Is it ok to try all sports and activities and find the one that your child loves? Yes
Should your child develop a healthy relationship with exercise? Yes
Kids don’t need to be athletes and they don’t need to want to become the worlds best
However letting them choose the easy choice is only going to kick the can and create bigger problems
What do you think as coaches and parents?
5 days ago_laura_reid__
In a world where technology is at its most advanced and where kids would ( if they had the choice ) and this is maybe demographic based ,choose gadgets over activity,I would encourage my child always to train. He's at an age now where he can go to our local gym with me .I keep the session short so it's enjoyable then he has grappling / MMA a few of the other days . Immediate family are all from an active / competitive background and I think that alone sets a standard .If we didn't encourage our kids to be active ,I think they'd happily sit and game all day tbh,it's a different generation from years ago where you could never get us in the house unless it was to get fed 😂.Both my kids have seen me train my whole life so it's inevitable for them that that's the path for them🙏🏼
6 days agoisaahmed.bjj
Set a goal for what you want to achieve in an area/sport you enjoy. The days they don’t feel like it - remind them of the goal! 👊
6 days agopaddywebberbjj
My two girls don’t have much interest, they’d rather be home or at their other hobbies, but they go once a week as a non-negotiable because I think it’ll pay dividends in the long run. If one day they take more of an interest that would be great, but if not I don’t care. At least by the time they’re teenagers they’ll have a baseline idea of how to protect themselves and some self confidence meeting new people and working with others at the gym.
6 days agochelsea__leah
My daughter has a certain number of sessions she has to attend per week for all her activities. If she’s particularly tired or ill she skips them, but otherwise they’re non negotiable. She also gets to miss out for special social occasions infrequently. I’ve put her in jiu jitsu for a reason, and it’s my job to teach her how to be disciplined and find enjoyment even when she’d rather sit on the couch.
6 days agoalansdawson
mine started at 4.5 now just turned 14. trains at least 3 hours a day and never had to be forced. in fact the opposite sometimes have to say no to taking him off he has a small injury. he gave up football and rugby too focus on this so it's what he wants to do.
6 days agorachjames_uk
this is so on point Ash. I got back into karate last year and knuckled down on my own training so my eldest could see what I do (not what I say) and it's done wonders for both of us to learn how to get really consistent, even when it's hard. It's taken years of work and bouncing back to build that scaffolding, but she's really resilient, intrinsically motivated and really committed to her club, sport and health now which is such a joy to see
6 days agoasimh5050
I would say no. I tried to 'force' my girl when she was 5 and she despised it. She took a year out and came back herself at age 6. She's now 8 and has been training since
6 days agoalexander_wigsten
In Sweden, it’s common to reward children for getting good grades, and in both Norway and Sweden, it’s common to give children gifts or money for their confirmation. It’s also common for parents to help their children financially when they buy their first home, get their driver’s licence, or buy their first car. What’s your opinion on rewarding children for achievements such as earning their first blue belt? In my opinion, BJJ is something incredibly important in my daughter’s life. Not because I want her to be the best or win competitions, but simply because I want her to train regularly, stay committed, and work towards her goals.
6 days agorustyspoonsss
It’s a delicate balance. After a tough session my 7yo daughter wanted to quit BJJ. After a few heart to heart chats about overcoming difficulties she decided to stick with it and give it another shot. Her next class was amazing - she crushed it, helped a struggling teammate and gave me the biggest hug in happy tears after class. To keep building her confidence without causing burnout we now make one session a week non negotiable, but any extra training is completely up to her. Giving her that ownership has made all the difference and frames it in a way that builds on the empowerment and confidence we want her to get from training. Though she still prefers coming to training with me as she loves all the attention and banter 😂
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