At what age do you invest in your child extracurricular activities such as traveling with team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At what age do you invest in your child extracurricular activities such as traveling with team

Never. We like to not have our vacations beholden to the travel schedule.

What kind os sports do you think allow you not to travel?

Were taking 3.5 weeks off this summer for Australia. We always travel for a week at Christmas and the week of spring break.

So for planned vacations, we already have on the books 5.5 weeks and two kids in travel sports.

What, only 5.5 weeks?

*eyeroll*

Do you really want to know? Because I can add up my 3/4 day weekends.

I didn't say only. It's a generous amount of vacation, even for a "travel family" beholden to a travel sports schedule.

It's preposterous to state that somehow travel sports families don't take normal vacations and only someone who has zero experience with it would state something so dumb. Kids don't play 52 weeks a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids are in competitive gymnastics. The older one started traveling to nationals at age 8. This year the younger one also qualified to compete at the national competition - also age 8. Thing about this sort of sport is that you go in knowing that travel is a possibility if they do well enough. It's sort of a lifestyle. If you're not willing to do it, then you don't choose this sport. If you wait until high school, it's not likely that you'll do that well competitively. Maybe starting in MS is ok, but the kids that do really well tend to start much younger.

I do always travel with my kids, as do most parents. Some send their kids with other families. But, there is so much involved with hair, make up and all that I don't want to impose on others.

And tend to lose their childhood with hours of practice/meets and live with a "why didn't I make it to the Olympics or a D1" attitude for the rest of their lives. Their only true friends are forced by being in the same sport. They can't do other fun activities, miss birthday parties, school events, and always try to live up to their parent's misplaced hype.

That's kind of dramatic PP. My kids definitely practice a lot - but most other kids I know waste a lot of time doing things of equal or less value for the same amount of time and my kids love to practice. It's not like anyone makes them become competitive athletes. Plus, it's good for them in so many ways. And, most kids become friends with kids who have the same interests, so it is natural for their friends to be from the gym. Still, they both have other friends and their best friends tend to be from school. As to missing fun activities, it is rare. There aren't that many birthday parties or school events that conflict with their sports schedules at this age. In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of one single activity that either missed during this entire school year due to practice or competition - maybe a few church services, but they didn't seem to mind that.

Fact is, if your kids an athlets, they are just that. My son has friends outside of his sport, but one common denominator is that ALL of his friends are athletes.

From the time he could walk he preferred to be outside. He has pretty much no interest in video games or television. When he has friends over, it's basketball in the court, no matter the weather, throwing the lax ball around or kicking the soccer ball. His friends have the same interests.

Lose his childhood? That's funny! His childhood has been what a lot of boys do. Play outside, ride his bike, skateboard, and hang out with friends. Today he hit the pool with his friends the second he got home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have done a lot of different activities. When they have done sports (hockey and baseball) and pushed themselves to make it to a higher (travel) level, we have supported their efforts and their gradually increasing level of commitment. I had one child who did dance, and honestly, I felt like this activity was unlike all the others in that the expectation of travel came from the very beginning. My DD was average at dance, but we were expected to travel by plane across the country to competitions and showcases. This was in her very first year. (And only year, honestly because there is no way I was comfortable spending that kind of money on an activity that she had not really worked her way up in.)

For my sports kids, we have never had to travel by plane for competition. We have gone several hours away by car for tournaments, but this is after several years of playing and working to higher levels.

If it seems crazy, it probably is.

You picked the wrong dance studio.

The vast majority of dance schools, even the best ones, do not do what you describe.

I would run from a studio that required that kind of commitment. They are having you spend your money in the wrong place.

NP here but I have observed that same situation at a couple studios in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids are in competitive gymnastics. The older one started traveling to nationals at age 8. This year the younger one also qualified to compete at the national competition - also age 8. Thing about this sort of sport is that you go in knowing that travel is a possibility if they do well enough. It's sort of a lifestyle. If you're not willing to do it, then you don't choose this sport. If you wait until high school, it's not likely that you'll do that well competitively. Maybe starting in MS is ok, but the kids that do really well tend to start much younger.

I do always travel with my kids, as do most parents. Some send their kids with other families. But, there is so much involved with hair, make up and all that I don't want to impose on others.

And tend to lose their childhood with hours of practice/meets and live with a "why didn't I make it to the Olympics or a D1" attitude for the rest of their lives. Their only true friends are forced by being in the same sport. They can't do other fun activities, miss birthday parties, school events, and always try to live up to their parent's misplaced hype.

That's kind of dramatic PP. My kids definitely practice a lot - but most other kids I know waste a lot of time doing things of equal or less value for the same amount of time and my kids love to practice. It's not like anyone makes them become competitive athletes. Plus, it's good for them in so many ways. And, most kids become friends with kids who have the same interests, so it is natural for their friends to be from the gym. Still, they both have other friends and their best friends tend to be from school. As to missing fun activities, it is rare. There aren't that many birthday parties or school events that conflict with their sports schedules at this age. In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of one single activity that either missed during this entire school year due to practice or competition - maybe a few church services, but they didn't seem to mind that.

Fact is, if your kids an athlets, they are just that. My son has friends outside of his sport, but one common denominator is that ALL of his friends are athletes.

From the time he could walk he preferred to be outside. He has pretty much no interest in video games or television. When he has friends over, it's basketball in the court, no matter the weather, throwing the lax ball around or kicking the soccer ball. His friends have the same interests.

Lose his childhood? That's funny! His childhood has been what a lot of boys do. Play outside, ride his bike, skateboard, and hang out with friends. Today he hit the pool with his friends the second he got home.

So an athletic kid must ALWAYS be on a year round travel team for their sports? You are just as bad as these companies that want your business.

An athletic kid doesn't need hours of expensive organized scheduled practices each week. It is the kids that are not that athletic that need that just to remain on par and they usually fade physically and mentally. Most kids can practice, work-out on their own with a parent or friend and enjoy other sports different times of the year.

And there are countless studies showing that early specialization is not good for a growing child's body and muscular skeletal development. And if you really are looking at those D1 schools (which most travel parents are) most coaches will not take kids that have only played one sport year round. Kids that play multiple sports and take breaks from each of them are shown to be tactically smarter, have better hand/eye coordination, agility, and stronger than their peers playing a sport year round without a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel with our DS all over the country for his extracurricular. Not a big deal and we have the time and can afford it. He will make the top 100 for his age in the country after playing less than a yr in a month or two. He loves it so why not?!?

We are planning to travel internationally next yr for his activity.

How old is he? What extracurricular activity? Being in the top 100 for 9 year olds in something is really meaningless, particularly for boys in athletics.

Chess. Talking about kids who become master level players at ~10-11 beating most adults and become grandmasters in their teens. Prodigies - chess has them along with music and math. Ranking is everything in chess and not meaningless.

I would travel for chess too, if my child were at that level!

I wouldn't for dance or sports, so that's my bias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have done a lot of different activities. When they have done sports (hockey and baseball) and pushed themselves to make it to a higher (travel) level, we have supported their efforts and their gradually increasing level of commitment. I had one child who did dance, and honestly, I felt like this activity was unlike all the others in that the expectation of travel came from the very beginning. My DD was average at dance, but we were expected to travel by plane across the country to competitions and showcases. This was in her very first year. (And only year, honestly because there is no way I was comfortable spending that kind of money on an activity that she had not really worked her way up in.)

For my sports kids, we have never had to travel by plane for competition. We have gone several hours away by car for tournaments, but this is after several years of playing and working to higher levels.

If it seems crazy, it probably is.

You picked the wrong dance studio.

The vast majority of dance schools, even the best ones, do not do what you describe.

I would run from a studio that required that kind of commitment. They are having you spend your money in the wrong place.

NP here but I have observed that same situation at a couple studios in the area.

With their elite teams.

She said her daughter was a mediocre novice/beginner.

Most studios do studios do not have their mediocre novices or recreational dancers travel around the country by plane as she described.

[Anonymous]

"Total disappointment" for the parents.

That says it all right there, for many of the people involved in these things it isn't about the kid it is about the parents.

at a practice recently for my kid's team, all the parents could talk about was the sport, nothing else. I go up and start talking about things totally off topic just to annoy them, when they ask about my kid I just say it is up to my kid if she wants to be here or not, not us. they wonder if that is why she is good at it or if she is just lucky. I am willing to bet 75 % of it comes from the kid driving the decision of what level to do.

[Anonymous]

I guess it depends on your budget but I would do it now. We pay for private lessons for our kids so they can get better at their chosen sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids are in competitive gymnastics. The older one started traveling to nationals at age 8. This year the younger one also qualified to compete at the national competition - also age 8. Thing about this sort of sport is that you go in knowing that travel is a possibility if they do well enough. It's sort of a lifestyle. If you're not willing to do it, then you don't choose this sport. If you wait until high school, it's not likely that you'll do that well competitively. Maybe starting in MS is ok, but the kids that do really well tend to start much younger.

I do always travel with my kids, as do most parents. Some send their kids with other families. But, there is so much involved with hair, make up and all that I don't want to impose on others.

And tend to lose their childhood with hours of practice/meets and live with a "why didn't I make it to the Olympics or a D1" attitude for the rest of their lives. Their only true friends are forced by being in the same sport. They can't do other fun activities, miss birthday parties, school events, and always try to live up to their parent's misplaced hype.

That's kind of dramatic PP. My kids definitely practice a lot - but most other kids I know waste a lot of time doing things of equal or less value for the same amount of time and my kids love to practice. It's not like anyone makes them become competitive athletes. Plus, it's good for them in so many ways. And, most kids become friends with kids who have the same interests, so it is natural for their friends to be from the gym. Still, they both have other friends and their best friends tend to be from school. As to missing fun activities, it is rare. There aren't that many birthday parties or school events that conflict with their sports schedules at this age. In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of one single activity that either missed during this entire school year due to practice or competition - maybe a few church services, but they didn't seem to mind that.

Fact is, if your kids an athlets, they are just that. My son has friends outside of his sport, but one common denominator is that ALL of his friends are athletes.

From the time he could walk he preferred to be outside. He has pretty much no interest in video games or television. When he has friends over, it's basketball in the court, no matter the weather, throwing the lax ball around or kicking the soccer ball. His friends have the same interests.

Lose his childhood? That's funny! His childhood has been what a lot of boys do. Play outside, ride his bike, skateboard, and hang out with friends. Today he hit the pool with his friends the second he got home.

So an athletic kid must ALWAYS be on a year round travel team for their sports? You are just as bad as these companies that want your business.

An athletic kid doesn't need hours of expensive organized scheduled practices each week. It is the kids that are not that athletic that need that just to remain on par and they usually fade physically and mentally. Most kids can practice, work-out on their own with a parent or friend and enjoy other sports different times of the year.

And there are countless studies showing that early specialization is not good for a growing child's body and muscular skeletal development. And if you really are looking at those D1 schools (which most travel parents are) most coaches will not take kids that have only played one sport year round. Kids that play multiple sports and take breaks from each of them are shown to be tactically smarter, have better hand/eye coordination, agility, and stronger than their peers playing a sport year round without a break.

As a parent who has two kids playing Lacrosse at D1 schools on scolarship and another who comitted to one her junior year, this is a nice theory and gets a lot of shares on facebook whrn the articles are posted, but absolutely the opposite is true in real life.

All 3 of my kids have been playing lax since they were 5 years old. Just like every other athlete they have tried many other sports and played on rec teams, but specialized in lacrosse.

Recruiters were starting to look at my boys travel lax team by 8th grade. I can assure you, they were completely uninterested in his basketball skills (which are great BTW, my kids can pick up any sport).

This concept is a nice one and I wish it were true, but the kids who are at the top private high schools for sports, snapping up the scolarship absolutely specialized. It's the nature of sports today.

[Anonymous]

The word investment does not apply here. It's a trip for fun. If you can afford it then great. If you can't then please don't feel like you are holding your kid back. You are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two of my kids are in competitive gymnastics. The older one started traveling to nationals at age 8. This year the younger one also qualified to compete at the national competition - also age 8. Thing about this sort of sport is that you go in knowing that travel is a possibility if they do well enough. It's sort of a lifestyle. If you're not willing to do it, then you don't choose this sport. If you wait until high school, it's not likely that you'll do that well competitively. Maybe starting in MS is ok, but the kids that do really well tend to start much younger.

I do always travel with my kids, as do most parents. Some send their kids with other families. But, there is so much involved with hair, make up and all that I don't want to impose on others.

And tend to lose their childhood with hours of practice/meets and live with a "why didn't I make it to the Olympics or a D1" attitude for the rest of their lives. Their only true friends are forced by being in the same sport. They can't do other fun activities, miss birthday parties, school events, and always try to live up to their parent's misplaced hype.

That's kind of dramatic PP. My kids definitely practice a lot - but most other kids I know waste a lot of time doing things of equal or less value for the same amount of time and my kids love to practice. It's not like anyone makes them become competitive athletes. Plus, it's good for them in so many ways. And, most kids become friends with kids who have the same interests, so it is natural for their friends to be from the gym. Still, they both have other friends and their best friends tend to be from school. As to missing fun activities, it is rare. There aren't that many birthday parties or school events that conflict with their sports schedules at this age. In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of one single activity that either missed during this entire school year due to practice or competition - maybe a few church services, but they didn't seem to mind that.

Fact is, if your kids an athlets, they are just that. My son has friends outside of his sport, but one common denominator is that ALL of his friends are athletes.

From the time he could walk he preferred to be outside. He has pretty much no interest in video games or television. When he has friends over, it's basketball in the court, no matter the weather, throwing the lax ball around or kicking the soccer ball. His friends have the same interests.

Lose his childhood? That's funny! His childhood has been what a lot of boys do. Play outside, ride his bike, skateboard, and hang out with friends. Today he hit the pool with his friends the second he got home.

So an athletic kid must ALWAYS be on a year round travel team for their sports? You are just as bad as these companies that want your business.

An athletic kid doesn't need hours of expensive organized scheduled practices each week. It is the kids that are not that athletic that need that just to remain on par and they usually fade physically and mentally. Most kids can practice, work-out on their own with a parent or friend and enjoy other sports different times of the year.

And there are countless studies showing that early specialization is not good for a growing child's body and muscular skeletal development. And if you really are looking at those D1 schools (which most travel parents are) most coaches will not take kids that have only played one sport year round. Kids that play multiple sports and take breaks from each of them are shown to be tactically smarter, have better hand/eye coordination, agility, and stronger than their peers playing a sport year round without a break.

As a parent who has two kids playing Lacrosse at D1 schools on scolarship and another who comitted to one her junior year, this is a nice theory and gets a lot of shares on facebook whrn the articles are posted, but absolutely the opposite is true in real life.

All 3 of my kids have been playing lax since they were 5 years old. Just like every other athlete they have tried many other sports and played on rec teams, but specialized in lacrosse.

Recruiters were starting to look at my boys travel lax team by 8th grade. I can assure you, they were completely uninterested in his basketball skills (which are great BTW, my kids can pick up any sport).

This concept is a nice one and I wish it were true, but the kids who are at the top private high schools for sports, snapping up the scolarship absolutely specialized. It's the nature of sports today.

But you just said your kids played other sports. Did they only play lacrosse and commit full time year round from age 5-17yrs old. Nothing else?