Anonymous
Post 11/06/2024 00:35     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:I don't get this...

How does excelling at sports pay the bills when you're in your 30s and beyond. Sure, the top 1 percent of athletes will do well...but what about the rest?

I get how golf can help in business and sports knowledge can be a social lubricant...but does it carry over through adulthood?



How does being good academically pay the bills? There are countless stories of stellar students who can’t get jobs, have been laid off, or don’t make a living wage.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 23:37     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
I don't get this...

How does excelling at sports pay the bills when you're in your 30s and beyond. Sure, the top 1 percent of athletes will do well...but what about the rest?

I get how golf can help in business and sports knowledge can be a social lubricant...but does it carry over through adulthood?

Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 21:06     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Similar to other posters, sports gives my son something that academics dont. Confidence, fun, team work, social skills, health benefits, to name a few. He is super smart but has dyslexia and struggles in a school environment. Sports are an integral part of his self identity and self esteem.

But honestly, I would pick music over sports or academics. It uses body, mind, and gives opportunities for social and growth in different ways. I've never been more proud of my son than seeing him perform on stage in front of a crowd. I would much rather him spend an hour practicing music than doing homework.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 17:28     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
My son, who is very smart, gets a lot of time with sports because that's what he's been needing. It does seem to be slowly paying off in terms of his general health.

My daughter, who is quite the athlete, but not as bright, gets more academics pushed on her.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 16:55     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Academics, of course. Such an easy question.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 15:58     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
One kid sucks at sports, but I sign up and push sports for him to get active, social and being a bit more "athletic". He is good at academic without effort. To him, pushing further academic would be a lot easier than pushing for sports. He has no talent in sports and he lacks some motor coordination.

One kid sucks at academic and sports. I will just let her be a happy child for now. We explore other interests to see if she has any interests in other areas.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 13:42     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


This isn’t a thing.


Sure it is. Pop on over to General Sports or, better yet, the College forum.



I don’t think you know what “stereotype” means. Perhaps you should get off the internet and focus on your own academics a bit.


You burned that witch


DP. I was coming to to say the same as the other PP -- "sports are more valuable than other activities" is just an opinion, not a stereotype. OTOH, "parents of kids who do travel sports are all a bunch of gunners trying to live vicariously through their kids and are going after D1 scholarships" is a stereotype. And a popular one around here.
MayBug
Post 11/05/2024 13:33     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Of course, sports play a much bigger role in the U.S. than they do for me, but I would definitely prioritize academic education more. You never know what the future might bring.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 13:23     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


PP and I agree with you. But if I wanted to spend the time, I could also find dozens of posts from people arguing that someone's kid isn't going D1 or pro, so why sports...? And that's equally stupid.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:44     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:If you could choose one for your kid to excel at which would you choose? I feel like around here people push sports at the detriment of academics. Young kids practicing soccer or baseball 6 days a week. When do they have time to do homework?

My kids are young elementary and we do sports but they have daily homework usually 45 mins-1 hour and they have to have that done before they can do their sports. Sports practices are 2-3 times a week and a game on the weekend. We know people who supplement this with additional training on off days. And their kids are 8!


No one I know pushes sports at the detriment of academics. Yes there are a lot of great athletes but they are great students too.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:35     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


This isn’t a thing.


Sure it is. Pop on over to General Sports or, better yet, the College forum.



I don’t think you know what “stereotype” means. Perhaps you should get off the internet and focus on your own academics a bit.


No, but thanks for pretending to care. It’s cute.



Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:29     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


This isn’t a thing.


Sure it is. Pop on over to General Sports or, better yet, the College forum.



I don’t think you know what “stereotype” means. Perhaps you should get off the internet and focus on your own academics a bit.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:26     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To the people replying “sports,” are you envisioning your children being professional athletes one day or just competitive travel athlete that gets recruited to DIII they could have gotten into anyway?


My husband and I both have graduate degrees and we excelled at academics. However, I highly value sports, as well as academics. It is absolutely not because I want my kids to be professional athletes.

A person with average intelligence and a college degree can get a job and be successful. So what does sports offer?

My kids are learning to fail. They are competitive swimmers and often don't achieve their goals. They learn that if they fail, they can be sad for a while, but they must pick themselves up and keep going.

They learn to work with others. Swimming is more of an individual sport (with some relays), but they are part of a team. When someone is down they are learning to support that teammate.

Physical activity is excellent for mental health and anxiety. Also, as teenagers, they can't get mixed up with drugs or alcohol, as that will affect their performance.

We also value academics, but being a healthy successful person involves body and mind. One is not more important that the other. Remember that we evolved to be physical animals. We were not meant to sit still all day with our head in the books.

Ultimately, my kids are doing reasonably well at both. They will never be professional athletes, and they are no Einsteins, but they have a nice balance. They are happy, social, physically fit, and educated.



So, if you answered OP’s Q, what would you say?


I would say academics, physical activity (it doesn't have to be sports, it could be dance or hiking or leisurely bike rides), good sleep hygiene, good nutrition, and strong social ties support the development of a healthy adult. They are all important.
Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:07     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


This isn’t a thing.


Sure it is. Pop on over to General Sports or, better yet, the College forum.

Anonymous
Post 11/05/2024 12:03     Subject: Good at sports or good at academics?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a 13yo who does well in both school and sports, for which I am grateful. She realized a few years back that she needs physical activity for the mental health benefits.

There's a weird DCUM stereotype that parents are in it for D1 scholarships, but some of us support our kids in sports because it actually helps with everything else.


The stereotype is that sports are somehow more valuable than other activities, almost as valuable as academics. And if your child doesn’t do sports, there is something wrong with them.

And before the regulars jump on my post, my kids are involved in many activities, including sports.


This isn’t a thing.