Yes, I have two boys and all they want to do is sit in front of the computer. So, I need to take charge. I need to keep nudging them to read. They have to do activities/ sports (in and outside school, but not competitive), they have to play an instrument and they have to take a language. I am sorry, but kids need to grow up to be well rounded, and sitting in front of the computer and watching tik-tok/youtube is not enough.

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.

I don’t think it’s a privileged attitude but a very narrow one. There are so many other activities outside of the schools that a lot of students participate in.

I agree that it's a narrow opinion as well. But, when I said privileged, what I meant by it that there are many reasons why some kids can't play sports. It's really not as simple as letting your kid pick what they want or just signing them up for things.

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.

I don’t think it’s a privileged attitude but a very narrow one. There are so many other activities outside of the schools that a lot of students participate in.

LOL no and we don't even insist on a sport each year.

Let them invest their time in what the kid is actually interested in!

Nope. I have bigger fish to fry.

We don’t require a sport but do “require” activities that get them out of the house and interacting with people. By require, I mean to say that if they don’t do an activity, we would restrict their screen time. Left to their own devices, that’s about all they would do.

We don't use the word require in front of the kid. We do keep repeating why it is good to do a physical sport. And then ask don't you feel better after xxxsport? Are you able to focus better after a run or physical activity? He has been saying yes! So that is a plus!

Anonymous wrote:Why do you feel the need to force it?

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This

If people put 1/10th as much pressure on their kids to be kind humans as they do sports our world would be significantly better.

We don't try to force it but we strongly encourage one physical activity and one creative activity each term. They can choose whatever they want with those categories, and there's no pressure to excel as long as they give it a shot and are open minded about. Our kids are active, but never going to be super star athletes, and their creative pursuits have helped them discover tons of interests they never would have done on their own.

I force activities for my freshman - he is very athletic and though I prefer he do sports, he knows he can pick any activity that keeps him busy most days after school.
My older teen is good at keeping himself busy most days after school- no forced activities needed.

No, I’ve never forced sports. But both kids have played sports anyway. If my teenage kid wanted to do nothing except school, I would likely insist they try something— sports, band, theatre, an art club, something.

I don't force any sports.

No. I forced a rec sport each season in early elementary and that’s it. Now my youngest is in middle school and is very athletic. I like that there is one part of the year that’s basically an off season where she’s active on her own without anything organized. It’s also a break for me for all of the driving.

My high schooler went from being a multi sport athlete to dropping all team sports by 16. You can’t force sports in the teen years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Lord you're dumb.

No need to be so rude and nasty.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Lord you're dumb.