Okay, so my kindergartner did t-ball 2years ago and I think that he only partipated bc he did it with a friend because the following year we tried it and he wouldnt do it. We also tried soccer last year and he just cried during the whole first practice and stayed with me and didnt even try so we didnt go back. Now, we just tried karate. He seemed so exctited until we got there. He wouldnt even leave my side to try. He seemed like he wanted to do it but just cried when I told him to go out and try.
I am totally fine with him not wanting to do sports, my problem is I at least one him to try it. IF he doesnt like it, we will never have to go back. So, the question is, is there a way to get them to leave my side and try it out? The karate was an hour long and there were 2 instructors and only 3 chilren. I am wondering if I should have just dropped him off, without me there he might have tried? Who knows?
He doesnt want to go back now, so we won't, so just wondering for next time, if there is a next time:)
Thanks for your help. I am gonig to try next week one more time. Going to just drop him off, and if he hates it, we dont have to go back until he asks again. He showed interest in this so that is why I tried it but he changed his mind when we got there. I did not try this to force an activity on him. I was just wondering what to do when a child shows interest in something and then gets there and doesnt want to leave mom's side. If he doesnt want to do sports, that is perfectly fine with me! I just would like when he says he wants to do something to at least try it once and was having problems with the trying it part.
He is getting used to a pattern, which is he doesnt like it, he never goes back. Getting his way. Also if you leave is he going to have a fit? It's not the instructers job to deal with a child having a fit.
My parents rule was that if we started something, we had to finish it. If grades became an issue, that was the only reason for stopping something early.
My kids are much younger, but our 3 year-old has problems with doing things by himself, too.
At 6, I'd recommend that you leave the facility and let him focus on the instructor vs. knowing you're there to reassure him. I taught gymnastics for 4 years, and there were many kids who were shy and struggled with being in a new group. A good instructor will find a way to include them and make them comfortable. It may take a few weeks for him to come out of his shell and really enjoy it.
He may be more comfortable with musical instruments, art classes, etc. Perhaps finding local activities and letting him choose what really interests him.
Good luck! You're doing a great thing by encouraging him to participate more and interact.
I'd say drop him off so he has no opportunity to cling. I always got more distracted with activities if my folks were there. Also I'd find something to do that you can get involved in as well. My dad & I practiced Tae Kwon Do when I was a kid b/c I was too shy to do it myself. I am now 25 and have already spent 2 years taking/teaching kickboxing & basic self defense with my former sensai & now I am practicing Ninjutsu with my boyfriend and some of our friends. Maybe try getting him into something with one of his friends again. Good luck.
sounds like he is shy and a bit clingy. My rule is if I ask and the kids want to do the sport then once I pay the money they are stuck until the end of that season. It is not fair to the coaches to have so many kids signed up on a team and not have the full team show up. There are extra subs for a reason especially in soccer. The kids need breaks and without those subs there are no breaks. In baseball there are times when kids can't be there for other activities or whatever so those subs are there for a purpose and if there aren't at least 9 players then the game is forfeited.
There are so many times my kids enjoy playing sports especially the practices and then want to quit when the games begin and I don't let them quit because I explain to them that their team needs them and they go until the end. When the next season comes along then they can make the decision to play or not and they usually end up wanting to play again the next season.
As for Karate, I would leave and he would probably participate when he realizes he doesn't have another option. Most of the time if kids cry they will quit crying within 5-10 minutes of you being gone. you could tell the instructor that you are going to try leaving and see if he does better. Leave them your phone number and tell them to try 10 minutes before calling you but if they feel that you need to pick him up then have your # available for them to make that judgement call.
I had to do this with my daughter when she started going to the nursery at church when she was a year old. She would cry and they would put her number up before I even got back to the sanctuary so I asked them to wait for 5 minutes and see if she calms down and guess what after that she stayed and had fun in the nursery. She just had to realize that after crying for 5 minutes I wasn't there and she learned that she could do things without me always being right next to her.
It is a process but you have to figure out a way to get him involved without you being right next to him all the time. How does he do at school? Does he have any time where he is independent and does things on his own or is he always looking for your approval or to the teacher in everything he does?
dana had the same couple thoughts i had. first i would try it (or the next one) with him there alone. he'll be more likely to participate, or at least gravitate towards the group and listen to the instructors. S., i would branch out a little bit. it sounds like you have more of an introverted kiddo (mine too!) and he may just plain old not be that into sports. all of them can't be little athletes! try something different like dance or even swimming or something else he might like better. i would not insist my child be in an activity, personally i think at this age school is a pretty big "activity" in itself, but if you insist you owe it to your child to find something he can enjoy. good luck!
PS, have you asked him to make a choice from several different acitvities? maybe he has an idea already what he'd like to do.
Holy Cow! Do you know my son? I swear, I was reading about him in your posting. I have the same problems w/ mine and have tried everything to no avail. Sorry, I don't have any suggestions, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone out here! :) Let me know if you find anything out that works.
Why not just let him play with kids in the neighborhood or wherever and let him pick what he'd like to do when he's older and has a desire to play a certain sport? Just wondering why so many kids are in so many things and not interested yet. Our grandson did that too with T-ball and I know some day he'll pick a sport or interest and then want to do it. Now he likes just playing and doing things with other kids where it's not so organized.
Introduce him to the instructor and some of the kids. Tell him where you will be and that you will be back for him when class is over, then leave, for at least the first half of the class.
