How much pushing is too much?
So...my son started playing soccer at age 4 and played for four seasons. He also expressed an interest in playing football when he was 4 but dad suggested waiting until he was older, so I signed him up for flag football when he was 5. Needless to say, that was a nightmare from day one! I forced made him stick with it for five weeks and he played one game but it was too much. I saw my sweet child become this tantrum throwing, crying, different child and I actually had to carry him out of the last practice as he kicked, screamed, hit at me and tried to bite me!
Anywho....last year he also decided he didn't want to play soccer anymore (sniff, sniff). I loved him playing soccer and me being team mom but oh well. It worked out for the best that he sat out because 3rd grade was HARD for him and he needed to just focus on school. Well, here we are and sign up has begun for the season and he is again saying he doesn't want to play. I suggested baseball, karate (martial arts), basketball, or flag football (with a different league, of course) and he has said NO to all of it.
Last night, he told me he doesn't want to play sports and would like it if I stopped asking....okaaayyy. So, at what point does a parent become too pushy? He doesn't have to play sports but I would like him to try something. We even went to a Cub Scouts meeting last year and he said no to that. With him being an only child, I try to encourage him to participate in things in order to meet people.
Should I just let it go?
Anywho....last year he also decided he didn't want to play soccer anymore (sniff, sniff). I loved him playing soccer and me being team mom but oh well. It worked out for the best that he sat out because 3rd grade was HARD for him and he needed to just focus on school. Well, here we are and sign up has begun for the season and he is again saying he doesn't want to play. I suggested baseball, karate (martial arts), basketball, or flag football (with a different league, of course) and he has said NO to all of it.
Last night, he told me he doesn't want to play sports and would like it if I stopped asking....okaaayyy. So, at what point does a parent become too pushy? He doesn't have to play sports but I would like him to try something. We even went to a Cub Scouts meeting last year and he said no to that. With him being an only child, I try to encourage him to participate in things in order to meet people.
Should I just let it go?
Fourth grade? That's tough. A couple of my kids are NOT the types to get involved with anything (sports, groups like scouts, etc.). But, I "strongly encouraged" them up until they were in 7th grade. My daughter,especially, was and is to this day NOT a joiner. But I had her in Girl Scouts until 5 or 6th grade. And I had her at the very least play one of the elementary school sports...they had morning volleyball (for like, an hour before school started) or some after school thing.
ReplyDeletePeople will probably tell you not to ever push anything on your kid but in my humble opinion fourth grade is still "pushable". LOL. It's good for them to experience all kinds of things, learn to interact with all sorts of different people. Do you guys have a Lego league, or science for kids class at your school?
See, that's how I see it as well. It's not that I'm trying to get him to be some super athlete, just meet new people and try new things. I think there is a science club at his school.
DeleteI think a parent becomes to pushy when the child asks them to stop and they don't.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I understand how you feel. Maybe let it rest for awhile and ask again in a few months. What about art lessons or a musical instrument?
We have already talked about a musical instrument. Fourth graders are allowed to be in band at school. We shall see.
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