My Parenting Journey: When To Push When It Comes To Activities

The post below is sponsored by Goldfish Swim School Ann Arbor. 

There is something that has stuck with me since my friend said it:

I wish my parents made me try more things growing up.

She was shy and fearful as a child and didn’t give the impression she wanted to try new things. Looking back though, she wishes her parents *forced* her to do more for her own character development.

Those words have really made me think about my own parenting journey and when I should push my kids, and when I should back off when it comes to extracurriculars.

As a millennial mom who often receives mixed messages about everything under the sun, I wasn’t sure how to take it. Do I push my kids out of their comfort zone to try new things and potentially sit on the sidelines, or let them choose the activities they want to engage in? And with starting activities at a young age, will I create an over-scheduled monster child?

My kids are more reserved, so I have struggled to make that judgement call. But when they do show interest in something, I am happy to appease them if it works in our schedule and budget.

This little gal LOVES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and police officers so karate is a natural fit!

In addition to our swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School in Ann Arbor, my oldest has found soccer as her calling thus far, while my youngest daughter adores karate {after trying soccer and dance and despising both}. My son is only 3, but we’re starting soccer this fall. He wants to be like his big sister, so why not? Even if he doesn’t love it right away, we can try again in the future, or let him choose something else to try.

Thankfully, I’ve found my parenting stride of knowing they actually do need to be pushed because letting them try things {and struggle and succeed}, has been invaluable to their development and confidence. It’s not just about the sport/activity itself; it’s about learning from another adult, teamwork, having a growth mindset, and of course, getting exercise.

Here are a few tips I’ve learned so far for when to push when it comes to activities:

Test The Waters

Most activities allow children to come check it out in advance to see if they like the atmosphere. This is crucial for kids with anxiety as it can allow them to see a class in action, or better yet, participate, before making the schedule and financial commitments.

My oldest was terrified of going underwater before starting lessons, but with her encouraging swim instructor at Goldfish, she has conquered her fears and can now swim underwater. I am proud, but more importantly, she is proud of herself!

Goldfish Swim School has family swim night, which offers the perfect opportunity for the public to check out the facility before jumping into lessons.

Prioritize Activities

Some kids can handle baseball practice on Monday, piano on Tuesday and soccer on Thursday, while other kids do better when they focus on just one activity at a time.

Figure out what mix is best for your family, what your children actually want to do, and then prioritize. If you know a family vacation or summer is coming up and you will be near water, encouraging swim lessons is a great idea — not only for fun, but because it teaches water safety, which is a critical life skill.

Goldfish Swim School offers Jumpstart Clinics for kids who may not have time to devote to perpetual lessons.

Be Positive

One parenting tip I’ve received is to not directly ask the child how they feel about lessons or a game. Sometimes just asking an open-ended question like that can encourage negativity.

Instead, just be positive right away — “Wow, it looked like you had fun out there! Can’t wait to see what you accomplish next week” — and leave it at that.

This allows for the child to feel good and surpass the urge to get upset if the lesson or practice was boring or challenging. Being challenged is actually a good thing!

A little extra motivation never hurts, either 😉 Especially when it comes to little ones!

Goldfish Swim School provides swimmers with ribbons and progress reports to highlight where the student is thriving. 

Remember: Physical Activity = Academic Achievement

Not all of us have a budding Tiger Woods or Einstein. But there’s proof out there that allowing for kids to be active pays off when it comes to academic achievement. In fact, participation in extracurricular physical activities has been associated with higher grade point averages, lower drop-out rates, and fewer disciplinary problems among students. {source}

That is reason enough to at least try some activities, right?

I look forward to many years ahead of beaming with pride as my littles learn and grow through sports and beyond!

Check out these 10 reasons we love Goldfish Swim School here

Water Safety Presentations With Goldfish Swim School

In addition to perpetual lessons, Goldfish offers free water safety presentations to community groups, schools, daycares and scout groups and more. Call the location nearest you to schedule. Goldfish is located in Rochester, Canton, Macomb, Farmington Hills, Birmingham, Clarkston and Ann Arbor.

Learn more about Goldfish Swim School on their website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

What activities have your children enjoyed trying?