Forcing teen into an activity...

[Anonymous]

Brother required that each of his kids try out for *some* kind of varsity sport. Anything. It wasn't about making the team. It was about trying out. They did each happen to make the team -- football, tennis, golf, track. He has 4 kids. I thought it was a good approach.

[Anonymous]

forcing never worked for my son with adhd. Not sure if it was that, or what.

He found his thing in high school, though. JROTC. Nothing I ever would have thought about or chosen. Maybe that's why he likes it. It's a high school class, but they have outside activities. He didn't do much the first year, and then COVID hit, but he's been super-active with it outside of school this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize I am inviting a LOT of negative responses here, but hear me out:

-Kid has tried a few activities here or there over the years. Nothing has really stuck. To be honest, I wish I had stuck to my guns about it but we moved out of the country and then came back. Then, three months later - bam, COVID and lockdown. I have since pushed the idea of activities and am generally shot down. This kid is going to get to the end of high school with a lot of video gaming under their belt and little else. And this is not just about college prep. I think there is a lot of value to engaging in a sport/activity, etc. Child is not athletic and I've more or less given up on sports.

There are a couple of activities that I think would play to their natural strengths. For one, I feel like they would need some exposure/lessons prior to trying out/joining.

If you needed to light a fire under your teen's butt on this, what did you do?

Would he be interested in a Gaming Club? Something like https://outschool.com/classes/teen-gamer-social-club-IcLqM57e#abl2p3u8fr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The alternative is: let teen do whatever they want, including waste all their free time on video games and social media.

You are an arrogant judger. Playing video game at 5 lead me to a life as a Software Engineer that has provided wealth doing something I love, the financial independence to marry for love not golddigging, and intellectual stimulation and charity of improving the world. I don't say jocks "waste" their time even though many of them ended up working at the mall or restaurants or spousing.

[Anonymous]

well if he likes video games just go with and tell him he needs to sign for an esports league

If his school doesn't have one tell him he has to start one.

[Anonymous]

Video games are the a waste, I agree. What ends up being a waste is when that's all kids want to do. Kids/teens don't need to act like they're 3, but go outside and hang out with friends in person along with video games. You only have a very limited time to be a kid.