Psychology Today had an extremely relevant Article back in 2010 which stated that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (link is external), kids should not specialize in one specific sport before adolescence. And they should not overuse growing and developing tendons and ligaments by overdoing it at any sport that involves repetitive motion.


When your child is young, get those dreams of college ball and scholarships out of your head. Ultimately, your child might earn a coveted sports scholarship or a place on the college team. But for younger children, and even for very active teens, maintaining a healthy body and a clear perspective is key. Encourage kids and teens to strive for balance. Sports are great, but making time for friendships, and time to learn an instrument or pursue some other personal interest like, photography or gardening, is also important.


Washington Post ran a fascinating article which asks why do 70 percent of kids quit organized sports at 13 and what can we do about it? The author argues that most kids leave because we haven’t given them a way to stay. And perhaps more importantly, until we dismantle the parenting culture that emphasizes achievement and success over healthy, happy kids, we don’t stand a chance of solving this problem.


The problem, according to me, is perennial. Every parent these days is trying to turn their kid into this ivy-league wannabe or an olympian but totally lose the perspective along the way. Time for a reset? Let your kids enjoy their childhood and let them follow their passions in the way they want to and at a speed they can manage.