I don't think the need for physical activity is related to one's nationality or family background. Human beings in general require a certain amount of exercise every day for optimum health, regardless of race or nationality. I think this is pretty generally accepted in the medical community.

Unless you are amongst the posters who believe all those high performing Asian Americans in every zip code in America do not get the requisite amount of exercise for optimum health because they are "prepping"?

So if one parent is a foreigner and the other one was born in the US, is DC first or second generation?

Here's a thought. Why don't you sacrifice your health and life earning money so you can create a trust fund for DC? And teach them to live modestly. Then they don't need to try so hard in school and at sports and enjoy life a little.

Do you read biographies? Why do you think one has to be a bum to enjoy life? Why do you think earning money means you are sacrificing your health and life? Do people with the worst health and shortest life span make the most money in America? And you obviously putting your best foot forward in school and sports is synonymous with not enjoying life?

Different strokes for different folk. You don't have to be a bum to enjoy life.

Anonymous wrote:

Possibly a bigger problem is kids who don't even spend one hour a day on physical activity. Children need a fair amount of physical activity to grow up strong and healthy.

I don't think this a significant problem with Asians and Asian Americans? Obesity and shorter life spans are not prevalent amongst this population. The obesity amongst children in America is not driven by this demographic population. You may need to go back to the drawing board with your theories... or study math and science. Do you have data Asian Americans are obese, less healthy and with shorter life spans? If you do, please share it with us?

I don't think the need for physical activity is related to one's nationality or family background. Human beings in general require a certain amount of exercise every day for optimum health, regardless of race or nationality. I think this is pretty generally accepted in the medical community.

Here's a thought. Why don't you sacrifice your health and life earning money so you can create a trust fund for DC? And teach them to live modestly. Then they don't need to try so hard in school and at sports and enjoy life a little.

I want my kid to be a well rounded happy person.
Happiness is the purpose and goal in life.
Do whatever you think is the best for your kid.
That's all.

I see you actually believe you have a monopoly on these goals and Asian Americans or other groups don't want their kids to be happy, well rounded, and happiness as a goal in life? Are you of the "one size fits all" for happiness in life ... and that size is your size?

You bet, other parents are doing what is best for their children, and they have happy children and what they are doing for their children may not be what you doing for your children. Do you have a problem with this or do you want to continue to dictate to peoples around the world and your own fellow citizens what happiness is and how they should live? What happened to the first amendment and free enterprise?

Possibly a bigger problem is kids who don't even spend one hour a day on physical activity. Children need a fair amount of physical activity to grow up strong and healthy.

I don't think this a significant problem with Asians and Asian Americans? Obesity and shorter life spans are not prevalent amongst this population. The obesity amongst children in America is not driven by this demographic population. You may need to go back to the drawing board with your theories... or study math and science. Do you have data Asian Americans are obese, less healthy and with shorter life spans? If you do, please share it with us?

Absolutely, on a weekly basis more hours are spent on sports than academic homework. But, then again, DCUM kids are all smart, bright, gifted and geniuses with no need to prep or study since they already know it all. I guess this explains why sports fill all that spare time. Since only a few of us, along with the recent immigrants, have kids that are not gifted and geniuses so we prefer to encourage them to pursue mental and intellectual pursuits.

Only God knows why all these parents of all these gifted, smart and bright kids that never "prep" (and choose not to) feel threatened by the less gifted and smart kids who choose to "prep"?
The converse does not apply. Recent immigrants and those less gifted aren't threatened by "prepped" athletes?

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that many kids are spending more than an hour or two a day on sports. They are playing at a highly competitive level that requires travel, money, and, most significantly, a huge amount of time. I am not sure that this level of involvement benefits most kids, or our nation as a whole.

Possibly a bigger problem is kids who don't even spend one hour a day on physical activity. Children need a fair amount of physical activity to grow up strong and healthy.

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that many kids are spending more than an hour or two a day on sports. They are playing at a highly competitive level that requires travel, money, and, most significantly, a huge amount of time. I am not sure that this level of involvement benefits most kids, or our nation as a whole.

+1

I want my kid to be a well rounded happy person.
Happiness is the purpose and goal in life.
Do whatever you think is the best for your kid.
That's all.

The problem is that many kids are spending more than an hour or two a day on sports. They are playing at a highly competitive level that requires travel, money, and, most significantly, a huge amount of time. I am not sure that this level of involvement benefits most kids, or our nation as a whole.

Anonymous wrote:

I couldn't agree more with this observation. So many families we know lavish untold amounts of time and resources on sports, often for kids who have no hope of playing in high school much less college, and put just as much pressure on their kids as any Tiger Mom.

We like to call these kids over "prepped" and "tutored" repetitively in sports. The irony, by and large, is many of these "prepped" and "tutored" athletes (from the age of 3 and 4) ultimately get no where in sports (but orthopedic suites) in contrast to the "smart", "prepped" and "tutored" kids in intellectual pursuits. In my opinion, far more success in life amongst the latter group across the globe.

"But, these kids are pursuing sports in addition to school, not just doing more school after spending all day in school. They are engaged in healthy activities that teach them many lessons that cannot be learned from a book. Many excellent athletes are also excellent students because they are intelligent and because of the discipline, perseverance, and ability to work hard and efficiently that they have learned because of their participation in sports.

Spending time in athletic activity is not instead of school, it is in addition to school, thus helping young people to develop more facets of their characters for their future adult lives."

Athletics fulfill a different need for children than academics- it doesn't need to be one or the other. Physical activity is healthy: kids who have little physical activity are at risk for poor health as adults. Most parents who enroll their children in sports are not hoping for eventual professional athletic careers for their children, they simply want them to develop strong and healthy bodies. Sure, it takes some time out of the day, but good health habits are crucial and they start in childhood. It is easier to be a good student if one is healthy than if one is not.

I couldn't agree more with this observation. So many families we know lavish untold amounts of time and resources on sports, often for kids who have no hope of playing in high school much less college, and put just as much pressure on their kids as any Tiger Mom.

We like to call these kids over "prepped" and "tutored" repetitively in sports. The irony, by and large, is many of these "prepped" and "tutored" athletes (from the age of 3 and 4) ultimately get no where in sports (but orthopedic suites) in contrast to the "smart", "prepped" and "tutored" kids in intellectual pursuits. In my opinion, far more success in life amongst the latter group across the globe.

Anonymous wrote:
I am agreeing with you. I am aware many recent immigrants are cracker jack smart and fine and dedicated musicians and athletes. check out the area swimming pools, tennis and squash clubs, and soccer clubs.

Agreeing with what? What does have anything to do with recent immigrants?
Smoking something good?