Enrolling your kids in an organized sport brings up a host of questions: Is my child old enough? Which sport? Do the benefits outweight the risks? Below, iVillagers speak out. They can tell you which sports have worked for their kids, and how they've learned to make the most of their child's athletic interests.
Follow Your Child's Lead
"If your daughter is showing interest I would encourage her. My five-year-old daughter played T-ball last year and loved it. She was more interested in associating and meeting new kids than playing, but still had moments where she really played ball. She was on a co-ed team and there was never a problem. If your daughter doesn't like it, just don't sign her up the following year and wait for her to show interest in something else."
--iVillager
"Our 4-year-old daughter loves most outdoor activities, and appears to have a natural gift with connecting bat to ball. We practiced all summer and fall (taking her lead), and she can really nail that ball! She seems more than interested in joining a team, but I have some reservations...
--iVillager tsap