Do you encourage (aka force) your kids to do the same sport?
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Anonymous
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I’m curious how other families handle this. My girls are 2 years apart with very different interests: one is really into swimming and field hockey, the other prefers gymnastics and volleyball. We’ve mostly let them choose what they enjoy, even though it makes our schedule a bit chaotic at times.
I’ve noticed that a lot of families we know have both kids doing the same sport, same baseball team, same soccer club, etc. It seems like it might make things easier logistically, and maybe even help with motivation or sibling bonding? Do you try to keep your kids in the same sport? Or do you let them pursue their own paths, even if it means more running around (and more gear)? Just curious how others approach this! |
Anonymous
| We did not force our kids to do the same sport and they really did not for their entire childhoods - we just let them pursue their own interests. But my kids were always into different things so it was obvious that is what we should do. I think some kids like to do what their sibling is doing or don't have strong preferences and if they didn't care, I would definitely have encouraged the same activities (though never force). |
Anonymous
| Goodness no. Why? |
Anonymous
| We have four kids aged from 12 to 18. We encouraged them to play the same sport(s), and fortunately, they actually listened to us. All of them play golf plus tennis, and three of them are starters in the varsity golf (fall) and tennis (spring) teams. The added bonus is that the youngest one hangs out with his brothers and sister for free golf and tennis lessons. |
Anonymous
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Mine do the same sports, but it's more a matter of one being interested and the other being exposed and therefore developing interest. Not parental guidance.
The downside to having both in the same sport is that the competitiveness can get ugly. |
Anonymous
| I have tried to encourage my kids to do different activities (with varying levels of success) |
Anonymous
Same, but our kids are not competitive with each other because of their age gap (3 yrs), and in their sport of swimming, they focus on different strokes. Both did other sports when younger - basketball for one and soccer for the other, but both chose to focus on swimming. They love the sport, but they love the team culture even more. |
Anonymous
+1. My 3 kids do the same sport, but are not competitive with each other (2 played on the same team this past year, and that was good). They know they have different strengths. That said, the 3rd will probably drop this sport eventually. Doesn't love it like the others. It's more that youngest has been exposed to it and thinks it's the thing to do. Since youngest has never expressed interest in another team sport I haven't pushed changing. I'd be fine if they wanted to. |
Anonymous
How weird that all 4 kids were interested in the exact same activity. |
Anonymous
| Absolutely not. My kids are individuals. They pick their sports. |
Anonymous
You just know all those docile white children dressed head to toe in Calloway For Kids looked adorable in the IG and Christmas card "happy family" pics. |
Anonymous
| No, they each get their own sports or activities. Its not about you, its about them. |
Anonymous
Its not weird. Parents are selfish and probably only gave that as an option or forced them. |
Anonymous
| No, but because we couldn’t afford to rent a second instrument, we did ask kid two to play same instrument at school as kid one. Luckily it suited kid two who played through HS while kid one quit in MS. |
Anonymous
| Of course not. They are different people. |