Reply to How many activities do you have on weekends?

Forum Index » General Parenting Discussion

Reply to "How many activities do you have on weekends?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DH and I had a big argument because he feels like we spend way too much time at home on weekends and should be out more being active. We have 2 girls, ages 4 and 7, and they are not very sporty, so they prefer to stay home and do art projects, play dolls, bake, etc. On weekends they would probably never leave the house if we didn’t force them to.

We are definitely outdoors much more in the spring/summer/fall, going to the playground every weekend, swimming, bike riding, scootering, etc. The kids don’t like being outside in the cold and complain after 30 seconds and don’t stop.

[b]Currently the girls both do a gymnastics class on Saturdays and go to Sunday school on Sunday mornings, so we are really just talking about afternoon[/b]s.

What do other people’s weekend schedules look like with their kids. Do you force them outside when they just want to stay in and play ?[/quote]

I don’t understand the problem with this. If the girls are content, it’s fine. So many people here need to run run run. The girls will get busier as they why older. I also hate the cold and am much more active when it’s warmer. [/quote]

I agree with you and I also think the girls are both very young.

What I disagree with is the idea that the girls are “not very sporty.”  They are 4 and 7!  How can you make a blanket assumption like this at these young ages?  And especially if they are enjoying gymnastics?

I think in another year I would have the older daughter try a standard organized sport like softball or soccer and see how it goes, but I think gymnastics is also a great way to work the body and work in a team like any other sport as well.[/quote]

I don’t think she made a blanket assumption about anything. Her daughters like what they like. They don’t currently have interest in a team sport. They enjoy baking. Plenty of people do not enjoy team sports or any sports at all. Sports families for whatever reason tend to have a hard time understanding this. Her kids get physical activity and outdoor activity. They just didn’t want to play rec basketball or go on a cold hike. That is fine! The issue is the dad is antsy at home. It’s hard to tell from the post what he’d rather be doing. Can’t tell if he wants to at a museum, skiing or just with other people in a social way. [/quote]

Saying a four year old isn’t “sporty” or doesn’t have an interest in a team sport is a blanket assumption.  She’s only four!  And she likes gymnastics, which is a sport!  Even seven is pretty young to make a declarative statement like that.  [/quote]

This has obviously hit a nerve. I think it was just a casual way that OP communicated that her kids have not asked to sign up for any organized sports outside of gymnastics for the time being. When my kids were 4, I could pretty much tell that they weren’t “artsy.”  They never sought out crafts, they did not want to attend art class when offered, they said it was their least favorite time of day, if there was coloring avail at a party they’d scribble a bit then start launching the markers like rockets, etc. Kids like what they like. And that can change. Mine haven’t developed an interest in art, but one does like digital/graphic design, which wasn’t really age appropriate at age 4. She’s not writing anything off. She’s just giving background of what they DO enjoy. [b]It’s possible for kids to dislike sports and that is completely ok![/b] [/quote]

Of course it is, but I am suspect of any parent that rules out an activity for children this young.  My daughter hated piano when she was five, but I didn’t turn around and declare that she isn’t musical.  She ended up loving the viola, and plays in her high school orchestra.  She was perhaps too young when we started instrument lessons, or perhaps just wasn’t a fan of the piano, who knows?  She was only five.

The issue is declaring things about your children when they are still young and exploring new interests.  It’s not about sports specifically.[/quote]

Sure, but kids show interests. My daughter tried soccer and didn’t like it at all. We’ve offered to sign her up for baseball and she said no. She loves ballet and always wants to do art projects. She’s asked for gymnastics and tae kwon do lessons. She’s never asked us to sign her up for an organized team sport. Maybe one day she’ll be interested in one, but so far it hasn’t happened, so I think it’s safe to say that, as of now, she’s not interested in team sports.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics