To want to ban primary school sports day?

[namechangingagainagain]

I HATE sports day. I REALLY REALLY hate it!
Don't get me wrong as a child I was sporty. I did well at sports day and loved it.

However now I'm a parent Ive had to drag DS6 to school this morning. I have 3 school age children. They are all competitive but only the eldest is good at sport. He liked sports day. The other 2 found it the most painful day of the year.

Don't get me wrong they can all play a board game and lose without too much bother. They are all active and fit. They just hate sports day..... the sitting around...... the cheering parents...... DS aged 9 said " I hate it when they clap you and you're last.... it's really humiliating....."

It seems once you get to high school it's more opt in... which is fine.
FWIW I'm not anti-competitive at all but it just seems to me when they are little they don't have the emotional intelligence to cope with it ( or maybe it's just my children...)

( and yes I probably just should have let him have the day off in hindsight )

But I'm not disagreeing Agitated. It pisses me off just as much that people believe in banning sports day for those who enjoy and/or are good at it because their kids dont/ aren't. I don't see why there is a battle or a divide tbh. In adult life we accept that people excel in different things.

Thankfully sports days will continue despite Mumsnet.

Very true derxa. Thankfully lots of things continue despite Mumsnet

It gave my son chance to shine at something when he didn't academically which was lovely.

My sons school is split into 4houses. From reception to year six, the winner of each race won their house a point and the winning house members got medals (my sons yay!) all the house members in each year were in teams too. tbh most races/events were over so quickly or so confused that I had no idea who won any of it anyway!

LittleLionMansMummy, I don't understand why you still think it is academic v sporty. Lots and lots of academic kids are sporty. One of my children got top marks in his SATs, got a place at grammar school, has the lead in the end of year play and won medals at sports day. When I asked how he did at sports day his reply was, "Who cares about sports day?"

AgitatedGuava, too right your child is just as entitled to recognition as someone who manages to win the egg and spoon race. Lets have a bit of fairness.

Will sports day go on? Who knows it seems to be dying a death in many schools where I live and senior schools are increasingly holding activities days instead where some children do sport but other do something for the community e.g. a litter pick and picnic on a local beach, or something arty e.g. a trip to a gallery. It seems popular with the teachers I know but I don't know any children at senior school at the moment so I can't say how they feel.

One of my grandchildren not children. They are all a bit old for sats.

My amazing high achieving 4 year old had her first lesson in losing at something this sports day. Upset but shes overcome it.

Her brother - older and also amazing but socially awkward and always finds school difficult won a race for the first time ever. He shined.

You can't please everyone all the time but to say ban sports day is just ridiculous!

I hated sports day with a passion. I repeatedly tried telling DM I was sick. She told me to get a grip, and that lots of children hate maths tests (I loved them). Academic children get plenty of praise and acknowledgement in school, as do those who are kind and helpful.

If you're so bothered that your academic kids win awards and get validation then put them in competitions (writing comp, chess comp, drawing comp- they do exist!) chances are they might not win those either. You can't win everything but you can participate and be a good sport and learning how to deal with losing is a good thing.

OMG can some of you accept that some children are sporty and academic and some children are bad at both.

Greenyogagirl, if you want validation for your sporty kids put them in for competitions outside school. Are parents of sporty kids incapable, does everything have to be laid on for them?

To hell with the kids who lose being good sports, some of the kids who win everything could do with being good sports. Not to mention their parents.

FFS it's supposed to be a bit of fun.

Not validation, or a chance to shine, or uber competitive. A bit of fun and some moving about - accessible to all in the same way that school is a bit of learning (and possibly some fun!) - accessible to all.

If it isn't the above then the school is doing a shit job.

I feel so sorry for children these days- parents make everything into such a big issue. It really doesn't matter. I was useless at sports - so what?! We had sports day as schools always have and always will.
Your job as a parent is to make your child resilient and emotionally mature- not always make sure that they never have to find out that some children can run much faster!
At Christmas we get the angst of the school play and everyone wanting their child centre stage ( despite the fact that the child may want to be back row of the chorus, out of sight!)
Just accept you child for what they are and support them. They can still take part and have fun.

Agreed hazeyjane - a good school celebrates them all, they recognise the effort.

Yes, which is good. If only at leavers assembly they presented sats scores to a round of applause too.
In our tiny rural school we had cups we gave out. Academic achievement Sport person of the year and Citizenship. Because we were so small the achievements of each Year 6 were described by me and reinforced by the HT.

I know this is mainly about primary sports day, but I've just come home from my secondary sports day and what a day! I have never been so proud to be part of a school community! All of KS3 were involved, around 600 kids.

They spent the first hour and half of the day, making banners in their tutor groups and then, after break, all filed down onto the field, banners held high. There was suitable sporty music playing as they all came together like the opening ceremony of the Olympics! It was a truly wonderful sight! I got a bit emotional watching everyone get together laughing with anticipation and excitement.

It was fantastically organised and everyone was involved. Students either participated in the sport or they cheered on their mates. There was singing and dancing and banter between tutor groups, year groups and teachers. It really was a wonderful day.

I think sometimes people forget that it's supposed to be fun and if you're that upset by the fact that little Jonny is rubbish and will get upset, then perhaps it's you that needs the reality check, not your kid! It's your job to encourage them to join in, not give them negative vibes that sports day is shit and you will fail.

Not one person failed at my school today. Everybody joined in and remembered what a fabulous thing it is to be part of a whole school community.

I love you Maureen.

I've just discovered why DD was so keen to go on today's optional science trip.

Only twigged when I saw everyone else trooping into school in their PE kit!

Never mind. Maybe it'll set her up for a lifetime love of biochemistry or something.