From Birth and On Development

Charlie_Francis · August 13, 2004, 12:46pm

astromonkeyx:

what would you do if your kid was obviously athletically gifted but refused/showed no interest to participate in any sport? i.e. had other interests, etc. or do you think all kids have an “innate” attraction to (team) sports so long as conditions and environment are right?

just wondering…i’m not a parent. I just know that many of you are state/national/world level competitors, and that track is a large part of your life, and you’d probably want your kids to have it in their lives too.

I am considered to be an athletic person (though not to the extent of some of you), but my parents don’t do any sports at all, and never really pushed me to do any sport. I guess being asian, academics and music are more of a focus, and being from a christian family, god is the number one focus. Anyways, I do pretty well in sports I like, and probably for that reason. However, I do see (and i’m sure you all have too) some other kids who are obviously not as “gifted” for a specific sport and may not even like it, yet their parents, probably the soccer star in their day, push their kids anyways (and a lot harder than my parents do). When I grow up, I am planning on continuing my athletic career, and would prefer to have my kids participate in sports too. but to what extent, i’m not sure…

Kids have to find their own interests at their own speed. I’m finding that out in a hurry!

djp · August 13, 2004, 3:21pm

I don’t think all kids gravitate to team sports, my son prefers individual sports (tennis & biathalon) altho I asked him to continue in soccer this last season just to have to work as a team, as an only child I felt he needed the balance. I did not push him, tho, as his friends from school were playing.
Just doing something inwhich the body moves for entertainment & family time I feel is enough for a start. Mine just started getting bored at my training sessions. I think it is a natural state for the body to feel better when active & this gives the child a chance to realize this on their own. (IMO)