We don't require it, but our kids are plenty involved. One did year round sports, one doe sone season per year now. Both have other activities as well.

Anonymous wrote:No I don’t require anything. But my kid found a sport herself, year round. I actually hate how much time it requires.

+1 I wish my kids were not so into sports. I wouldn’t force them to do anything they didn’t want. (Activity wise, they are still forced to do homework and chores)

School sports are very intense and unless very athletic and sports driven, I think doing a sport every season is overkill. Maybe just require a lighter activity in the off season, like a rock climbing cod dance class weekly.

God no! I encourage them to be physically active, though. One of mine does track at school, the other goes to a gym but has recently decided to do workouts at home because the gym is a very long walk from home.

Yes, it’s actually a requirement of their private.

No. By middle school many of the sports are rather competitive (as opposed to “the more the merrier, everyone plays” etc)

All 3 of mine were, more or less, focused on 1 sport by middle school age. One did track at school and the other cross country at school (along with their main sport) but those teams are no-cut at our schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole idea that kids need to play sports is weird to me. It's also a very privileged attitude, there are many reasons why some kids can't play sports.

+1 OP sounds like the parent of an only child and is blithely unaware of how different kids' needs and abilities can be, even fullblooded siblings raised in the same home.

Lol what does that even mean? Of course kids and siblings are different. That doesn't mean kids need to play sports.

I do, but it’s because she is inclined to just lie on her bed listening to audiobooks if she’s not involved in something.

She played travel soccer for two years and decided for multiple reasons she didn’t want to in 6th. We told her she needed to pick a sport or activity a season. She is not interested in playing an instrument, choir or drama. Middle school sports here take anyone who trys out, so it’s not high pressure to make the team. Volleyball ends next week and then she will have a break until basketball starts.

She needs her own social outlet and not feel left behind/isolated because her other siblings want to do all the things.

You're wasting your time if your child is lazy.

Anonymous wrote:The whole idea that kids need to play sports is weird to me. It's also a very privileged attitude, there are many reasons why some kids can't play sports.

+1 OP sounds like the parent of an only child and is blithely unaware of how different kids' needs and abilities can be, even fullblooded siblings raised in the same home.

The whole idea that kids need to play sports is weird to me. It's also a very privileged attitude, there are many reasons why some kids can't play sports.

No way. I have never required a sport every quarter. 2/3 of mine enjoyed sports enough to play their favorite sport year round but that was their choice. In 9th one quit. He picked up a non-sport activity. The other is in 10th and wants to quit. We are allowing him in hopes he misses it and goes back. If not, so be it. Our DD didn’t enjoy sports even though she was athletic. She tried various other activities. As long as she had some social outlet, we were happy.

Anonymous wrote:No. My kids get enough exercise and are thin because they eat like birds. If they want to do a sport it's one thing, but I would never force it for a kid that is nowhere near fat. I dont understand this middle class parenting philosophy where kids have to do sports because otherwise they would watch YT and Tiktok videos. Huh? My kids do art and academic enrichment in their down time.

Ppl seem to be convinced that if kids aren't constantly busy or entertained that all they'll do is be in front of a screen or get into trouble. This is a generalization and not true at all

No. My kids get enough exercise and are thin because they eat like birds. If they want to do a sport it's one thing, but I would never force it for a kid that is nowhere near fat. I dont understand this middle class parenting philosophy where kids have to do sports because otherwise they would watch YT and Tiktok videos. Huh? My kids do art and academic enrichment in their down time.

Not a sport, but some regular organized physical activity. That broadens the world of possibilities to include yoga classes, afterschool club like Girls on the Run, dance or skateboard lessons, tumbling, and more clinic or scrimmage style sports leagues where the focus is developing skills rather than competing against other teams.