Too focused on competitive sports around here

[Anonymous]

It's also the parents pushing their kids to do the same sports they did....kind of like the stage parent or beauty pageant parent. The parents then get into the coaching and running the league.

What about the kids that get up to be at the pool at 4:30am on a school night? Where's the fun in that? And I'm talking Middle School kids....

[Anonymous]

It isn't just sports. Everything in the DC Metro is scheduled for kids because parents are workaholics and overachievers. That is why neighborhoods are ghost towns. They are all out at planned after school and weekend activities.

[Anonymous]

Clearly among some, the favored sport is "how many ways can i say dc sucks."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't just sports. Everything in the DC Metro is scheduled for kids because parents are workaholics and overachievers. That is why neighborhoods are ghost towns. They are all out at planned after school and weekend activities.

once again, lived in chicago suburbs, dc and now boston and it is identical-sign of the times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've also never been around town and heard a person comment "great job Johhny on winning the chess tournament" or "great job Alice on that art award you got" or "great job Jimmy on getting that great service project you completed". But it's normal to hear "great job on beating the Bears in baseball yesterday". Why is it that most Americans think sports is the only thing to be competitive about?

I disagree. I hear about who got the most math problems done in the "mad minute" all the time. At my MoCo school, the teacher even included this information (with names of the 4th graders) in a weekly newsletter. She obviously thought the competition was motivating--and it was for my DD. Other kids' pictures are chosen to be included in our monthly newsletter; there is a writing contest; and kids who make Eagle Scout (service project required) get written up in the local newspaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't just sports. Everything in the DC Metro is scheduled for kids because parents are workaholics and overachievers. That is why neighborhoods are ghost towns. They are all out at planned after school and weekend activities.

once again, lived in chicago suburbs, dc and now boston and it is identical-sign of the times

I am a from a military family and disagree. This area is by far the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't just sports. Everything in the DC Metro is scheduled for kids because parents are workaholics and overachievers. That is why neighborhoods are ghost towns. They are all out at planned after school and weekend activities.

once again, lived in chicago suburbs, dc and now boston and it is identical-sign of the times

I am a from a military family and disagree. This area is by far the worst.

seriously? where the hell have you lived? Under a rock secluded on a base?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was recently on vacation just outside Pittsburgh and saw lots of kids just playing in the street.

OP the REAL issues is that here, we don't let our kids play in the street! It's not about competitive sports, it about unstructured time in general.

What you saw was kids having unstructured play time in the street. That just doesn't happen in the DC area very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was recently on vacation just outside Pittsburgh and saw lots of kids just playing in the street.

OP the REAL issues is that here, we don't let our kids play in the street! It's not about competitive sports, it about unstructured time in general.

What you saw was kids having unstructured play time in the street. That just doesn't happen in the DC area very much.

+1 People here are paranoid, even in the very safe suburbs. then there is the idea (which I think is dated) that their kids will get a college scholarship in their sport. Certainly does result in a lot of injuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP the REAL issues is that here, we don't let our kids play in the street! It's not about competitive sports, it about unstructured time in general.

It's also about (not) getting run over. Maybe people drive more carefully in Pittsburgh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how this area compares with others, but I feel your pain about how sports-focused life for kids seems to be. My son is 7 and has now perfected the line "I don't care for sports." But he can't avoid it. His reading groups in 1st grade are named for sports teams, and god bless the sorry child who doesn't know who the Terrapins are (that would be my son.) Only required activity at aftercare -- bball. Endless games to watch in the gym, no exceptions. I feel like it is hard to get away from sports.

My 7 yo son is also not into sports. He is active and does play outside a lot, just doesn't seem to have the drive to play organized sports. Many kids are sports-obsessed on their own, but some are forced into it. I decided not to go that route but if there's any sport he'd like to try, I would love to support him. He does well at a number of non-sport activities and I've realized he's just not wired for sports. Soccer and football are pretty much what all the boys do at recess, everyone dresses in athletic clothing, and I agree that everyone has to be a fan to fit in. I'm torn between encouraging him to try to fit in (even at risk of not doing well) or not having as many friends and fun if he continues to avoid the sports.

[Anonymous]

OP,

There are travel / select teams in Pittsburgh, too. I know parents who opt out of travel teams because they're too intense. It's harder to do if the child is driving the decision, which often times is the case. My son begged to play on a travel team when he was nine. He did for many years, gave it up when he developed other interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how this area compares with others, but I feel your pain about how sports-focused life for kids seems to be. My son is 7 and has now perfected the line "I don't care for sports." But he can't avoid it. His reading groups in 1st grade are named for sports teams, and god bless the sorry child who doesn't know who the Terrapins are (that would be my son.) Only required activity at aftercare -- bball. Endless games to watch in the gym, no exceptions. I feel like it is hard to get away from sports.

My 7 yo son is also not into sports. He is active and does play outside a lot, just doesn't seem to have the drive to play organized sports. Many kids are sports-obsessed on their own, but some are forced into it. I decided not to go that route but if there's any sport he'd like to try, I would love to support him. He does well at a number of non-sport activities and I've realized he's just not wired for sports. Soccer and football are pretty much what all the boys do at recess, everyone dresses in athletic clothing, and I agree that everyone has to be a fan to fit in. I'm torn between encouraging him to try to fit in (even at risk of not doing well) or not having as many friends and fun if he continues to avoid the sports.

quantity v. quality my son is fine and never played the traditional sports although he runs track and plays tennis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't just sports. Everything in the DC Metro is scheduled for kids because parents are workaholics and overachievers. That is why neighborhoods are ghost towns. They are all out at planned after school and weekend activities.

once again, lived in chicago suburbs, dc and now boston and it is identical-sign of the times

I am a from a military family and disagree. This area is by far the worst.

seriously? where the hell have you lived? Under a rock secluded on a base?

So you think DC Metro has a nice balance and that others who have lived elsewhere are not in a position to state their opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was recently on vacation just outside Pittsburgh and saw lots of kids just playing in the street.

OP the REAL issues is that here, we don't let our kids play in the street! It's not about competitive sports, it about unstructured time in general.

What you saw was kids having unstructured play time in the street. That just doesn't happen in the DC area very much.

+1 People here are paranoid, even in the very safe suburbs. then there is the idea (which I think is dated) that their kids will get a college scholarship in their sport. Certainly does result in a lot of injuries.

Everyone works! That is why kids don't play. They are in sleepaway camps all summer, sports and activities all weekend long. When do DC kids get to play? Paranoid, busy streets? BS - there is no time for kid's to have their own minds and be kids here. Parents have an agenda and their kids are along for the ride.