Would you drive 30 minutes each way for a kid to try a sport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old generally has rejected team sports but recently said she wants to learn how to skate and play ice hockey. We live in DC and the nearest learn to skate/hockey programs are about 30 minutes from our house without traffic. On the one hand, I can see driving her for an 8 week learn to skate program, but if she likes it, I will be committing our city-convenience-focused family to driving to the ‘burbs multiple times/week.

I think a team sport would be great for her and girls ice hockey sounds so fun…but driving 30 minutes way sounds like a big PITA. I have a flexible job so it’s possible….but a pain. Thoughts?

She may drop out after few weeks.

[Anonymous]

I lived in a suburb and did it all and more but in hindsight, it made life difficult for all, specially on week nights you don't have enough time. If it can be negotiated, get her into something more convenient. We can't give each kid everything they want, rest of the family's needs have value as well. A good balance serves all well.

[Anonymous]

Hockey is one sport I'd say no to anyway its way to expensive, sorry kid, pick something else.
.

[Anonymous]

My 10 yr old DD really didn't like (and wasn't very good at) any team sports. She found figure skating several years ago, and got bit by the bug! She absolutely loves it, is excelling, working so hard...

I'm at/driving to the rink basically three times a week (it is one of those sports where you really need to practice more than once a week) and it takes me about 20 minutes each way. Obviously it's not my first choice of how I would use my time, ha, but I do it in a heartbeat given the joy figure skating brings DD and how passionate she is. (I have a flexible job, so no problem there.) I'll bring work, batch in errands like another PP said, etc. We also have a carpool to the group-lesson day.

So, I guess I'm biased, but I would do it, yes, OP. Plus, yeah, it doesn't seem like you can get anywhere in less than 15 minutes anyways...

[Anonymous]

Another benefit of long drives is the chance to chat with your child. Something about not being face to faces opens up conversation.

[Anonymous]

Understand how that can seem like a lot at age 7 where you can generally find activities nearby. But, yes, most people with kids in sports spend a whole lot of time driving. I try to run errands around it or read a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents did it for me. I won't do it for my kids. Too much time in the car - little ROI.

Pick something else.

That is precious time. My tweens are trapped with us for hours. We tell jokes, hear about their lives, listen to audiobooks. And you are there for them. You have it all wrong.

Nah, I don't have it wrong. I value my time with them actually doing things WITH them, not sitting idle in a car. It's an opportunity trade off. By your answer I don't expect you to understand.

+1

Let me know how that actually works out when they are 12-18.

[Anonymous]

If your DC really want it start with once a week, then decide if you have time to add more days if your DC still want to continue after 2 months. My DC begged to join a sport after a try out, but we waited couple of months to start after we made sure someone can drive DC. Then after 2 month for once a week lesson, since DC still really wanted to continue, we signed for annual and take DC more days per week for lessons, it’s about 20-30 min with traffic each way for us, but we know some kids lived further just come once a week and they are doing good too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old generally has rejected team sports but recently said she wants to learn how to skate and play ice hockey. We live in DC and the nearest learn to skate/hockey programs are about 30 minutes from our house without traffic. On the one hand, I can see driving her for an 8 week learn to skate program, but if she likes it, I will be committing our city-convenience-focused family to driving to the ‘burbs multiple times/week.

I think a team sport would be great for her and girls ice hockey sounds so fun…but driving 30 minutes way sounds like a big PITA. I have a flexible job so it’s possible….but a pain. Thoughts?

I did for fencing and my kid loved it. She fenced for seven years. Worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old generally has rejected team sports but recently said she wants to learn how to skate and play ice hockey. We live in DC and the nearest learn to skate/hockey programs are about 30 minutes from our house without traffic. On the one hand, I can see driving her for an 8 week learn to skate program, but if she likes it, I will be committing our city-convenience-focused family to driving to the ‘burbs multiple times/week.

I think a team sport would be great for her and girls ice hockey sounds so fun…but driving 30 minutes way sounds like a big PITA. I have a flexible job so it’s possible….but a pain. Thoughts?

I sure would. Sure have.......It's called parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another benefit of long drives is the chance to chat with your child. Something about not being face to faces opens up conversation.

Yes, when my son was little this was such great quality time. Enjoy it! It flies by. Now he is 17 and not so much. He talks much less......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she wants to play hockey, you will be doing a lot of driving, and there will be a lot of practices at miserable times. If the idea sounds miserable now, the squash it before it starts

This is just the worst response in the history of responses! What? Let your child try OP. No one said this was going to turn into world class training!

[Anonymous]

Yes. 30 mins isn’t that far around here. I just find something to do in the practice area or read a book, run around the block. Until practice is over then go home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We drive 45-60 minutes each way for our kids' sport but we're also there for about 3 hours while they both do it, so at least we're not spending more time in the car than at the sport. My husband and I both work full-time but we've committed to this sport and our kids love it so we deal with it. You could try to look into carpooling? We can't do that unfortunately because it's a niche sport, which yours may be as well.

Secret sport

Yeah…why can’t you just say the sport? Less people playing means greater odds of college scholarship/hook for acceptance into competitive school? Americans are crazy about sports

It's horseback riding. I wasn't trying to be secretive, I just didn't think it made a difference what the sport was. I couldn't care less how many people do it. The more the merrier, we just don't happen to have anyone in our neighborhood who does, which is why we don't carpool.

[Anonymous]

No, I have four children ten and under and that would be impossible.