Which one would you prefer....

Lyndsay - posted on 12/15/2010

I prefer sporty for boys, even though I hate sports. I'm not really interested in music myself but if it was something my daughter wanted I would encourage that... my son too, if its something he wanted. I don't have any girls and my only boy is very physical, so I'm sure he will be into sports.

Stifler's - posted on 12/12/2010

I'd prefer my son to play rugby league or swim AND do music like piano or sax. All my boy cousins did both and they are extremely smart!

I'd prefer my daughter to be into ANY sport which is fairly active and keeps her fit AND music like piano or the sax.

My husband and I have both decided that we want one of our kids to play the saxophone because we love sax music!!

Nelly - posted on 12/12/2010

I have 3 sons they each play 1 sport and a musical instrument. my daughter enjoys swimming and choir

Brittany - posted on 12/11/2010

I was niether I only did academics so it would be nice to see my kids do both. I don't like the cometativeness of sports... I want my kids to have fun, not to come home in tears because they lost a game or worse get really mad over it.

I really wish I had learned an instrument. I was always told that the instrument and lessons were too expensive. My husband on the other hand even composes so they'll at least get flute lessons from him; piano too if we get one.

Sherri - posted on 12/10/2010

Amy my children are only allowed one activity per child per season. So that way school is their #1 priority. Sports around here except for summer sports are 1 evening a week for practice and all games are on Saturdays.

April - posted on 12/10/2010

My son takes gymnastics classes right now but he is only 1...I don't know how long he will be interested in it...right now there's no tumbling involved. My husband wants to get him on skates ASAP...hubby is an ice hockey goalie and would like our son to follow in his footsteps.

If we ever have a girl...I'd like her to be a gymnast if she's interested. I coached gymnastics and I love the gym. I would live at the gym if I could!! I am aware that a future daughter might not feel that strongly about it and I won't push her. I hope she will at least like cheerleading...I am a former cheerleader. It'd be cool to have a girl like me and have our son be like my hubby!!

**I agree about being well rounded!! I am going to let my kids tell me what they want to participate in and go from there!!

Amy - posted on 12/10/2010

okay okay, I get wanting a well-rounded education and activities and all, but sometimes i'm just under the belief that kids are in too darn many things. They need to be kids. Well rounded educations mean more than being in a gadgillion things and no time to think or have time alone to decide what they want in life.

and as far as "putting them in something". Not all of us have the extra money or time to go to all these things. They sure aren't free around here!!!

Kate - posted on 12/10/2010

I'd want each gender to be involved in an activity in each category.

Becky - posted on 12/10/2010

I don't have preference at all. When the kids are happy, I am happy. All 3 have done swimming, the girls still do. My girls (8 and 4) are in cheerleading, swimming, and dance. My son (7) has done soccer, tried karate, plays baseball, basketball, and will play football next fall. Oh, and they all love to sing and dance. They show interest in playing the guitar too. Right now, they are still young so we encourage them to try new things. What ever they become passionate about we will be there every step of the way.

Petra - posted on 12/10/2010

Neither - like Krista, I'll enroll him in whatever he has an interest in. There's no harm in letting kids try out different things and discover what they're good at - whether dancing, soccer, martial arts, art or music, I'm happy as long as he has a creative and/or physical outlet that he enjoys. Swimming is also non-negotiable for me - at 12 months old he is already in his second round of swim classes.

Tah - posted on 12/09/2010

well..my son is already in karate, he boxes with his dad(stepdad) and he plays in the school band..

my daughter has taken dance and gymnastics before and will be starting back at the start of the new year and she also does karate..

my 4 year old goes to the family karate classes with us on saturday mornings, since technically he can
t start until his b-day dec 29th, when he will actually be 4 and my husband will have him boxing 3 years later at 7, by then he should already be a black belt..lol

Alecia - posted on 12/09/2010

i played basketball, soccer, volleyball and (mostly) softball. i was also in choir and band from the 4th grade until i graduated, went to Bi-county and NYSMA. i was in FCCLA and Drama club, french club, Honor society...etc. i really hope both my children can be very well rounded as well. id like them to play one sport or dance or karate and be in band and chorus. and possibly a 'club". i wont force them to stay in it, but they will try because otherwise they will never know what they like!!

Sarah - posted on 12/09/2010

When my son is 18 months old, I plan on joining a local "Mom & Tot" gymnastics class! (He's almost 15 months old.) I LOVED to tumble when I was little & I think my son would enjoy it too. He already loves trying to stand on his head haha. I'm doing this to have fun, not to push him into the Olympics or anything. ;) I also plan on starting him in soccer or little league baseball when he's old enough. If he doesn't like it, then I won't push it. I just want him to have the opportunity to be on a team, to get some exercise, make friends, and have fun. :) I'm going to encourage him to be as physically active as possible, while being well-rounded in other things as well. If he wants to play the drums, piano, or whatever, then that's cool too! Or if he wants to be an artist, more power to him! :)

Melissa - posted on 12/09/2010

And I totally mis read the question! Oh my

Anika - posted on 12/09/2010

Hell, I don't care as long as its not Cricket! Those games take all day and most of the players just stand around! I don't want to waste my Saturday sitting on the sideline whilst my kid watches butterflies and picks at daisies! LOL

But seriously, its her life not mine. She can do what she wants. She has 3 sets of grandparents. If she picks something I can't stand (like dance for example), there'll always be someone else to take her LOL.

Teresa - posted on 12/09/2010

Amy, sometimes it is good to 'put' them in something, so they can find out what their interests are. Not force them, of course, but by finding out what activities are available for your schedule/budget and encouraging them to give something a try. :)

I don't particularly care what activities my children choose to pursue, but I DO want them in something. While it isn't a requirement for growing up well rounded or whatever, I do feel it is extremely important. :)

Kelly - posted on 12/09/2010

We are in the same boat, Teresa. There are not many options for Art classes around here, and the few options we have are WAY too expensive for us :(
I do what I can to encourage his artistic growth, but he'll have to earn scholarships or wait for college if he wants visual arts classes.

September - posted on 12/09/2010

I prefer our son do to whatever it is he enjoys most. Our son is only 2 so we will see. We expose him to as much as possible and offer more of what he enjoys, at this point. We will do the same once he's old enough to be involved in sports and music. We bought him a key board for his 2nd birthday because he really enjoys the piano at his grandma’s house so as soon as he turns three we plan to enroll him into piano lessons. If he enjoys it great, if not we'll try something else. :)

Amy - posted on 12/09/2010

I would prefer my children to be happy and pursue whatever THEY desire and not what I wish I would have done when younger. I won't PUT them in anything. If they ask to do something with great desire is when we will do activities.

Amy - posted on 12/09/2010

Honestly If my kids had a preference in any sort I would encourage it. Our oldest is only 2 1/2 and I found so far he has a strong interest in both sports and music. As long as he finds some activities he loves I don't care. Our little girl is way too young, but again as long as she finds something she's interested in I'll be happy!

Teresa - posted on 12/09/2010

Melissa, I NEVER wanted girls. Which is why I fully believe that God has a sense of humor.... since I got twin girls. ;)

Sherri - posted on 12/09/2010

I have one that is band and one that into sports. Really doesn't matter to me. Really is up to them.

Teresa - posted on 12/09/2010

Kelly brought up a good point for me. If I could find an art class close enough to my home that was cheap enough... the girls would do that. They LOVE to draw. Which is why they are getting several 'how to draw' books for Christmas. It's the best I can do. ;)

Krista - posted on 12/09/2010

Why no football for the girls or dance for the boys, Amanda?

I would love for any and every of my kids to be in Tae Kwon Do, as I think it teaches a lot of fantastic skills. They're also going to learn to swim -- that's non-negotiable. But other than the swimming, I will let them gravitate towards whatever they like.

I REALLY hope they don't gravitate towards hockey, however. That sport is a huge time-suck AND money-suck.

Kelly - posted on 12/09/2010

I'm hoping for well rounded as well. Currently, we are more on the sporty side--He's in Taekwondo (martial arts) and Baseball--but I am hoping to get him back into music soon. He is showing interest again, but he is all over the place and cannot decide what he wants to do musically.

He loves to draw, and visual arts are my own strong point, so I would love it if that interest grew, but I won't push it.

Really, as long as he is doing something he loves, I will be proud. My only stipulation is that if he starts, he must finish. I will not have him sign up for Baseball and decide 3 games into the season that he'd rather do soccer. Also, when we chose Taekwondo, I gave him a month to decide whether he liked it or not, and if he chose to stay, he would stay until he reaches at least his first degree black belt. I will do the same for music; give him a month or so to decide, then let him switch or he will stick with it until he masters it, then he can pick a new instrument.

LaCi - posted on 12/09/2010

I'd want him to be both.

If I had to choose one I'd go with sporty, for both, only out of concern for their physical health. Building good habits/lifestyle and such. I do want them to be well rounded though, I don't want them to limit their activities to just one of their interests.

Good Day! - posted on 12/08/2010

We go to a toddler music class. She loves to "play class" at home. She reacts well to music. Why did I chose this class? Because it was available, fit in my budget, and I'd love for my daughter to develop musically. HOWEVER, I would never force her to take music if she hated it. If she wanted to take dance...I'd be all over it. As of now, she's only 2.5 and there are no "movement" classes that are affordable for us. So I'm not going to worry about it yet.

Kerry - posted on 12/08/2010

I don't see the point in choosing a prefernce since my children will be involved in whatever they choose and I will support them 100%. the only thing I will insist on is that they give their all and if they want to try something else then thats fine.

Teresa - posted on 12/08/2010

Whatever they are interested in that we can afford (time AND money wise). My girls have been in gymnastics for 3.5 years and have done 2 seasons of soccer... so far.

My son is too young still, but I'm pretty sure soccer will be his first activity according to his interest right now.