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??

100%. I think that large numbers of people hate particpating in many sports, but most people will move about if you put them in the right environment. I understand that schools can and should encourage team sports and races and cross country running... but their priority should be to get as many kids as possible to move, not to try to force everyone to run 4 miles in the snow or try xxxx (insert violent team sport of your choice here).

That's how we always did sports day when I was younger.

You could do what you liked and also it taught us to recognise who was good at certain events and encourage our peers to volunteer.

I know over the years the way they have been done has changed.

But I'll always remember fondly my days of the egg and spoon and sack race and being able to do the 'silly' races because I was (still am!) crap at anything that involved running at speed!

i think my big issue is that people don’t take time off work to watch other ppls children repeatedly participate and yours not.

I'd rather have a happy child sitting on the sidelines, than have an upset or anxious child who was forced to participate for my entertainment. Sports day should be about the children not the parents.

This post would certainly win an award for the most ignorant Ive read in a while.

You clearly have NO idea re children and mental health so probably best you get involved.

I will also add hairydog that my ds who couldn't take part at all in sports day for years due to anxiety and mental health is now one of the best para swimmers in Britain.

Thank god he had caring and educated people around him to help him overcome his fears rather than damage him more for compliance. .

@Lola4321 it sends out the message exercise is optional, it isn't.

I also think it does children a lot of good to learn it’s ok to say “I don’t feel comfy doing that” and then be able to discuss how they can participate or a suitable alternative. Yes some things in life are non negotiable but plenty of others there is space for negotiation.

This. For me primary was forced participation. All the kids had to take part. Secondary (also a much bigger school) kids chose whether they took part and I never did.

I have dyspraxia (basically extreme lack of coordination among other things). It was at the tripping over feet, can't throw a ball, randomly have one leg turn when you didn't want it to and walk into a wall level as a child. As a teen from some adult's treatment of me I suspect some assumed i was drunk.

I still remember the crab race in primary. You walk on all fours but knees don't touch the ground. I fell literally every step and the watching adults were forced to stay for the longest ten minutes of my life waiting for me to crawl the short distance all the other kids had finished in seconds. I had grass grazes everywhere, even on my face due to all the falling.

For op. It sounds like your son chose not to participate if they let the kids choose what they wanted to do. So I guess if it's that important to you, have a chat with him as to why he didn't want to take part in more races.

Yes I agree a lot with this, excluding genuine issues like injury, dyspraxia, anxiety etc

also isn’t the main Ethos of sports day team work? It should be at least

Some bordering on unkind posts about overweight children etc

my DS is actually carrying extra weight ,has special needs a side effect is he hungry all the time ,
he also does 2 sports a week,
(I’m not getting into a whole derailment about it)

the point is , aswell as fitness
people view very narrowly what sporty is , some of these kids will come from very fatphobic households where all sorts of ignorance is instilled,if only certain types of children can enjoy sports that offers a very narrow a non inclusive example of bodies take part it perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

just something to think about

It’s sending the message that all sport must be competitive and in front of other people to be worth anything which I’m sure is much more harmful to long therm participation.

And do tell what sports day does to tackle those stereotypes rather than perpetuate them?

there are fantastic examples of the inclusiveness of sport that don’t involve humiliation of children for enjoyment of others.

also isn’t the main Ethos of sports day team work? It should be at least

Not every single thing done in school has to be a team effort. Lots of sports are done as individuals. Most schools have house competitions but it’s good to celebrate individual achievement.

Goodness. That's a little dramatic of you! But if it eases your despair and depression a little, my adult children, now 20s/30s are slim and extremely fit and active, taking part several times a week in physical activities they enjoy. They hated school sports day and thankfully their school didn't force participation, so they opted out. Yet somehow, here we are.

Humiliation? What, chucking bean bags into a bucket?

Lol @Lola4321 "trauma" it's a 20 yard egg and spoon race 🤣🤣. Honestly it's not wonder children can't cope with anything today, sportsday trauma 🤣. There's no hope for them. I loved sports day, I didn't win everything either (I'm better at long distance) but it wasn't about winning, everyone had a go, it was always done on a sunny afternoon, great memories. I don't recall anyone experiencing trauma 🤔