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re: Tips for helping a 9-year-old with athleticism and coordination?
Posted on 5/30/23 at 12:44 pm to StringedInstruments
Posted on 5/30/23 at 12:44 pm to StringedInstruments
This may or may not be what you are looking for in a response but I went through this with my son who is an adult now. By far the most important factor in my opinion is fostering the mental strength and desire to work hard in order to improve. Basically out work the other guy. If you can get that part “fixed” than the rest will likely take care of itself because he will seek out the training and sport specific opportunities.
My son was very thin and not a great athlete but he was tenacious. Not sure what if anything I did to promote this … other than maybe reinforcing that hard work will pay off. Early on he had a lot of disappointments because other kids were more athletic and mature. But he eventually mostly caught up. And a lot of the other kids that were naturally good quit working hard or found other pursuits…leaving open avenues of opportunity. He played bball and won 4A state championship junior year and lost in finals his senior year (pre split)…so it was at a high level of competition.
Lastly, looking back sports was invaluable in terms of life lessons and great memories. But there are a lot of psycho parents that live through their kids and push them….it is hard to see it for what it is and not get swept up in it yourself. But on balance I have t really seen any of those scenarios end well for the kid or the family. So if he doesn’t like sports but really just likes the idea of sports then I would consider other positive activities…the sports thing was fun but really means so little in the big picture unless the kid has a passion for it.
My son was very thin and not a great athlete but he was tenacious. Not sure what if anything I did to promote this … other than maybe reinforcing that hard work will pay off. Early on he had a lot of disappointments because other kids were more athletic and mature. But he eventually mostly caught up. And a lot of the other kids that were naturally good quit working hard or found other pursuits…leaving open avenues of opportunity. He played bball and won 4A state championship junior year and lost in finals his senior year (pre split)…so it was at a high level of competition.
Lastly, looking back sports was invaluable in terms of life lessons and great memories. But there are a lot of psycho parents that live through their kids and push them….it is hard to see it for what it is and not get swept up in it yourself. But on balance I have t really seen any of those scenarios end well for the kid or the family. So if he doesn’t like sports but really just likes the idea of sports then I would consider other positive activities…the sports thing was fun but really means so little in the big picture unless the kid has a passion for it.
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Posted on 5/31/23 at 9:22 am to StringedInstruments
I think the number one thing to do at that age is teach him to work hard. Even if it's push mowing the yard or camping and make him gather firewood, etc. I don't know what kind of other things y'all are into. It will teach him toughness and then let him find a sport he likes and he'll work hard at it.
For my son it was football. He was not the most coordinated or athletic kid on the team, but had a really good time playing in HS. Every team needs offensive linemen.
For my son it was football. He was not the most coordinated or athletic kid on the team, but had a really good time playing in HS. Every team needs offensive linemen.
Posted on 5/31/23 at 10:46 am to REB BEER
quote:
Even if it's push mowing the yard or camping and make him gather firewood, etc.
Looking back, mowing the yard with a craftsman push mower, edging with a pole edger (we had a corner lot some 2x yard in the front as my friends), and hedging with hedge trimmers definitely helped me get stronger, it was a 2-3 hour workout in the sun. Also helped with toughness and responsibility, I often had to do yard work after games and meets. And when home in the summer if I slept in and didn't start till 10 or 11 am I had do it in full sun with no shade.
Posted on 6/1/23 at 9:41 am to REB BEER
quote:
For my son it was football. He was not the most coordinated or athletic kid on the team, but had a really good time playing in HS. Every team needs offensive linemen.
Pretty sure this is the direction I’m gonna have to steer my son. He’s 11 and played flag football a few years and bless his heart, he’s slow, uncoordinated and just goofy looking trying to run. My daughter is 10 and looks like a gazelle running. Crazy how 2 kids so close in age with the same genes and upbringing can be so different physically
Posted on 6/1/23 at 10:09 am to JonTheTigerFan
quote:
Pretty sure this is the direction I’m gonna have to steer my son. He’s 11 and played flag football a few years and bless his heart, he’s slow, uncoordinated and just goofy looking trying to run. My daughter is 10 and looks like a gazelle running. Crazy how 2 kids so close in age with the same genes and upbringing can be so different physically
he is weak relative to his body size. my oldest is same way
get them lifting and getting much stronger and get them jumping with dumbbells and you will fix many of these issues.
Posted on 6/1/23 at 10:14 am to NOLALGD
quote:
I often had to do yard work after games and meets. And when home in the summer if I slept in and didn't start till 10 or 11 am I had do it in full sun with no shade.
This is no lie. My son digs dirt jumps and trails as part of his obsession with bikes. They're literally working a shovel sometimes for 8 hours in a day. He's freaking ripped and has been since he was 14.
Of course, he's happing to swing a shovel for 8 hours digging dirt jumps... but getting him to rake leaves in the Fall at the house is a whole other can of worms.
Posted on 6/1/23 at 8:51 pm to lsu777
First week of workouts have gone well. He's really excited about it, and I gave him a list of incentives. It was also his idea to come up with a list of 8 goals to accomplish by the end of summer.
What I've noticed through all of this is that he is REALLY uncoordinated. He has zero understanding of his limbs and how to coordinate his movements. I have a feeling his lack of body control contributes heavily to his struggles in sports. Fortunately he's catching on with the drills we're running, but it's definitely a struggle. I can foresee some radical changes in his athleticism by the end of the summer.
What I've noticed through all of this is that he is REALLY uncoordinated. He has zero understanding of his limbs and how to coordinate his movements. I have a feeling his lack of body control contributes heavily to his struggles in sports. Fortunately he's catching on with the drills we're running, but it's definitely a struggle. I can foresee some radical changes in his athleticism by the end of the summer.
Posted on 6/4/23 at 1:17 pm to Chimlim
quote:
But his attitude prevents him from even trying. If he doesn't get good immediately, he wants to give up. And if he realizes you have to practice to get good, that gets more discouraging for him. That's what I struggle with, he doesn't 'want' to do any of it.
I legit wish we had a parenting board. If there is anything I could grant my kids for when they enter adulthood it’s the independence to approach problems on their own and the persistence to solve them. I have no idea how instill it and am more and more in the you get what you get camp.
I love team and ball sports, lived for them as a kid and young adult, and have three daughters that have shown almost no aptitude/interest in them. I’ve been lucky with the oldest in that she took to swimming like a fish and it’s has brought out a competitive drive that is just awesome. So I second the people that have suggested alternative activities/sports beside ball sports. All the better if it is a sport like swimming where talent largely takes a back seat to work ethic.
So good luck. Some great advice in this thread. At the end of the day all you can do is put good food, manners, and values in front of them as often as possible and hope it takes.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 1:43 pm to StringedInstruments
Wildcard suggestion here but have you tried water sports? Skiing/wake boarding etc are excellent full body workouts and are gratifying from the moment you are able to get up.
Former skinny glasses wearing nerd, I enjoyed team sports but water skiing was the only sport I ever day dreamed about. Has a huge mental side to it at the upper level but it's pure fun the whole way there.
Former skinny glasses wearing nerd, I enjoyed team sports but water skiing was the only sport I ever day dreamed about. Has a huge mental side to it at the upper level but it's pure fun the whole way there.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 2:26 pm to ned nederlander
quote:
I legit wish we had a parenting board. If there is anything I could grant my kids for when they enter adulthood it’s the independence to approach problems on their own and the persistence to solve them. I have no idea how instill it and am more and more in the you get what you get camp.
If you haven't read Mindset by Carol Dweck, I highly recommend it. She has tons of TED talks and podcasts out there and such as well on Growth Mindset if you want the reader's digest version.
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