Is my kindergartner ready to play a team sport

Is my kindergartner ready to play a team sport

There's nothing wrong with cheering your 5yearold on if he enjoys kicking a ball around with other kids his age. The emphasis should be on having fun and getting exercise not on competition. Many 5yearolds get a kick (so to speak.) out of playing a casual game of soccer or tee ball. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting, though, until age 6 before introducing team sports, since few kids understand the concept of teamwork until this age. Many communities have sports leagues for 5yearolds where the kids get to wear team shirts, line up on the field, and then just run around chasing the ball or each other. So if your child is keen, look for a good match. As long as your child has fun and doesn't feel pressured to participate, that's fine whether he's actively strategizing the defense or simply running around and getting a little exercise. In fact, he can probably follow only two or three commands at once, such as "Kick the ball while you run and then kick it into the net" or "Try to get the ball from the other player and then run with it." And a "game" of 20 minutes or so is plenty for kids this age. The emphasis, of course, should not be on winning or losing but on having a great time if you can incorporate other important values, such as sharing and taking turns, all the better.

My son has been doing instructional soccer since 4, and he loves it! He played outdoor fall, and one winter indoor session. Then he wanted to take a break and didn't play until this fall again, which we told him was fine. It's just instructional at this point to emphasize fun and basic skills, and lots of running! I think it's great for kids to help them get active, build confidence and make new friends. As long as it's not pushed on them, and not concerned with "winning" at this stage, I see nothing wrong with younger kids in activities. It's only once a week for an hour for 8 weeks. There's still plenty of time in the week for free play. He's about to start up winter indoor again, and he's thrilled. It's fun for us to watch these little kids all running around in a chaotic group with the coaches trying to at least organize the chaos. It's hilarious! His grin is as big as the soccer field every time. He knows he can quit anytime. It's just supposed to be fun.

We don't have many team sports in general where we live but we do have a youth wrestling program. It's coed (though few girls participate) and it's k8th grade. My 6year old isn't particularly in to the wrestling part of it but he seems to love the workout. The coaches are community dads and while there are plenty of opportunities to compete in tournaments no one has to if they don't want to. Help Center Press Center Contact Us Site Map

Membership Newsletters Newsletters Register Manage Email Subscriptions Update Account Legal Privacy Policy Terms of Use

Baby Products Britax Car Seats

This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.