Would you drive 30 minutes each way for a kid to try a sport?

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old generally has rejected team sports but recently said she wants to learn how to skate and play ice hockey. We live in DC and the nearest learn to skate/hockey programs are about 30 minutes from our house without traffic. On the one hand, I can see driving her for an 8 week learn to skate program, but if she likes it, I will be committing our city-convenience-focused family to driving to the ‘burbs multiple times/week.

I think a team sport would be great for her and girls ice hockey sounds so fun…but driving 30 minutes way sounds like a big PITA. I have a flexible job so it’s possible….but a pain. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

If she wants to play hockey, you will be doing a lot of driving, and there will be a lot of practices at miserable times. If the idea sounds miserable now, the squash it before it starts

[Anonymous]

Yes. Hockey is fun

[Anonymous]

Omg I drove an hour each way four times a week for years. Bring work or just chill.

[Anonymous]

30 mins each way is a pain, specially school nights.

[Anonymous]

It can’t hurt to try. I would let her try it.

[Anonymous]

Where do people live that it doesn’t take 30 minutes to drive to a sport? I’m in Alexandria and it takes me 30 minutes to go anyway.

[Anonymous]

I totally hear you, and didn’t allow some sports for this reason (horseback riding..lol)

I’d allow the learn to skate program- fair chance she won’t even like it. Kids this age are fickle and change interests constantly. If she does enjoy it, you can think further on it then. Also, might luck into a carpooling opportunity- I’d get to know the other parents a little, and keep an ear out JIC you decide to continue.

[Anonymous]

I mean... try it?

Sometimes my 1.8 mile commute to work takes 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Driving to the farm for horseback riding is about 30 min.

[Anonymous]

Hockey is about the only one I would consider because you just don’t have a lot of options. Would never go 30 minutes for Soccer Team A instead of Soccer Team B 5 minutes away at age 8

[Anonymous]

let her try ice skating somewhere close by (georgetown, canal park, national portrait gallery, ballston common rink, etc.) and see if she likes it before you worry too much.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Yes. When mine was a toddler I vowed we would be city people and just take the bus to nearby activities.

Now I drive 35-45 minutes one-way 3-4x/week to a distant suburb…while passing other locations for less-competitive versions of my child’s main activity. It’s ridiculous but she’s happy, healthy and has great friends. Worst-case scenario: she falls in love with the sport and you do this drive for 10 years, best-case scenario: she crosses it off the list after one season and you move on feeling relieved to have one less what-if. And maybe she’ll be a decent skater and can have fun at birthday parties one day?!

I make the drive tolerable by batching it with other errands that can only be done by car. I don’t buy non-perishables, household supplies, go to UPS, etc. unless it’s an activity day. And then I do it all at the fancy suburban locations of the places I used to go to in the city. If I’m waiting at pickup, I always have a book or paperwork- no phone scrolling! It is good to have set times to get stuff done. In the summer I go to nearby parks or walking paths and exercise during DD’s workout.

[Anonymous]

Yes