My 6 year old can't do anything
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Anonymous
Adding lacrosse |
Anonymous
You know what? Sometimes this is the last refuge for a kid who has been repeatedly beat down by other kids for being physically challenged. It is a social outlet that breaks down that barrier and can be a very important part of healthy mental development and friendship building. |
Anonymous
Really? It involves a ball, hand-eye coordination, fast running, and physicality. It's the nightmare of soccer all over again. |
Anonymous
| Yes, you do have to chill. But I would also encourage you to play outside with him A LOT. General physical activity is so important. You should help him see that it's fun to play, fun to use your body, to run, jump, ride a bike, swim. I think the danger with some of these kids whose parents think they "can't do anything" is that they internalize that message. |
Anonymous
This was/is me! I thought I was unathletic because I didn’t like the “ball sports” and that’s what the jock types at school were good at. Then I tried swimming and I was naturally good at it. With hard work I ended up on scholarship at a D1 power conference school. As an adult I am more athletic and agile than most people my age. Most of the jocks from school didn’t play sports past high school and are sedentary/overweight now. I just wasn’t aggressive as a kid so I was bad at any sport where you had to fight for the ball. I’m glad my mom let us try all different things because I never would have discovered my strength if I hadn’t. |
Anonymous
| Keep on trying. He is young. I thought I was going to be a soccer mom. My boys don't like soccer. I thought I'd be a swim mom. I insisted that the kids learn swimming and they joined a team, but it's not their passion. So we will just swim for fun when we can. They like tennis so they do that. And now they found rock climbing. For the first time, they said they would like to try a low-key rec class for basketball. So we'll see. They are only in 3rd grade. |
Anonymous
| Sounds like a justification to put him up for adoption. No Olympic medals by 6? What a disappointment. |
Anonymous
| oh stop, OP. It will be ok. who he is now at 6, is not who he will be at 16. he is not fully formed! just keep on exposing him to different kinds of opportunities and activities. it sounds like you are trying to fit him in a box- ie boys need to be good at sports. i know there's pressure around here but don't make him feel like he is "less than". take a chill pill and focus on all the great things about him when you are feeling insecure. something will stick eventually! |
Anonymous
No - we do not allow Youtube. He only gets his tablet when traveling. He watches some show here and there. I have found 2 private coaches that will work with him so maybe that will help |
Anonymous
| Al of these recommendations for rock climbing. Where does that get them in life. No where |
Anonymous
| My 5 year is very talented athletically but refuses to play anything except putt putt golf... |
Anonymous
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You need to chill. Some kids don't like sports. Some kids like sports, but won't ever be a star at any sport for genetic reasons.
My 6 year old is similar but he's naturally not athletic too. So far we have rock climbing (super dangerous IMO but he likes it), biking, running, swimming, and he likes animals so he's the one walking the dog, taking long hikes to find insects. It's all physical activity, gets him out of the house. |
Anonymous
| Take a break and give him time. My non-athletic 14 YO, who hasn't played sports in years (other than PE), just asked to sign up for rec volleyball this spring because he has been playing in PE and is enjoying it. In the meantime, try to work physical activity into your family outings (so walks, bike rides, trampoline parks, zip line/ropes course). He doesn't have to be an athlete to stay physical. |
Anonymous
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Adding in my “athletic” kids who started sports at 6 are now injured constantly. They are heartbroken bc they love what they do so much. My “unathletic” kid who didn’t play a lot of sports until high school will run D3 XC in college and was a 3 sport varsity athlete since freshmen year.
Parenting is hardly ever obvious. |
Anonymous
Sure Jan |