If your kids play an instrument then have them volunteer to play at a senior center. My kids do this 4 times a year.

Anonymous wrote:Boxing

Sleep away camp

Activities with kids NOT from school

Independent reading; being bored; being lonely - he can't be entertained 24/7 and needs to learn to entertain himself

NO DEVICES ever

Boxing = CTE for certain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Volunteer - Give Back
Teaches such character -- shows young impressionable kids SO much about others and the world around them.

This. I can see that the idea is “sticking” with my MS/HS kids and it makes me so happy.

What volunteer activities that are meaningful take young kids?

Anonymous wrote:
Agree - travel softball has a lot of drama, but rec and even rec+ are fantastic. Ime, most girls from our rec league make jv in hs if they try out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learning to handle the stress of being a softball pitcher has been a massive confidence builder for my DD. As parents we wouldn't trade those hours spent sitting on a bucket catching for anything.

I was excited for softball for DD then I quickly realized how insane some of the parents were, no thanks... we bowed out of that quickly.

Eh^^ there are CRAZY parents in every sport. Hec, dcum had to divide up the Sports Forum b/c of the crazy soccer/volleyball/lax/swim/bball people posting.

Just stick to rec league for any sport or don't engage with the overly zealous parents if your kid shows interest in HS level or travel.

+1 to the rec girls being able to make at least JV (at some schools even varsity), especially if they also do rec+ and participate in other similar opportunities. A mom of a C level travel player told me there were many rec girls who are equivalent to low level travel players in HS. And there are girls who play all the way through, or at least into high school, without doing anything but rec. It really can be as chill as you want it.

It's different than soccer/volleyball/basketball/baseball where you really have to play mid to high level club to make even a freshman HS team.

Ultimate (frisbee). Coed, self-officiating, non-contact, minimal gear, good workout and fun!

Boxing

Sleep away camp

Activities with kids NOT from school

Independent reading; being bored; being lonely - he can't be entertained 24/7 and needs to learn to entertain himself

NO DEVICES ever

Agree - travel softball has a lot of drama, but rec and even rec+ are fantastic. Ime, most girls from our rec league make jv in hs if they try out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learning to handle the stress of being a softball pitcher has been a massive confidence builder for my DD. As parents we wouldn't trade those hours spent sitting on a bucket catching for anything.

I was excited for softball for DD then I quickly realized how insane some of the parents were, no thanks... we bowed out of that quickly.

Eh^^ there are CRAZY parents in every sport. Hec, dcum had to divide up the Sports Forum b/c of the crazy soccer/volleyball/lax/swim/bball people posting.

Just stick to rec league for any sport or don't engage with the overly zealous parents if your kid shows interest in HS level or travel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music. Far better for confidence, friendship and performance experience than sports were.

Have also been very impressed with scouts. Way better at introducing friends and responsibility than sports and also lots of options for how involved you wish to be.

I have one kid who played a few years of travel soccer and that was money and time wasted compared to the longer term gains from music performance (not just lessons) and scouts.

What do you mean by music performance “not just lessons?” Just wondering what specifically they did and at what age, and why you thought it was so valuable?

My husband performed in a youth orchestra and they performed in European countries and Greece in the summers

Anonymous wrote:Loved swimming, golf, and tennis. I still use all 3 as an adult! Nice kids and less head injuries. My daughter also loves pickleball and plays with her friends all the time

I’m surprised at how swimming isn't as much of a focus here, even though it is in our social circle. I grew up in North Carolina and every kid was in swim team by the time they were in kindergarten! As are my kids here!

My middle schooler loves to swim but wouldn’t be interested with a swim team. Having to try and beat other swimmers for her takes the joy out of swimming. She loves playing basketball but she doesn’t like to play in games. She takes classes like skills and drills, 2 or 3 game or whatever it’s called. She takes private tennis lessons but won’t lay on a team. It’s tough finding her some of these activities that don’t put the competition in it. Most kids like to compete but not all of them.

Anonymous wrote:
Volunteer - Give Back
Teaches such character -- shows young impressionable kids SO much about others and the world around them.

This. I can see that the idea is “sticking” with my MS/HS kids and it makes me so happy.