Not to mention ice hockey. And cold weather states where kids can’t play in the park reliably from October through March or April. |
People are just trying every which way to prove that organized sports are superior. |
Why can’t they do both? |
Sure. Because everyone lives in an area with safe and accessible parks for teens to play in. |
Or do ballet, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, or many other sports in PPs alternate reality where only basketball is allowed. |
I'm with you OP. So hard for kids to have spontaneous play dates on weekends bc kids as young as 5 are so over scheduled! Like hello please stop freaking out about your kids resume and start letting them have a childhood |
5 yr olds aren’t over scheduled their parents just don’t want to deal with you. |
Being in activities and not available to entertain your kids is not over scheduled. Your kids are under scheduled. |
I’m a SAHM of 3 kids. Weekends we hang out with family and family friends. We hang out with our adult friends with kids. During the 5 and under years, that was when we socialized the most with friends. I have been a working mom with young kids and a SAHM with young kids. My okdest is now 14 and youngest is 7. My 7yo is plenty available for play dates. We are often busy with older siblings. If someone invited her to a play date, she could go but other parents themselves are busy as are we. Both my older kids had friends over yesterday. Both older kids are very very busy and still hang out more than my 7yo. It isn’t about being too busy. It is about parent coordination. My 7yo does activities but they are like one hour. |
For some maybe, we don’t expect any scholarships and kids know we can pay for state schools. It’s about them pursuing things they enjoy. |
Sadly this. I am hesitant to send my kids to homes I don’t know as most parents don’t supervise or care. |
The childhood mine want includes sports nd music. Surprise, some kids enjoy it. |
+1. A 5 year old doesn’t need a spontaneous play date. They don’t need to be in an activity either. Weekends are for quiet relaxation. I turn things down because I just want to be with my own family. |
Yes, we hang out with our family and adult friends. I am not making play date plans with a random classmate my child doesn’t even ask about and I’m neutral about parents. My kid may ask to play with a certain child and I will try to squeeze in if my child really wants. Sometimes our schedules do not line up and that is ok too. |
This. |