Do your children play organized sports?

[desamnik]

My DD is active in the indoor soccer league, gymnastics and competitive dance, she participates in these and tries her hardest at each one of them.

My DS 11 on the other hand, doesn't want to do any sports. We have tried Karate, soccer, baseball, gymnastics and he hasn't loved any of them. He has no interest in hockey, football or basketball.

What can we get him involved in? If you have a son in that age group, can you tell me how he spends his free time?

Our son does very well in school, likes to read, and is allowed 2 20 minute time periods on his computer/ds each day. But I feel like he needs more, but we don't know what else he may be interested in that would be good for a boy of this age.

TIA

 

[mickeyboat]

Mine do, but also do some individual things.

Here are a couple more suggestions for your DS to try - swimming, skiing, skating, tennis, golf, distance running, track and field.

I think you need to really work to find something active for your DS. Good luck!

 

[KAMKIM]

I think as long as he is moving his body at home I wouldn't push the issue. Maybe he would like guitar or drum lessons? An art class? He may just be more inclined to like less physical and confronting things.

 

[dawson5]

my oldest DS used to play baseball, at 12 he decided he didn't like it. He has switched his interest to golf and soccer.

Middle DS still plays baseball. We convinced him in 5th grade to try football (all his friends were), he loved it and still plays. Last winter his football coach told the boys that wrestling would help them with football. He tried that and really enjoys it. He does want to learn lacrosse. He also plays golf with his dad, enjoys swimming. He loves to play in these sports but he is definitely not my athletic one. He enjoys the team camaraderie.

Youngest DS loves anything and everything with a ball. I think the only game he does not show an interest in is soccer. He will join in if everyone else is playing though.

What does their dad do? I think that is part of what has driven them in trying out sports. Dad golfs, plays football, baseball and will even play PIG or HORSE with them. He'll get on the bike and ride with them. My boys pick up what their dad enjoys doing. Maybe take him to a few HS or even local college sporting events (besides the norm: baseball, football, basketball) and see if one of them appeals to him. Our neighbors found out that their sons loved watching lacrosse, another loves rugby

 

[Deb in IA]

I agree with dawson.

Find something that he can do WITH YOU. Like biking, walking, swimming, maybe running?

DH and I both run. Just this last year, DS wanted to go out for the cross country team, and lo and behold, he loves it! We tried to get him involved in junior high, but it was "no" at that time. This year, HE decided for himself that he wanted to do it, and he did!

 

[Justanopinion]

Would he enjoy Scouts or camping.

Both my boys loved going camping and our troop went monthly.

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds11 plays travel soccer, fall ball, flag football, and rec soccer in the fall, and baseball and travel soccer in the spring. In his free time, he is riding bikes with friends, or throwing the ball with ds6. Ds6 plays baseball, soccer, basketball, and takes Tae Kwon Do and gymnatics. Dd6 plays soccer and takes gymnastics. Dd8 does irish dancing (3 nights a week) ballet, soccer, and theater. Dd13 takes jazz (under protest), voice, and actually wants to play basketball with her friends - should be interesting, to say the least, because she doesn't play sports!

Is your ds into music? Maybe some lessons? Theater?

 

[PlaneJoy1]

How about Boy Scouts?

Our friends son did not like the sports stuff, but loves Boy Scouts.

 

[NotUrsula]

My DS 11 on the other hand, doesn't want to do any sports. We have tried Karate, soccer, baseball, gymnastics and he hasn't loved any of them. He has no interest in hockey, football or basketball.

Have you noticed that all of the sports you listed (with the possible exception of karate) are team activities that are focused on scoring points and winning? Some kids just hate the whole team dynamic and/or competition, but are fine with sports that they do just because it is fun.

DS will not have anything at all to do with any kind of team sport. He loves to swim, but will not participate in a team because he has no interest in racing or perfecting his technique; he just likes to be moving around under the water. He also likes surfing, rock climbing, and high-jumping, and lately he's been getting interested in Parkour. Skating and skateboarding are also often good for kids like this, but DS didn't like them as much -- he generally prefers sports that are not equipment-dependent.

BTW, he hated camping. He's all for having fun in the outdoors, but when he's tired he wants to be able to come home to air conditioning and a hot shower.

 

[Pigeon]

Fortunately, my kids don't participate in any team sports. Dd1 might try out for the swim team this year, but I'm hoping she changes her mind.

My older dd does Tae Kwon Do and my younger does dance and gymnastics. Both are pretty low key and not tied to insane practice schedules. There are a lot of boys your son's age at TKD.

 

[Jennasis]

My I suggest horseback riding? No competition involved (unless he wants to go that direction), PLENTY of physical activity and a whole lot of fun. Several of my riding students are boys.

Is he into art, music, theatre? Maybe he could join a drama club or local theatre group? Learn an instrument? TAke an art class?

Not all boys dig sports...my DH HATES sports. All of them.

 

[powellrj]

My kids never really played sports. They have tried a few over the years and have never really enjoyed them. They do enjoy music and drama and are both really active in those.

 

[suejai]

Your DS sounds like mine. He is really not interested in team sports either, but he does like to be active. Right now he is in Kung Fu - which he enjoys tremendously. Prior to this year he'd been in Archery for 3 years - he enjoyed that very much as well, but wanted to try something new.

It sounds like your DS may prefer individual sports, as a pp suggested. Not sure where you live, but maybe skiiing - either downhill or cross country, golf, archery. Does he like riding his bike? Maybe he would like some team sports if they were not as competitive, but more recreational. As an example, here we have the Minor Hockey Leagues which are extremely competitive (cause you never know if your kid is going to make it to the NHL) and then we also have Pond Hockey where they just play for the fun of it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

My son is a dancer (ballet, tap, jazz) and also LOVES community theatre. Before we moved he was nearly always in a prodcution. One would end and we would think we would have a while to rest and somewhow he would be back in a new one before the month was out. It is a great activity for the kids who enjoy it (note, even non actors can love it--DD adored running follow spot and building sets)

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Our son does very well in school, likes to read, and is allowed 2 20 minute time periods on his computer/ds each day. But I feel like he needs more, but we don't know what else he may be interested in that would be good for a boy of this age.

TIA

This is all my DS 10!! He actually loves to watch sports, but he is just not very athletic.

He likes to shoot baskets in our driveway and kick the soccer ball around in our yard, but he does not like the team aspect. He's very hard on himself when he doesn't do well.

He took tennis lessons this summer and really enjoyed them! I'm hoping he continues to like this. We tried golf (which my DH does play), but he doesn't like it.

He is in Cub Scouts and likes the camping and social parts. I'm not sure he'll do Boy Scouts next year because he doesn't like the meeting parts!

Good luck!

 

[RadioNate]

My DS is a little younger and does golf and flag football. The flag football is purely a recreational league so he likes that. He doesn't do well in team sports where they focus on winning and intense competition.

He is also in cub scouts.

My rule is that he has to be involved in something. I think when flag football ends he might move on to swimming or some kind of music lesson.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm curious--when you ask your son what activities he'd like to do, does he say, "I don't know" or "I don't want to?" I think if he's allowed to pick the activity, he may enjoy it and excel at it.

DD was a jock. It was pretty foreign to me because I was more like your son--good at school, liked to read, and I am totally unathletic and don't have a competitive bone in my body. But, I cheered her on and took her to practices and games.

If I were you, I'd find out what really interests him (and it might not be sports) and encourage him even though it may not be what you pictured for him.

 

[Rora]

I just want to second Boy Scouts!!

If he sticks with it until High School he can get some great scholorships and of course, make some great friends!