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Original poster

Can a child get better at sports?

40 replies

Lulli · 16/07/2023 10:22

DD (5.5 yo) has been doing lots of sporty classes since she was very little (tennis, playball, gymnastics etc). She seemed to be doing ok, not better or worse than other children of her age, but now after 2 years of gymnastics I can see she's slightly falling behind. Some of the children in her class are really going for it, trying different things whilst she is cautiously tagging along.

She also had her sports day at her prep school a month ago and I can see some girls were so competitive and really trying hard whilst she was just happy to have a go. She did manage to come third in the final race and I can see it boosted her confidence. But I can see now she's older she does not have a natural talent for it, although she does love her PE classes.

Academically she is doing very well and is very inquisitive, she's also musical, so we don't want to push her hard at sports but I'd like her to do better for her own confidence.

Can a child get better at sports?

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 16/07/2023 19:53

She was 4 when she gave up tennis? Bloody hell.....

changeyerheadworzel · 16/07/2023 19:55

The tennis thing has floored me too. Bizarre carry on.

Whataretheodds · 16/07/2023 19:59

Yes but the most important thing is that she finds the activities that work for her.

She might end up loving theatre/dance and swimming but not be keen on ballsports.

I wasn't great at sport as a child but found my groove in my late 20s when I realised I didn't have to be good at everything, and I did the things I enjoyed, became competitive with myself and increased my skill and fitness for those things.

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SweetSakura · 16/07/2023 20:01

She might just need to find her sport.

I wasn't very good at school type sports, but later discovered I was a talented sailor and windsurfer. I also enjoy running and dancing.(and surely enjoyment and being healthy are the main goals)

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/07/2023 20:01

I actually think you can tell at 5 which kids are going to be good at sport and which aren't. Some kids just have the muscles, the reflexes, the eye and the competitive appetite. Others don't.

Having said that, anyone can get better from their own starting point, even if not to the point if excelling. The important thing is to find a sport they enjoy, and it doesn't have to be a competitive one or even a team one - just something active that gives them a sense of achievement.

Stompythedinosaur · 16/07/2023 20:02

Of course, anyone can get better at sport with practice.

But it doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with how she is.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/07/2023 20:07

She sounds very young to be playing tennis or any other competitive sport unless she really wants to do it. I hated sports at school because I just didn't care who won, I still don't and never watch Wimbledon, football etc. I am quite fit in my late 60s and do pilates and walk at least 4 miles a day because that what I enjoy.

HowcanIhelp123 · 16/07/2023 20:07

I was shit at sports. I'm better now as an adult. I'll never be good but I can throw and catch now! Main difference was I got glasses. My parents never listened when I said I needed them until I took myself at college age. Not a big prescription (like 0.5) but made a big difference to fine things and depth perception.

I'm much better at non-competitive sports. I also enjoy them a lot more. You definitely shouldn't be worried about your child being average at something at any age, never mind so young! Let her have fun.

Reugny · 16/07/2023 20:09

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/07/2023 20:01

I actually think you can tell at 5 which kids are going to be good at sport and which aren't. Some kids just have the muscles, the reflexes, the eye and the competitive appetite. Others don't.

Having said that, anyone can get better from their own starting point, even if not to the point if excelling. The important thing is to find a sport they enjoy, and it doesn't have to be a competitive one or even a team one - just something active that gives them a sense of achievement.

Yes but what sport?

Lots of people aren't introduced to sports they would be good at early enough simply due to parents lack of knowledge and stereotypes - if they have an interest in sports like the OP - or lack of opportunity as a child.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/07/2023 20:46

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/07/2023 20:07

She sounds very young to be playing tennis or any other competitive sport unless she really wants to do it. I hated sports at school because I just didn't care who won, I still don't and never watch Wimbledon, football etc. I am quite fit in my late 60s and do pilates and walk at least 4 miles a day because that what I enjoy.

I'm similar, plus I like any sort of messing about on the water that presents itself.

CurlewKate · 16/07/2023 22:01

Such a sad thread....

Squiggo · 16/07/2023 22:10

If, at 5.5 years old, she isn’t excellent at sport you can only predict a life of failure, it starts with a rubbish handstand technique and ends up on skid row.

BogRollBOGOF · 16/07/2023 22:37

After a childhood of being stupenously shit at sport, not helped by inevitably being the smallest in the cohort, I wanted to make sure that my children were fit and not woefully incompetent. They don't have to be good, just not laughing stock/ ritually excluded league.

At 5 they were doing junior parkruns, swimming and gymnastics, later karate. One is dyspraxic (I think I know who donated those genes...) but good fitness and focusing on co-ordination means that he's not inept and more importantly, he has confidence in individual sports that suit him outside school. He's no natural for traditional PE team sports, but he's not defined by that like I was.

Don't be competitive at a young age, but it is worth gently building a foundation of skills so they can enjoy fitness for life and find what suits them.

SweetSakura · 16/07/2023 22:48

@BogRollBOGOF you are right about the importance of just general fitness and enjoying being active.

Neither of mine are likely to be the next Wimbledon star but they both love watersports, walking, running, rock climbing, ice skating, swimming... There's so many different and fun ways to be active

(And DD is a talented dancer although I would say that is part talent and a lot down to hard work and her own drive, aged 4 I imagine Op would have watched as she wobbled around the room in her tutu and concluded she should pull her out as she didn't show signs of being the next Darcey Bussell)

Original poster
Lulli · 17/07/2023 14:31

BogRollBOGOF · 16/07/2023 22:37

After a childhood of being stupenously shit at sport, not helped by inevitably being the smallest in the cohort, I wanted to make sure that my children were fit and not woefully incompetent. They don't have to be good, just not laughing stock/ ritually excluded league.

At 5 they were doing junior parkruns, swimming and gymnastics, later karate. One is dyspraxic (I think I know who donated those genes...) but good fitness and focusing on co-ordination means that he's not inept and more importantly, he has confidence in individual sports that suit him outside school. He's no natural for traditional PE team sports, but he's not defined by that like I was.

Don't be competitive at a young age, but it is worth gently building a foundation of skills so they can enjoy fitness for life and find what suits them.

That's very good advice, thank you.

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