What's the best age to introduce sports? I've dabbled a little with basket ball, baseball, and golf for my 3 year old but he doesn't show much interest. I am not persistant which might be a problem too. I will just try every now and then when we are outside playing. Any suggestions on how I can develope my guy into an athlete?
Why does he need to be an athlete? Just wondering.
He is really young to be interested in sports. I have found that kids that young who are "interested" in sports usually have fathers who are fanatics and being "interested" in sports is a way to gain their approval. It is also a way to gain their attention b/c it is the only time they ever get it. Normal kids at that age are really not into sports.
I would say closer to 6ish for finding sports they may or may not like. 3 year olds can barely be attentive for a circus, nonetheless a team sport. Persistence at this age on your part would be a grave mistake.
Honestly, I would avoid trying to develop anything outside of stuff your child shows an interest in at this age. If he likes bugs...study bugs. If he likes to ride bike, take him biking. Once he gets a little older (kindergarten/1st grade) try a sport, keep him in it for the entire season no matter what, with the disclaimer that if he doesn't like it he doesn't ever have to do it again...but he must finish the season. This way he gets into truly learning the sport or activity (instead of quitting before he even understands the fundamentals). If he doesn't like it, try something else next season. Don't push besides making them finish the season they start.
Kids find their own way...and I personally don't think you should force athletics or anything else on anyone. Your best bet is trying a few things as he gets older, and when he shows a real interest or affinity for one or two...focus on those. If he shows an aptitude for something then focus on that (be it sports, drama, singing, whatever...).
I think 3 is a great age to introduce sports as long as long as the focus is completely on FUN! At this age, kids need to learn that moving is fun, so well you can practice batting off a tee for example, don't worry about technique. My 3 year old will start to lose interest if I keep attempting to get him to hold the bat a certain way, I've learned to back off and just let him do it how he wants. My son loves to run and so I'll yell "ready set go" and we'll race across the yard, he jumps off and on various things and through hoops. You could try signing him up for a sports class, gymnastics is a pretty popular sport for 3 year olds because it works on balance, coordination, agility, etc. Expose him to lots of different activities while keeping it fun, encourage him to be active as he gets older, lead by example (do a fun run together), as long as he has positive experiences I'm sure he will grow interest in different athletics!
I put my oldest in soccor when he was 3 and he could have cared less. He played on the field not soccor tag with his cousin! At 5 he played flag football and loved it. He is 8 and plays tackle football and loves it and is pretty good too. My 5 yo will start tackle this fall and until this year had no interest in playing sports of any kind. I don't think sports are something you should force your child into ever. Exposing them to different kinds of activities is a good thing but he may not be a sports kind of kid. I would wait a while before you try anything though. I would say 5-6 is a good age then they can tell you what they want to try. Before that your just paying for a tshirt and watching them run around aimlessly not caring if the goal is the other way or that they should putt instead of drive the ball....let him be a toddler for a couple more years and then you will be wishing you weren't spending everyday of you llife at a ball field in the hot sun..lol
FUN is the main element!
My 8 yo started swimming at 3 . She went and begged her brother's coach to take her in the team. She had to prove herself by walking in shoulder depth water which was just 2 ft! She would sing and dance all around the pool. She had fun. I joined swim lessons since my both the children are good swimmers. They had gala time trying to teach me strokes, racing with me in the water, cheering me when I managed to jump in 6 ft water?!
Today they are getting trained in competitive swimming in US with bright future on their side.
Your patience will pay you back.
He's probably a little young for sports equipment like basketball and baseball and golf (my son didn't get too interested in any of that until he was about five), so I would keep it simple. I bought both my kids this really big bouncy ball at Target (only $3-4) that was a big hit for both of them. It is light and plastic, so it won't hurt anyone when it hits, and it bounces high and easy to catch because it's so big. It is a lot of fun, and gets them running around and chasing after the ball and practicing catching. It could be a place to start.
We started our son out with at 4 years old, he has played every year since and he is now 8. He loved it.
I think when he shows an interest. Soccer maybe 4--t-ball maybe 5? That's what we did.
