Sports for a two year old

[ooosabeauta]

Honestly I'm not a pushy parent, and I have no 'Bertie project' agenda, but I have a nearly 2yo ds who simply loves physical activity (like many do), and I loved sport throughout my childhood, so... I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a sport that can be started at around age 2. I started thinking about this because I read a thread mentioning ballet for 2.5 yos and it got me thinking...

Not sure that ballet is the thing for my ds (not because of gender, but because even as a girl I was more hockeyish than danceish). We take him to Tumbletots and Gymboree but I'm imagining a sport discipline for him to get into IYSWIM. Am prepared to be laughed out of town, but does anyone have any suggestions?

NB He does have swimming lessons but it's not a sport I'm massively keen that he focusses on. TIA.

[peggotty]

lol at 'Bertie project'. Sorry but I have to say you do sound a teeny bit pushy parent-esque. He'a already doing tunbletots and gymboree, why do you need anything else? What's wrong with just kicking a ball about with him at the park or summat?

[thisisyesterday]

i don't think you'll find anything with any kind of discipline for that age tbh

plenty of things around like soccatots and things like that but they do tend to be play based really

[annh]

Why does he have to do a "sport" at this age? Surely he will be happy just running around and around in the park, climbing and swinging, jumping in puddles? I'm prepared to be proved wrong but apart from things like Little Gym etc which you have already mentioned, I know of no structured sports activity which he could start at this age.

[waitingforbedtime]

Ds did football at that age through the local fc but it wasnt very disciplined - naturally as nor is was he!

[IMoveTheStars]

Cricket - i have some tiny cousins who've been obsessed from a very young age. Obviously couldn't play very well at 2-3, but they love it. They're now both at school and getting rather good..

[Clary]

I coach football but I wouldn't want to coach a 2yo, sorry.

Bring him back when he's 4 and can concentrate on what I'm saying for more than 30 seconds

I think for a 2yo going swimming, doign a baby gym class and yes, kickabout in the garden is about all you can do. Oh and playing on the climbing frame at the park. None of which is really leading to a team sport is it? There's a good reason for that (see my second par).

[ooosabeauta]

Ooh, thanks all for such quick replies! Yes he is happy running around at the park and kicking a ball about - 'park' was one of his first words and we end up going most days alongside his other activities.

I don't know why I'm so keen on a disciplined sport already - I suppose I just remember the joy I felt from my early years playing and wondered what was available. Jareth, cricket would be great. I do feel he has all the necessary attributes and looks a lot like a cricketer Football also good. May look into Socatots. Thanks waiting and thisis and all for suggestions. Maybe we can fit these in around his saxophone lessons...

[Clary]

WRT cricket, my DSs do kwik [sic] cricket at the local club. DS2 started last year when he was 5 (almost 6) and I recall they said the starting age was 6 but a keen 5yo would not be turned away IYSWIM.

I think they would struggle with a 2yo tho. If for no other reason, the bat etc would be impossible for him to manage. Unless he is very tall for his age. Sorry, don't mean to disillusion you but I really think you might have to wait a while to get him involved in anything structured and formalised.

[sleepingsowell]

i think it would be the worst thing for him

He needs free play, and freedom. That is what is going to best meet his developmental needs and enable him to develop to his potential

I think classes are stifling for toddlers

and find it a bit depressing to think of their natural curiosity and energy being determinedly 'channelled' at this stage.

[ooosabeauta]

Mmm, medals and badges you say?! I think gymnastics would be good. He's just learned to do a forward roll of his own accord in the last month and would probably love to channel his energy in that direction.

He is unusually tall for his age, but not as tall as a five year old, obviously. As tall as many 3 year olds (and taller than I was at that age). Still not capable of wielding a child's bat for a while, but will look into my dad's club and see what they might suggest. Ooh, I'm excited at all the possibilities. Thank you all for suggestions. Really I am excited just because I know how much he loves his activities, honestly not pushing. Hope I don't sound like I'm protesting too much.

[sleepingsowell]

I bet he loves the park just as much, and jumping in puddles/kicking leaves. It's clearly YOU who really loves the activities and you choose to read his natural, two year old enthusiasm as being ready for this stuff because of that! I think it's a shame really. The pre school years of complete freedom are SO short. He has the rest of his life for standing in line/being told what to do/learning things by rote.

[ooosabeauta]

We go to a Steiner school as well sleeping, and I am keen on him getting a lot of freedom, which he does in spending all day with me as I don't work so we always have time to explore at his own pace. But he really enjoys the classes he goes to and there are many hours in the day to do all of these things I think.

[sleepingsowell]

school? Isn't he two?

[ooosabeauta]

Yes, Steiner school has mother and baby classes which lead up to Kindergarten. You can start at six months and Kindergarten begins at 3y 3m. He's coming up to 2, not 2 yet.

[Clary]

Just googled our local soccerstars and they start parents and toddler classes at 3yo.

I suspect the parent (who has to stay!) has a fair amount of input at that age tho

BTW I wanted to make you aware of how yr posts sound - he wouldn't like dance because you didn't as a girl...he likes sport because you did as a child... - just watch out that it is him that wants to do this not you!

[j0807bump]

think even at 2.9 my ds is too young for a definitive sports activity class. he just can't quite grasp the discipline/rules of things yet.

we football in yard/playing fields at least once a day. he can throw/catch, as someone said jumping in puddles, trampolines, anything active and outdoors is great fun. we do loads but i do think he's just too young yet.

saying that, i think he has outgrown tumbletots. he messes around something chronic of late!

know how you feel though, i want him to be fit, sporty and healthy. i always skived p.e! have promised the Dh i won't be a pushy parent but he will be a future british star of something. at the moment i'm thinking rugby, he can takle hard

[Rockbird]

I have to say, you do sound a bit bonkers. It was this bit that worried me...

"He does have swimming lessons but it's not a sport I'm massively keen that he focusses on"

Kind of makes me think it is about you and the idea of a not quite 2yo 'focussing' on anything blows my mind. I have a 2.4yo DD, exhaustingly active but the idea of putting her into anything organised is absurd. Her little head is filled with far too many random things and that's how it should be. There are so many years ahead for other things, they're just babies still.

[nancy75]

there are places that do tennis from age 2

[ooosabeauta]

Yes, ISWYM Clary. Ok, I don't see him ballet dancing imminently because he's more of a running, roaring type, like many nearly twos, and I imagine him liking sport because he likes kickabouts in the park and forward rolling and Tumbletots-type physical activities. It's not all based on an idea I've created out of nowhere. Anyway, thanks all - will start looking into your suggestions tomorrow

[sleepingsowell]

"Not sure that ballet is the thing for my ds (not because of gender, but because even as a girl I was more hockeyish than danceish"......agree with clary. Thinking that he won't like dance because you didn't.... You're not looking at him as an individual but at you and your history. I think as parents specially with such young kids at this 'malleable' stage, it's very easy to assume things about them based on our own history and preferences but - ime - our kids are sent to knock that out of us!

[ooosabeauta]

Ok, just before I head to bed, to defend the 'bonkers' suggestion - when I say don't particularly want him 'focussing' on swimming I mean it was a sport that I did for many years which involved training before school and many hours of laps which was, in hindsight, a bit antisocial compared to field sports. I don't mean 'focussing' as in high-pressure training at 2! I'd just like him to have fun with a sociable sport which he can do or not do however he likes.

Tennis would be great in the summer. Will add that to the list to research locally, thanks nancy

[Rockbird]

Fair enough

Good luck. I can imagine signing DD up for football and her running in the opposite direction to all the others. Or taking the ball and sitting on it! 'No! Mine!'

[ooosabeauta]

at Rockbird. Yes I can see that happening too - but all good fun!

[NonnoMum]

Our local Leisure Centre has a "mini-Kickers" session for 2s and up. It's hilarious. My nephew (4) runs in the opposite direction to the ball but my dd (2) seems to have the hang of it...