Which activities need to be started young?

[strawberrybubblegum]

DD is almost 4, and is (perhaps only through my rose-tinted pfb spectacles!) unusually agile and physically able. Her main strengths are balance (very noticeable a year ago, but not so different to other children now), upper body strength, and agility. And she just seems to 'get' how to use her body - and loves doing that

Whilst I don't have sport-related ambitions for her, I don't want her to miss out on something life-enriching because she didn't start early enough, especially because we're not a remotely sporty family, so this doesn't come naturally or automatically to us.

So what activities and sports have a 'start-by' age? That might be due to the nature of the activity, or because it gets so booked up. And is there anything else I should make sure I do for her?

She already does pre-school gymnastics which she loves (a perfect example: if you haven't started in pre-school you simply won't get a space around us).

She also does swimming. And we spend many, many hours in playgrounds!

Would some kind of ball-related activity be good? A friend does tennis lessons - is that a good idea, or is something more general better? While she enjoys catch and kicking balls around, it doesn't seem to be a natural area of strength for her. That might be because we haven't done much of it with her though.

She has been asking for ballet lessons for a while, and we did a trial about 6 months ago, but she didn't really 'get' it so we didn't take it up. She does love watching dance and twirling around to music, and is still asking for lessons though, so perhaps that was a bit mean of me! I was thinking of trying to find a tap or modern class initially, then possibly do ballet later if she turns out to love it. Does that sound reasonable or not?

Thank you so much for any advice. I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing, but I just want to make sure I don't miss something important.

Ah no, it's not. Dance to Your Own Tune is RAD pre school curriculum.

If you start any activity at 3-4 and persist they are likey to end up quite good at it...its all about hours of practice at doing some thing. Try lots of stuff at that age and see what she seems to really like in my experience.
She may not be great at some thing initially if its new.
Let her try lots of options; be it dance or rugby !
A lot of parents jst take DC to what ever activity they do and then people are 'amazed' that a young child is good at climbing, music, football, judo, dance etc' in comparison to their peers
They fail to see that its because the DC has started at age 3 and have had hours of practice lol

If you're doing it for a hobby then it doesn't really matter. However, those people who I've noticed are doing very well in their field, be it dance or sport, also do something in addition to the 'normal' classes or training, usually in the form of extra classes, private lessons and practice at home. Starting early isn't always enough as there are lots of pre school classes and early starters.

I agree. I am involved in a kids sport. Its hugely obvious which children do more than the one hour twice a week. They progress miles faster. The ones who spend endless hours practising at home, some times as they have nothing else to do, are the ones that really excel ... meaningful practice means skills become more developed.

My DT's loved football when they were that age. Lots of running around, learning to follow instructions, introduction to basic skills and playing with friends.

Which activities need to be started young?

Learning languages.

Ballet was from young age but she was insistent and teacher told me within a month she had something 'special'. She went on to dance with Royal Ballet and never faltered in her passion.
Violin likewise -from 3 -now a doctor but got grade 8 distinction and still plays in orchestra.
Son picked up rugby later but still went on to play at high level in army.
Other son hated all sport. Swimming we did from young age(birth).
Other girls didn't really nag for anything specific but did tap and swimming. Tennis for all of them but nothing special.
Piano for four of them and all play well at social level.

Ballet was from young age but she was insistent and teacher told me within a month she had something 'special'. She went on to dance with Royal Ballet and never faltered in her passion.

A month

I never realised the violin could be taught so young as I didnt think they would be coordinated enough. Some of our friends started it at 5. MIne wouldnt have been able to concentrate well enough; although they did gym/footy/swimming and more active things so they didnt have to sit still!

I never realised the violin could be taught so young as I didnt think they would be coordinated enough.

Mozart learned violin before the age of 5 I think

Have you thought about golf. My two are really into it. Mainly down to dp s mild obsession with it! Both started at around 3 - just knocking a few balls on the driving range.
it's great for hand eye coordination and gets them mixing with others as well as learning rules that go along with any sport. Plus it's out doorsy!
I think at that age it's about enjoyment. So long as they are having fun and not finding it a chore they will excel at it!

Lyrical dancer us in a month we were told she had ability both in terms of musicality and flexibility/coordination. We were sceptical as they were three year olds skipping but looking back over early DVDs she was simply better than the others. We never really encouraged the ballet thing as I have misgivings about the culture but she was insistent. We went along to Saturday classes for a few years. She got distinctions in every grading and just loved dancing. She pirouetted and jetted every time music came on. At 9 she started RBS outreach. At 11 she was offered a place at White Lodge which we had to turn down due to illness. She continued with associate programme and was then accepted to train with BRB. She just seemed to want to dance with no,great inherited ability or desire on our part.
Violin they say is best way to train a musical ear. Other daughter began with a 1/4 size from three at local,authority free music centre. Again, no real desire on our part or inherited ability. She had heard. Veronica May on television and decided that was what she would do. It was painful initially and I have never grown to love the violin but she continued through all the grades and moved from borrowed tiny instruments to quite expensive violins given as Christmas and birthday presents. She worked her way through the grades passing grade 8 with distinction at 14 years. She played in county youth orchestra for several years and continued through university but always knew it was a hobby not a career.
My experience is definitely listen to the children and if they have talent, they will know and be persistent in growing it. I on the other hand dance like an elephant and am tone deaf.

Brilliant post crumbs... I totally agree about listening to your DC. I know two people with boys who were fanatical about dance / drama from a early age who have gone on to excel. It was not the mums idea to send one to ballet and tap etc at age 3/4 - it was her DS. The other wanted to be on stage and went onto excel at drama and stage and has had some impressive stage parts with their regional theatre. One of my DC knew what sport they wanted to do at 3 and has never changed. My other does a variety but has one definate favourite lol

That's two insistent three year old prodigies there! Goodness.

She definitely could learn violin. I met someone whose 11yo started violin aged 2 on a teeny weeny violin and the child is grade 8. I don't know where you do that or whether it was suzuki but you definitely can do it.

Not really prodigies lyrical dancer more stubborn (or determined) youngsters. The violin one also decided to be vegetarian at five. No others in family -two brothers pure carnivores who liked blue steak served with breast milk. She hurled a shepherds pie across the room saying "I told you I don't like eating meat, it makes me feel sick". Vegetarian still at 24. She also knew she wanted to study medicine at 5.
Other girls took longer to decide what and who they wanted to be.
The boys never really knew until their teens although one knew he hated any sort of team sports but liked making things. He became a research engineer. His brother who despite my best efforts to have a no guns house made 'bang bangs' with rulers, twigs or anything else became an army officer and ended up playing high level rugby (but not until he'd tried playing French horn, dance and musical theatre).