My 6yo doesn’t want to do any classes

[Anonymous]

Should have tried earlier

[Anonymous]

My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

Why are no sports or organized activities anything to be proud of? I agree, kids shouldn't always be in front of a screen, but you can have a happy childhood and be a successful adult without activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

Why are no sports or organized activities anything to be proud of? I agree, kids shouldn't always be in front of a screen, but you can have a happy childhood and be a successful adult without activities.

As a kid whose parents were just trying to survive and never signed me up for anything, I wish my parents did.

I don’t know any UMC/UC kids who do nothing.

[Anonymous]

I would get her to try things, one at a time. Much like the poster above, my daughter never wanted to try anything but would start to enjoy whatever it was after she did it. I think you should push kids (to a point) to try activities when they’re young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

Why are no sports or organized activities anything to be proud of? I agree, kids shouldn't always be in front of a screen, but you can have a happy childhood and be a successful adult without activities.

As a kid whose parents were just trying to survive and never signed me up for anything, I wish my parents did.

I don’t know any UMC/UC kids who do nothing.

I totally understand wanting to try a few things as a kid. I didn't get to d9 many ECs either, but I still had a great childhood. But, to say that it's nothing to be proud of to have a kid that doesn't do any activities I don't get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

Why are no sports or organized activities anything to be proud of? I agree, kids shouldn't always be in front of a screen, but you can have a happy childhood and be a successful adult without activities.

It doesn’t have to be sports— could be music, art, karate, chess, etc. It’s one thing if you can’t afford it, but if you can, why wouldn’t you want your kids to do extracurriculars? It’s how they start to figure out their interests.

[Anonymous]

Your 6 year old is too young for you to be worried about them not wanting to do any classes. Except swimming. Definitely next summer, swimming. That's an essential safety skill, not negotiable.

I assume for now she goes to school, that's enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son whined that it was cold and he didn’t want to ski at age 5. By age 9, he could ski better than my husband. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

My son played soccer and t ball in kindergarten and went on to play travel soccer. He tried tennis at age 6 and didn’t play much until age 8 when the pandemic hit. He is a tennis natural. He played often outside during the pandemic.

My son whines about swimming when he was 5. He complained about going to morning swim team practice. He passed the swim test at age 6, could swim laps and tread water for 2 minutes. He still does not love swimming but at least he can swim decently.

My son cried and was wimpy about learning to ride a bike at age 5. Now he rides his bike to his friends’ houses.

You have to push a little at this age. I have a friend who doesn’t like to force her kids to do anything. Her daughter plays no sports and has no activities. I don’t think this is anything to be proud of.

Why are no sports or organized activities anything to be proud of? I agree, kids shouldn't always be in front of a screen, but you can have a happy childhood and be a successful adult without activities.

It doesn’t have to be sports— could be music, art, karate, chess, etc. It’s one thing if you can’t afford it, but if you can, why wouldn’t you want your kids to do extracurriculars? It’s how they start to figure out their interests.

I never said it had to be sports. I would let my kids do some, but they would be limited. I want them to be happy, but some things are going to be a no even if I could swing it, nothing wrong with that. I also don't think k kids should be too busy.

[Anonymous]

I think in kindergarten I’d only do activities if they asked. I would not force. Kindergarten is really overwhelming for a lot of kids. Not many of them need something outside of school.

1st grade is maybe encourage a bit more, but honestly it’s hardly required. What do your kids friends do? My oldest didn’t care about WHAT she did, but she was very interested in being with her friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in kindergarten I’d only do activities if they asked. I would not force. Kindergarten is really overwhelming for a lot of kids. Not many of them need something outside of school.

1st grade is maybe encourage a bit more, but honestly it’s hardly required. What do your kids friends do? My oldest didn’t care about WHAT she did, but she was very interested in being with her friends.

it is not overwhelming for any kid who went to preschool. I signed up for my kindergarten child for Saturday ballet at first. I didn’t know how tired she would be after school. Then I added piano and swim. Will add tennis and/or soccer next.

She gets home at 3. We do play dates 1-2x per week. 1 hour activity in the afternoon is fine.

[Anonymous]

The parents whose parents were elite anything start early. The parents I know who were D1 athletes start playing sports with their kids as soon as they can kick a ball. DH was a tennis player. He started hitting with them at around age 4. Kids started clinics at age 5, played on tennis team by age 8 and then started tournaments at age 9. My two boys play tennis 5-6x per week.

Of course if your child is naturally talented, the kid could start later but the child would be at a disadvantage from the kids who started years earlier.

The kid may not even end with the first sport they started with but it is best to try earlier.

There are adults who are perfectly content just watching tv and not being active. The world is full of average or below average people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parents whose parents were elite anything start early. The parents I know who were D1 athletes start playing sports with their kids as soon as they can kick a ball. DH was a tennis player. He started hitting with them at around age 4. Kids started clinics at age 5, played on tennis team by age 8 and then started tournaments at age 9. My two boys play tennis 5-6x per week.

Of course if your child is naturally talented, the kid could start later but the child would be at a disadvantage from the kids who started years earlier.

The kid may not even end with the first sport they started with but it is best to try earlier.

There are adults who are perfectly content just watching tv and not being active. The world is full of average or below average people.

Not in organized activities does not mean not active

[Anonymous]

Based on most of the responses on this thread, it's no wonder there is a mental health crisis among young people in this country. Spend a lot of money when they're super young and drag them from one activity to another with no breathing room, and you'll spend a ton of money when they're a bit older on therapy where they will struggle with learning mindfulness techniques. But hey, at least they won't be "average" 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents whose parents were elite anything start early. The parents I know who were D1 athletes start playing sports with their kids as soon as they can kick a ball. DH was a tennis player. He started hitting with them at around age 4. Kids started clinics at age 5, played on tennis team by age 8 and then started tournaments at age 9. My two boys play tennis 5-6x per week.

Of course if your child is naturally talented, the kid could start later but the child would be at a disadvantage from the kids who started years earlier.

The kid may not even end with the first sport they started with but it is best to try earlier.

There are adults who are perfectly content just watching tv and not being active. The world is full of average or below average people.

Not in organized activities does not mean not active

Says the poor person.