Seven-year-old hates meets?
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Anonymous
Why are you so nasty? I am trying to help my kid participate in something she enjoys. I was a swimmer and loved seeing my hard work pay off in meets, but I started older than her. Thanks for the helpful responses. I will not force it. She did do summer swim and really enjoyed it. My concern is mostly whether its better to push her to do it instead of giving in to the fear or just let her be because she was little. Totally agree that summer swim is really different so I will see how that goes. As to why we do swimming, she has a medical condition where it is better she not do sports that could have physical contact (even soccer) so it is one of our few options for her. |
Anonymous
| 7 is super young. Is her club only entering her in mini meets, or are they putting her meets with larger 12 and under sessions? I can completely understand why a meet with a ton of older kids would be anxiety inducing and not fun for a 7 year old. |
Anonymous
Stop doing them See how easy that is. Why in the world would you force swim meets? Swimming is a life skill that's it. Your kid is 7 just stop |
Anonymous
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Former swimmer here. I would get very nervous before meets, even though I loved to race. I was a competitive swimmer from 6-17.
This is what I tell my kid: You are only racing against your own time. You have swum this same race every time you go to practice (25 free, etc.). I used to get nervous, too, but I used that to help me go fast in the water. There are some things out of your control (other swimmers, water temperature). Let those thoughts go and just feel calm inside. You got this. That being said, I wanted to race but had the nervous fluttery feeling before every race, meet. If she really hates meets, etc., then don’t push her. |
Anonymous
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Same boat Op. The anxiety and tears (and he rarely cries so I know he was legit anxious) aren't worth the tradeoff.
He gave me so many hugs when I told him he didn't have to do meets. It was like a weight was lifted from him and he was my happy little guy again. Having said that, he did swim the very last meet (at home; familiar setting) and it was backstroke (no diving into the water required). And I didn't make a big deal about the meeting leading up to it (purposely skipped the pep rally eventho it was for the A meet swimmers, just needed to not have "swim meet" echoed 72 hrs prior to the meet). |
Anonymous
You’re not trying to help. She hates meets, she doesn’t enjoy them. Your words. |
Anonymous
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Omg she’s 7!!! The only 7 year olds that should be doing club meets are those that are begging to participate. JFC.
- D1 swimmer who didn’t even begin club some until 11. |
Anonymous
+1 We do the summer meets we can easily do and we skip every single horrific winter meet. No stress. Don't care. |
Anonymous
You’ve inadvertently told that this is for you and not your daughter. You want it, she doesn’t. |
Anonymous
| My 10 and 12 yo still hate it |
Anonymous
+1. Also, not saying you’re doing this, but be mindful of not putting any pressure on her whatsoever re: her performance in practices OR meets. Emphasize that you want her to have fun and enjoy swimming, whatever level of participation that entails. |
Anonymous
| It should not be viewed as something she should be doing, but isn't. Not at 7. |
Anonymous
My high schooler also loves practice but hates meets. It can be really tough for anxious kids. Present her with options and respect her choice. |
Anonymous
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Let her be. If she loves practice, let her practice … a good minis coach will be encouraging without being demanding of meet attendance.
Meets should be fun for the kids participating in them. If they’re not fun, there’s no point. |
Anonymous
My high school kid does other activities and rarely goes to meets. The coaches don’t care. We do it for exercise not competition. |