn't mean nobody will.

I think that is totally realistic and believable. I had a passion for books at about four and a passion for writing by six, and those are my two passions still. My cousin had a passion for film and filmmaking at maybe eight that has continued. It certainly happens. No snark here!

[Anonymous]

You might not have read the rest of the sentence, which I bolded. Sounds like your "forced activities" would fit into the sentence before the one you quoted, the one about how good parents expose their children to a variety of things so that they can develop their own interests.

Great. We are on the same page then. These activities that you expose ("forced activities") your children to are also activities highly valued by the Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Great. We are on the same page then. These activities that you expose ("forced activities") your children to are also activities highly valued by the Ivies.

Well, I can assure you that's not why we're enrolling our children in sports and music classes. Especially not at 8.

[Anonymous]

I think that is totally realistic and believable. I had a passion for books at about four and a passion for writing by six, and those are my two passions still. My cousin had a passion for film and filmmaking at maybe eight that has continued. It certainly happens. No snark here!

So you went to an Ivy?

[Anonymous]

So you went to an Ivy?

No. Even poor old regular people can have passions, though.

[Anonymous]

Well, I can assure you that's not why we're enrolling our children in sports and music classes. Especially not at 8.

Of course, I know this was not pursued for the sake of Ivy. You clearly have the most noblest of motives.

But, it sure doesn't hurt that passion and excellence in this area may help future admission to Ivy?

[Anonymous]

Well, I can assure you that's not why we're enrolling our children in sports and music classes. Especially not at 8.

Of course, I know this was not pursued for the sake of Ivy. You clearly have the most noblest of motives.

But, it sure doesn't hurt that passion and excellence in this area may help future admission to Ivy?

But, why are you enrolling your children in sports and music classes?

[Anonymous]

some passions for 3 - 8 year olds --painting, swimming, soccer, running, dancing, singing, tennis, performing, field hockey, drama, reading, reciting, creating .......
____________________________________________

Did you get this list from an application? But, "how" did your 3 to 8 year-old find this passions? From on high? From TV? Did they ask you to drive them to these activities? Were these activities their sibs or parents or uncles and aunts participated in?

Most of these activities would require organization, supervison and time management by an adult supervising parent. Did your kids pursue these passions without parental management?
____________________________________________
No, I didn't get this list from an application, I got it from my kid. She went to a non-fancy, no entrance test Montessori School for 8 years from age 3-11. She found all of these passions at school. We didn't have to do anything...the school did.

[Anonymous]

Of course, I know this was not pursued for the sake of Ivy. You clearly have the most noblest of motives.

But, it sure doesn't hurt that passion and excellence in this area may help future admission to Ivy?

In elementary school? That is not on my radar. Sorry. Here are some motivations for different things: To learn something. To try out different things to see what sticks. To get exercise. To learn discipline. To be well-rounded. To have fun!

If my children end up at an Ivy League school, that will be fine or even great, but no, we are not enrolling them in activities as very young children with that goal in mind.