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Extra-curricular activities

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DD, age 9, doesn't want to do any sports which involve competition. Any other suggestions for something she might enjoy that will help her keep fit? What does your 9 YO dd do?

44 replies

brytte · 18/08/2015 19:26

For the past year my DD2 went weekly to practice and play a team sport but she lost enthusiasm towards the summer and now is adamant she won't join again this year. That's fine but in the past she's also shunned playing any racket sports, swimming beyond competence level, gymnastics and dance. She does play an instrument and goes to a drama club, so I don't think she needs a team sport for good social skills. However, I would like her to do something outside of school PE that is exercise related.

Her school is not very big on sport and her peer group not particularly geared towards those kinds of extra curricular activities. I suspect it would be easier to get her to join something if her friends were too but that's not likely.

Does anyone have any ideas for something else I could suggest? It would be fun for me and her to do something together but I don't know of any classes or formal activities that are run for parents along with older children. I live in quite an urban area so cycling or running with her would not be easy. Or is it okay for her to do nothing for a few years and hope she finds something she enjoys at secondary school?

OP posts:
Potcallingkettle · 18/08/2015 20:57

Climbing, trampolining, kayaking, riding or sailing. Look for taster sessions and see what she enjoys. Plus get her into cubs, a good one will do lots of activities.

Indantherene · 18/08/2015 20:41

Karate? Our club does classes for families, and adults and children train together.

georgedawes · 18/08/2015 20:35

Geocaching

mrsruffallo · 18/08/2015 20:34

climbing?

BertrandRussell · 18/08/2015 20:32

Did I just hear someone saying that Irish dancing is not competitive????Shock

Lightbulbon · 18/08/2015 20:05

Go for long walks at the weekend.
Some leisure centres have gyms for 8+ years old.
Trampolining.
Ice skating.
Skipping.
Aerobics.
Yoga.
Golf.
Circus skills.
Synchronised swimming.
Rhythmic gymnastics.
Climbing/bouldering.
Roller skating.
Horse riding/mucking out stables.
Kayaking.

If you are really desperate and she doesn't feel too old soft plays are actually really good exercise!

Heels99 · 18/08/2015 20:03

Climbing? Dancing, karate, cycling

FadedRed · 18/08/2015 20:00

Must it be sport? What about dancing? Irish, Morris, ballroom, ballet, tap, modern, all good exercise.

SirChenjin · 18/08/2015 19:52

Depends if you want her out of the house or not. DD and I do yoga, pilates and dance stuff on YouTube - we put it up on the TV and keep fit in the living room when I can be arsed

nulgirl · 18/08/2015 19:48

My dd does park runs, rollerblading and, after doing a week long course on a dry ski slope during the holidays, is going to start ski lessons. She also does swimming but not competition. I found a class which does diving, life saving and work with flippers and snorkels.

She is not keen on competitive team sports either.

tribpot · 18/08/2015 19:45

Do you have anything like circuit training for kids? Ds did a class at our local sports centre called Junior Fitness, he loved it because it was completely non-competitive. Alas it clashed with school clubs in the summer term and the guy has stopped running it, I'm hoping he might come back in the winter.

Floralnomad · 18/08/2015 19:44

Horse riding ,costly but great fun .

DinosaursRoar · 18/08/2015 19:41

There's lots of road cycling clubs that do group rides - but not races, might be worth seeing if they have youth groups.

BertrandRussell · 18/08/2015 19:40

Climbing? Do you live anywhere near water and do you have sea Scouts?

CMOTDibbler · 18/08/2015 19:36

My 9yo ds cycles (on road, with us, 20-30 miles), does parkrun with me, and is starting canoe club in September.

Have a look to see if there is a Sustrans route near you. Before ds was road riding we did off road trails which were fun, though it involved driving to them

wanderingwondering · 18/08/2015 19:32

Is there a park run near you?

Takver · 18/08/2015 19:31

YY also to martial arts - dd loved a judo taster they did at primary, sadly there wasn't a club nearby for her to continue.

Takver · 18/08/2015 19:31

Lifesaving? My very non-competitive dd is older but has been in a lifesaving club since she was 8. We're by the sea so surf lifesaving, but our local pool also has a rookie lifesavers club for 8 plus, don't know if that is common.

addictedtosugar · 18/08/2015 19:31

I was going to say swiming, but I see she has discounted that.
Would she do something like couch to 5 km with you, and then park runs at the weekend?
Martial arts?

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