Anonymous wrote:The kids who are really good do often start early. Not all the kids who start early will be good. You don’t need to put your kid in some intense training at age 6-7. If you start training more than once per week in middle school, that is probably too late. You will know if your kid is talented.
I have a friend who really wanted her kids to be elite athletes. She started them so early, always taking them to tryouts. The kids are athletic but didn’t have the heart. No amount of pushing by an aggressive parent will make the kid a great athlete. And just because your kid has the heart and effort doesn’t necessarily mean the kid will be an elite athlete either.
It is a mix of genetics, passion, grit and parent support.
Anonymous wrote:People in this area and in general are just insane about sports. It's like a religion.
I am convinced a lot of travel league is just one big cash grab scam.
Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks for all the sane replies. I think it is this area that the competitiveness of the parents come out. Whether its sports or academics - the amount of PUSH that comes from parents at such a young age is totally disconcerting for me.
My sister and I were both captains of all our varsity teams, top 10 in our classes in high school and college, but our parents weren't really involved in much. They drove us to sports and told us to apply for college. That was about it.
In the DMV its just a constant barrage of parents pushing their kids to do travel sports, Kumon math, tutoring, etc starting at kindergarten. Not sure where it ends.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The topic in the title is valid. there needs to be some primer for new parents on where to even start. When I was young, you just joined the local rec leagues then in high school that’s kind of where the good athletes separated.
Now it’s so damn complicated with multiple local rec leagues, travel teams, private teams, private coaching - like wth changed?
Money. Money was available and organizations pounced.
That said, it's still not that complicated. Ask your neighbors what the good leagues in your area are. Talk about it with parents at school. Sign your kids up to play things with friends. It shakes out from there.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks for all the sane replies. I think it is this area that the competitiveness of the parents come out. Whether its sports or academics - the amount of PUSH that comes from parents at such a young age is totally disconcerting for me.
My sister and I were both captains of all our varsity teams, top 10 in our classes in high school and college, but our parents weren't really involved in much. They drove us to sports and told us to apply for college. That was about it.
In the DMV its just a constant barrage of parents pushing their kids to do travel sports, Kumon math, tutoring, etc starting at kindergarten. Not sure where it ends.
This is 100% IMO where the overbearing parents who cant let their kids go or fail or anything because theyve hyper-invested in their kids and their kids have never self-driven themselves on any area of their life. Their parents have structured their entire life and the resulting kids dont know how to overcome adversity by themselves, train/practice/learn by themselves, etc.
Totally disagree with your statement. It appears you have not realized that screens have totally changed childhood. When we were kids (I’m in my 40’s) you had to make a lot of your own fun you rode bikes with friends, you mowed lawns for pocket money, played pick up basketball etc. now all of these kids have access to all the electronic entertainment they could ever want. As a result if you don’t want a kid Who is overweight out of shape and very little social contact you have to be intentional about your kids’ activities in a way that our parents didn’t.
All of these enrichment activities are way easier than doing it on your own. You could set up weekly play dates for your kids go bike riding with them take them to the playground every day etc. or you could drop them off at the field somewhere. I’ve done both and I can tell you the sports are way easier.
You are talking about exposure and enrichment. I was responding about intensive pushing and hyper investment in "elite" activities at 6 and 7.
I had the same childhood as you (38). My kid receives nothing beyond TV and Chromebook while at school. He has 0 video games and 0 personal devices. You are the access to screens.
And yes sports are easier, but I also roll my eyes at parents who are dropping off Kindergarteners at practice. Its also not all or nothing. They can do rec soccer 2 practices a week and then do the playground 2 times a week.
Rec soccer is 2 hours a week. I think you’re being dismissive of the tremendous amount of time you need to soak up in the course of a year. I was grateful for all of the travel sports my kids did - it kept them active, they made great friends and as a bonus they were competitive in highschool. I think what you are saying is that you don’t like the attitude that some parents have. I get that. But here’s the solution- don’t have that attitude.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks for all the sane replies. I think it is this area that the competitiveness of the parents come out. Whether its sports or academics - the amount of PUSH that comes from parents at such a young age is totally disconcerting for me.
My sister and I were both captains of all our varsity teams, top 10 in our classes in high school and college, but our parents weren't really involved in much. They drove us to sports and told us to apply for college. That was about it.
In the DMV its just a constant barrage of parents pushing their kids to do travel sports, Kumon math, tutoring, etc starting at kindergarten. Not sure where it ends.
This is 100% IMO where the overbearing parents who cant let their kids go or fail or anything because theyve hyper-invested in their kids and their kids have never self-driven themselves on any area of their life. Their parents have structured their entire life and the resulting kids dont know how to overcome adversity by themselves, train/practice/learn by themselves, etc.
Totally disagree with your statement. It appears you have not realized that screens have totally changed childhood. When we were kids (I’m in my 40’s) you had to make a lot of your own fun you rode bikes with friends, you mowed lawns for pocket money, played pick up basketball etc. now all of these kids have access to all the electronic entertainment they could ever want. As a result if you don’t want a kid Who is overweight out of shape and very little social contact you have to be intentional about your kids’ activities in a way that our parents didn’t.
All of these enrichment activities are way easier than doing it on your own. You could set up weekly play dates for your kids go bike riding with them take them to the playground every day etc. or you could drop them off at the field somewhere. I’ve done both and I can tell you the sports are way easier.
You are talking about exposure and enrichment. I was responding about intensive pushing and hyper investment in "elite" activities at 6 and 7.
I had the same childhood as you (38). My kid receives nothing beyond TV and Chromebook while at school. He has 0 video games and 0 personal devices. You are the access to screens.
And yes sports are easier, but I also roll my eyes at parents who are dropping off Kindergarteners at practice. Its also not all or nothing. They can do rec soccer 2 practices a week and then do the playground 2 times a week.
Rec soccer is 2 hours a week. I think you’re being dismissive of the tremendous amount of time you need to soak up in the course of a year. I was grateful for all of the travel sports my kids did - it kept them active, they made great friends and as a bonus they were competitive in highschool. I think what you are saying is that you don’t like the attitude that some parents have. I get that. But here’s the solution- don’t have that attitude.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks for all the sane replies. I think it is this area that the competitiveness of the parents come out. Whether its sports or academics - the amount of PUSH that comes from parents at such a young age is totally disconcerting for me.
My sister and I were both captains of all our varsity teams, top 10 in our classes in high school and college, but our parents weren't really involved in much. They drove us to sports and told us to apply for college. That was about it.
In the DMV its just a constant barrage of parents pushing their kids to do travel sports, Kumon math, tutoring, etc starting at kindergarten. Not sure where it ends.
This is 100% IMO where the overbearing parents who cant let their kids go or fail or anything because theyve hyper-invested in their kids and their kids have never self-driven themselves on any area of their life. Their parents have structured their entire life and the resulting kids dont know how to overcome adversity by themselves, train/practice/learn by themselves, etc.
Totally disagree with your statement. It appears you have not realized that screens have totally changed childhood. When we were kids (I’m in my 40’s) you had to make a lot of your own fun you rode bikes with friends, you mowed lawns for pocket money, played pick up basketball etc. now all of these kids have access to all the electronic entertainment they could ever want. As a result if you don’t want a kid Who is overweight out of shape and very little social contact you have to be intentional about your kids’ activities in a way that our parents didn’t.
All of these enrichment activities are way easier than doing it on your own. You could set up weekly play dates for your kids go bike riding with them take them to the playground every day etc. or you could drop them off at the field somewhere. I’ve done both and I can tell you the sports are way easier.
You are talking about exposure and enrichment. I was responding about intensive pushing and hyper investment in "elite" activities at 6 and 7.
I had the same childhood as you (38). My kid receives nothing beyond TV and Chromebook while at school. He has 0 video games and 0 personal devices. You are the access to screens.
And yes sports are easier, but I also roll my eyes at parents who are dropping off Kindergarteners at practice. Its also not all or nothing. They can do rec soccer 2 practices a week and then do the playground 2 times a week.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks for all the sane replies. I think it is this area that the competitiveness of the parents come out. Whether its sports or academics - the amount of PUSH that comes from parents at such a young age is totally disconcerting for me.
My sister and I were both captains of all our varsity teams, top 10 in our classes in high school and college, but our parents weren't really involved in much. They drove us to sports and told us to apply for college. That was about it.
In the DMV its just a constant barrage of parents pushing their kids to do travel sports, Kumon math, tutoring, etc starting at kindergarten. Not sure where it ends.
This is 100% IMO where the overbearing parents who cant let their kids go or fail or anything because theyve hyper-invested in their kids and their kids have never self-driven themselves on any area of their life. Their parents have structured their entire life and the resulting kids dont know how to overcome adversity by themselves, train/practice/learn by themselves, etc.
Totally disagree with your statement. It appears you have not realized that screens have totally changed childhood. When we were kids (I’m in my 40’s) you had to make a lot of your own fun you rode bikes with friends, you mowed lawns for pocket money, played pick up basketball etc. now all of these kids have access to all the electronic entertainment they could ever want. As a result if you don’t want a kid Who is overweight out of shape and very little social contact you have to be intentional about your kids’ activities in a way that our parents didn’t.
All of these enrichment activities are way easier than doing it on your own. You could set up weekly play dates for your kids go bike riding with them take them to the playground every day etc. or you could drop them off at the field somewhere. I’ve done both and I can tell you the sports are way easier.
Anonymous wrote:The topic in the title is valid. there needs to be some primer for new parents on where to even start. When I was young, you just joined the local rec leagues then in high school that’s kind of where the good athletes separated.
Now it’s so damn complicated with multiple local rec leagues, travel teams, private teams, private coaching - like wth changed?