Tot sports
July 1st, 2009 by 
Alica
When I was a kid, there weren’t organized sports for girls. Not that I knew of, anyway. Not around here. It wouldn’t have mattered. As an asthmatic, I wouldn’t have participated anyway. I remember that my brother was in softball, or baseball, when he was a boy. I think he was in the upper grades when he played.
Both my children participated in sports, but not until they were old enough to play in school sports. My son wrestled for six years and played football for two. My daughter was a volleyball statistician for two years in high school.
These days, there are organized sports for both girls and boys, starting at very young ages. There is the Mat Cats wrestling, where kids as young as preschoolers can participate. The Brandon Tennis Association now offers Grand Slam Tennis for Kids as young as 5 years old.
Some people would say offering these sports to younger kids is great. It teaches them teamwork and discipline at a young age. Others might say it teaches them competition at a young age also. Some might say it conditions children so they are more competent by the time they are in, say, high school. Others might say that concentrating on one sport so young might prohibit kids from trying a variety of activities.
Some might say that club sports gives families a chance to spend time together. Others might say it turns parents into chauffers.
What do you say? Does enrolling young children in sports give them that athletic edge, or does it burn them out early? Does it give them a lifelong love for their chosen sport, or does it prevent them from becoming well rounded?
Posted in Uncategorized, BV sports | 
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 am
These programs for really young kids aren’t really going to fire up any competitive juices. They consist mostly of instruction, often disguised as a game of some sort. The intent is to expose the kids to the sport or activity, and I think the coaches and instructors do a great job of it.
Rather than limiting their options, these sports allow kids to sample a lot of different things that I never really had a chance to play when I was a kid. Our kids have really become attached to a few sports, while others have been tried and discarded. All of the activities help teach patience and teamwork, so they’re valuable even when the kids decide that they don’t really want to pursue it further.
Yeah, as a parent I do feel like a taxi service at times, but it’s a small price to pay for watching and helping my kids expand their horizons a bit.
July 4th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I’m not convinced when it comes to sports for tots. Seems there is plenty of years to have to compete for things as our kids get older. Why do we push them to grow up so fast? Are we doing it for the kids or us? I know people who travel all over the country for 5-6 yr old Cheer competitions….wow….what’s the point? Dress up little girls like teens because it’s sooooo cute. And some of the “dance” is very suggestive for young girls.
It seems kids these days have done it all before they even get to high school. I remember the anticipation of waiting until my Junior year when I could go to prom. Parents these days rent Limo’s for the last day of school or birthday parties in elementary school. Anticipation is half the fun! What is there to look forward to as they get older?
It’s an extremely rare treat for my girlfriend and I to go get a pedicure and most girls have done it by the time they’re 8. (there’s birthday parties for that too)
Kids seem to have to be entertained 24/7 by some activity. (and they usually cost money) What happened to mom saying “go outside and play” Today the kids would probably say…play what?
I’m pretty sure there was a topic on here of the games we remember playing as kids. If I ever told my mom I was bored she’d have a list of things for me to do in about 60 seconds. ha ha. I learned to occupy myself pretty quick!
July 4th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
One more thought…..what happens to the kids who’s parents can’t shell out thousands of dollars for cheer uniforms and travel? It’s become an elitist world for our kids sports. Definitely not a level playing field.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Number 3 - talk to Obama, I’m sure he could find a way for those parents to recieve money from the ones who can afford it.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:26 am
To #1 — I agree. It is also a way for me to meet parents of the children that my kids will be playing with, and for them to meet us. To #3 — you are right. Even clubs like 4-H and Boy/Girl Scouts has become very elitist — it is up to us, the parents, to turn that ideal around for our kids’ sake, just the same as parents of the past have turned those same activities into an elite event.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:45 am
I absolutely agree with you, #2, in regards to parents thinking it is okay to offer children activities and luxuries that should be reserved for adulthood. The line of limos at the elementary school on the last day of school is nothing short of nauseating. The fact that there are so many parents in Brandon so focused on the “keeping up with the Jones” attitude is sad, really. Our children need to be allowed to be children. Providing adult activities for them at these ages simply takes the joy out of things for them. What is there to look forward to if they have done it all by age 10? As for the activities, it is all about the attitude, in my opinion. The majority of parents that involve their very young children in intense, competitive activities at age 5 are not doing it because it is what is best for the child…it is all about reliving their own “glory days” or CREATING glory days for those who never had them. Parents need to spend a little more time, energy, and money PARENTING their children, and a lot less trying to show the world they have it all. Just my opinion.