How To Pick The Right Sport For Your Child?

Are you thinking about putting your child in a sport? What sport do you start with? How do you pick the “right” sport for your child? How do you know when it’s NOT the right sport for your child?

I have 3 children. Each one of them is different than the next. As a parent I want to ensure the activities they are involved in they ENJOY. I am an adult, I had my time as a kid to do what I WANTED to do. Now it’s time for my kids to do what THEY WANT to do.

Let’s face it, kids sports is expensive. Why put your children in sports they don’t even enjoy? For what, for you? For you to relive your childhood fantasy of becoming a sports legend, if so that’s pretty stupid, and SELFISH quite honestly. You had your time, move on people. So how do we figure this out as parents? How do we ensure we are picking the right sport for our kids? Well, we don’t know until we try, right?

Girls and boys are different. When kids are around 4-5 yrs. old we typically start to think about what to put them in right? With girls we tend to go with dance or gymnastics. Boys we tend to lean more towards soccer or hockey. Some sports, mainly contact sports like football have minimum ages because of the activity involved. But just because that’s what people typically do doesn’t mean that’s what YOU need to put your kids in. Some boys want to dance, why not let them?

What I did starting at 5 yrs old, was a season for every sport for each one of my kids. I do not let my kids quit, if they don’t like a sport we cross it off the list, but they have to finish season, period. Since I have 3 kids and I’m a single parent my kids get to pick 1 sport. I’m not super human, I can’ be in 3 places at once every single night, plus school, homework help, etc.

Now there’s many sports I want my kids to play, but I don’t make them. For example, I think my son would be an amazing hockey player. He has zero interest in it, so why make him try it? Every year I ask him if he wants to try it and he always says no. He plays soccer every year though, never complains about going to a practice, nothing. So that’s what we are focusing on right now.

My middle daughter plays tackle football. She’s really, really good. Do I really want that to be “her sport” no, but she’s only 11 and I know she doesn’t want to pursue that much longer. She tried out for travel soccer this year and made the team and is a natural. I’m secretly hoping she sticks with that. My point though is we want them to do something they enjoy. Something that’s challenging that gives them some confidence.

My suggestion is to have your kids try everything at least once. Sometimes they don’t even know what they might be good at or enjoy until they try it. Please don’t forget though, our kids aren’t machines. Their only capable of so much, because THEIR ONLY KIDS. This isn’t the Olympics or the NFL guys.

The Mayo clinic has a great article on age appropriate activities and sports, and when to get them started at, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/fitness/art-20048027

If you want some advice on a certain sport bring it to the forum. I have a lot of friends who are youth coaches, high school coaches, etc that can add some great advice on, “Ask Jen”.