To stop DD doing gymnastics?

[VitaminX]

My daughter, aged 8, was in both gymnastics and handball for the last two school years. It was 2 practices per week per sport, so she had 4 sessions per week overall, no overlaps.

This school year, both sports go up to 3 practices per week, plus she wanted to start piano. So I told her she should choose which sport she enjoys more and just continue one. She chose handball which didn't surprise me as she's always enjoyed it more. She likes the social side of gymnastics but did occasionally complain and say she wanted to drop it.

Now term has started and she's in 3x 1 hour handball sessions per week as well as 2x 30 mins piano lessons. She's pleading with me to let her be in gymnastics as well. If I did sign her up, there is one overlapping practice so she'd have to skip one or the other that day. She says some of her friends are still in both sports so I suppose that's what they are doing!

AIBU to make her stick to just one sport? I think it's too much and I don't want her skipping practices because she's double booked - or for me to pay for sessions she's not using. I'm pretty sure it's mainly FOMO because so many of her friends are in gymnastics (she also has lots of friends in handball). But she is begging me and I'm wavering because I do think sport has so many physical and social benefits and she was gaining more and more confidence in gymnastics - am I being mean??

At first, I thought that's too much of a commitment. But then I remembered the various activities that DD did at that age and I guess I was equally keen for her to experience activities that she enjoyed and that were good for her wellbeing. I recall the rush from school to gymnastics to brownies with a picnic tea in the car in between 😩.

I think 3 sessions for each is madness, but it doesn't seem as though you have much control over that.

On balance, I think that if you can afford it, can spare the time and it doesn't impact or restrict activities that your other DC wants to pursue, then let her do it as long as she doesn't start showing burnout.

She definitely enjoys handball more as an activity. Towards the end of last year she was asking every now and then about quitting gymnastics. I think it's more the fact that some of her mates are going off to gymnastics training while she's in the afterschool free play and she wishes she was going with them for social reasons. Which are valid reasons and I know gymnastics is great for her strength and flexibility, but I think she's ambivalent about the actual sport.

She's not 'high energy' or a natural athlete but she does have a low boredom threshold. I know how important free play is though and I do want her to have time for that!

All practices are finished by 4 pm and the kids make their way independently between the sports hall and afterschool club so it's not a hassle for me in that way at all. But it would cost me about 600 quid for the school year which isn't peanuts. I don't know how that compares to sports club subs in the UK but it is 4 hours of training per week I suppose - 3x 80 mins.

I find myself agreeing with most of you on both sides so I am still in a bit of a quandary! Especially observations about the early intensity of childhood sports here - I have always thought it's a bit much. I will think about it more.

I am already thankful for the fact that my son, who has tried a few different sports, is adamant he's a handball boy and doesn't want to do anything else! The system is really set up for kids like him who love one sport and can't be bothered with others.