To think DS sports day was odd and not really in the spirit of inclusion?

[Notbeinfunnehbut]

Me and DH and DM attended DS sports day yesterday
it was very hot and it wasn’t set out like a traditional sports day I.e activities each team goes round
mall kids were seated , activities did happen but certain kids from each team were read out and all other kids remained seated , there were children who took part in multiple races , and some none my son did 1! Being stood in a sun trap for over 2 hours to see him do one race at the end 😡

like I said some kids did nothing,

I asked him and he said teachers asked kids which ones they wanted to do instead

AIBU to think the whole point of SD is that everyone takes part??

Inclusive means recognising how little /much some people want to participate. I think Yang volunteering rather than being assigned events is fair.

I thought that was traditional sports day and the more going around stations was a more modern thing. Certainly whenI was at school we did the race thing and so did my kids. It wasn't all running though, there was egg and spoon, skipping, sack race, 3 legged race, obstacle race. Always ended with the relay race where I child from each year group took part for their respective team colour. Most kids did 1 or 2 and the more sporty ones did the others. Always had an interval where all the kids had a drink and an ice lolly whilst the toddlers race, mums race and dads race took place.

I don't agree with that approach at all. If they don't want to take part, this should be confirmed with the child and parent beforehand so that they can sit inside and do drawing or something. At my son's school, everyone takes part, it is just like a PE lesson i.e. you take part unless you've got a medical note to say otherwise. Letting them decide to dip in/out as they please is not teaching them about decision making and inclusion IMHO. Later down the line I htink it breeds problems such as they decide they don't want to do a certain lesson (PE is very common for this as they reach puberty). When you're in a job, you can't pick and choose what you do. Best teach them that as early as possible. I know a lot of teens who now think that everything should be based on whether they fancy it or not, and they end up making poor decisions becasue they are lazy or anxious about a certain subject and end up dipping out. It doesn't help them in the long run. If they have a real problem with something, it shout be sorted out, discussed, and their other strengths nurtured, but a lot of the time it's because they don't want to bother unless they win or excel. Life is not about winning, it's about doing your best. And you can't do your best if you don't take part

Seems strange to have some take part in multiple races and others in none. One event each (or none) seems better to me.

Inclusion means offering everyone the opportunity to thrive. It doesn’t mean forcing everyone to take part in things they’re no good at or not interested in. My DD hated sports day because it was full of races and throwing and high/long jumps - things that are almost always won by the tallest, most powerful, or fastest - pretty much like all school sports. She is none of those things, but she is a brilliant gymnast and a national silver medalist. I’m grateful for that, because if she hadn’t found a sport she excelled in she would have believed she was terrible at sport.

Agree with all the others saying it’s better children get the choice. My ds is sporty but even he doesn’t enjoy sports day because of the pressure of all the parents watching. It’s preferable if the children get the choice. I think primary school sports day is t really for the benefit of the kids it’s a performance tick box exercise for the parents. Much better if parents weren’t invited and they just did some fun sports for the day where the kids could enjoy themselves.

My dd is autistic and hates sports day. She doesn't like people watching her do stuff, it causes immense anxiety. The best year we had was when they allowed her not to do it, but was a "helper" instead.

It's not always about "encouragement".

Also sports day is shit as a parent. Best thing about them growing up. That and not having to suffer nativity pllays!

There was a time when what you describe was the traditional style of sports day, and everyone doing everything was a new-fangled idea!

Some schools do a hybrid - starting with a circuit activities and then a small number of races so that the strong athletes could have their moment of real competition.

Someone was on here debating keeping their child off sports day because they found the enforced participation so stressful - schools can't win!

YANBU - At primary it's usually a load of team events so everyone joins in, and the only really individual competitive event is the sprint, which is often optional.

My dd came home from sports day yesterday a bit upset/embarrassed because her team had to do penalties as part of it and she missed every one. She said everyone was laughing at her (she’s only 6). So yeah, I think optional participation is a good thing.

I agree. Some people just aren’t sporty. It doesn’t mean they don’t keep fit and healthy and it doesn’t mean they’re going to fail in life.

I think participation should be mandatory. Kids might be shy or reluctant but find themselves very good at it. How do they know they enjoy or excel at it if they never do it? I was very poor at music but I'm glad I was forced to give it a try. Also, I was a slow starter to sport. Weak at the start of primary but strong by the time I went to secondary. Giving things a good crack is a life lesson. Loosing an egg and spoon life isn't going to harm you.

It’s very different giving sport a try (which should be compulsory through PE lesson) and performing in front of a mass of strange adults and all your peers. We are talking about sports day. Not all primary school sport.

I hated sports at school, the last thing I wanted or needed was ‘encouragement’. I think it’s a good idea for them to choose but it’s a shame you weren’t made aware of it first.

It's not really sport though is it? it's physical activity, kids just moving their bodies and very non-competitive for most primary sports days, apart from if there is a sprint race. Unless there is genuine distress most kids should participate, little kids should enjoy charging about and moving their bodies, and shouldn't avoid it any more than they can avoid Maths or English.

Its a tough one, as our DS at times can be reluctant to do things, but enjoys it once hes encouraged to.

But i do think if a child really doesn't want to take part they should be allowed to miss it, but participate in something else maybe, if they hate running, try shot put or something maybe ?

Sports day at High School? Never have I ever encountered this!

Oh wow that's amazing, I was always forced to do everything at school doors day and always came last.
I ended up just being conveniently sick on those days...
I think it's a brilliant idea to let kids pick, although I'd have rather chosen to be inside with a book then sit out watching other people play sport

It is teaching them about decision making! They made the decision not to partake. It’s Sports Day not day to day PE lessons. You can partake in a sport without being forced to do the olympics in the real world, this is just the kiddie version of that. 🤷‍♀️

It’s performing in front of a load of people that makes the difference.

Most kids do participate. Most schools work hard to make sure everyone is taking part in at least one event.

Surely it’s counterproductive to force a child to compete if they don’t want to if we’re trying to encourage children to enjoy being active?

Its a fantastic idea. Forcing children to participate is so counter productive. So many adults reject all excercise because they are 'rubbish at sport' a view rooted in bad experiences of competitive school sports.

Sports day at High School? Never have I ever encountered this!

It is entirely standard for a uk secondary school to do some version of a sports day. It would be the exception not to have one.

Being inclusive doesn't necessarily mean treating everyone the same. Lots of people keep their kids off on sports day so they dont have to complete in front of a the whole school/parents. The school giving kids the choice seems like far better idea than having a load of kids skipping school. The only issue I would have was if kids were pressured by other kids in their team not to compete due to their lack of ability but as long as each kid has fair choice of what they do/dont do then I cant see the problem.