Do children HAVE to do organised sports to stay healthy?

[Notcool1984]

I have two DC. DD is 6 and does quite a lot of activities. Three sports and a musical instrument.
My 9 yo DS however lacks confidence and has tried and given up a few things over the years but nothing sticks. He does a half hour swimming lesson and an instrument. He refuses point blank to do football / rugby / tennis / anything organised. He is very tall and is thin for his age. As a family we do loads, lots of walking / cycling / swimming / climbing wall but all (and I mean ALL) his friends do at least three other activities. He refuses, will cry and get stressed out at the idea.
I’m just wondering if anyone has older DS who have managed to stay fit and healthy without taking part in organised club sports?

You answered your own question - along with you as a family he take lots of exercise. So absolutely not, he does not have to join an organised sport.

Of course not! Walking, running and swimming are all completely valid methods of exercise. You do not need to partake in an organised club to be fit and healthy.

Duplicate thread?

The one that has already attracted a number of responses is here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3629808-Do-children-HAVE-to-do-organised-sports-to-stay-healthy

Suggest you get thus one deleted (so you get comments all in one place)

Seriously?

Yes of course anyone can be fit and healthy if they do lots of exercise but no organised sport!

It's fine stop worrying

Sorry I posted twice! Not sure how to remove one!?

If an adult can be fit and healthy without taking part in organised sport, why would a child not be able to be fit and healthy doing the same level of exercise?

I honestly feel like people just ask the most ridiculous things just so they can make a thread sometimes...

That’s harsh. This is something so have a lot of anxiety about: the reason I asked for opinions from ppl with older kids is because ones I know I’m organised hobbies seem to stay fit and healthy as teens etc. Worried mine will just sit inside playing computer games if he doesn’t have an organised activity.

I was watching my grandchildren and some good friends playing during a family picnic. They had planned to play tennis, but pretty soon they were in making up their own games, using the court a nd the gardens around. I was amazed how much running around was involved, and how well they organised themselves, and how much fun they had. They even managed to involve the youngest children, who were 2, 3 and 4. They played for three hours without any adult intervention. Who needs organised sport?

I don’t think the sport has to be organised, as such. I believe that some sport, running etc. is vital to fitness though. My nephew was very overweight, and decided to run for 5 miles every day. That was 3 months ago, and we don’t know where he is now.

Some kids hate organised sport and that is fair enough, making them do it would prob be counterproductive

I have just bought a book called "you are awesome" by Matthew Syed to improve my childs confidence, it is brilliant. Aimed at that sort of age.