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  • What's the best way to get a young kid started in sports?

Question

Luke Melia
Luke Melia
Parenting

What's the best way to get a young kid started in sports?

My daughter is 3 1/2 and we live in the city. I'm wondering what the best starter sports are for her. Any other specific tips for a first-time parent?

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  • Sdkhfi Ldifjl
    Sdkhfi Ldifjl
    Answered April 13, 2009
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    You should probably ask her which sport she thinks looks the coolest and whatever she says try and sign her up for it...i know im not a parent but thats what my parents did with me. I have played softball since i was four and i am now 15 and thats a long time and i enjoy it so try it, it might work.

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    1. Cool!
      Charlie · August 31, 2009
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  • Jen And
    Jen And
    Answered April 16, 2009
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    show him/her videos or people playing the different sports just to get a feel of what each is like...cheerleading is a REALLY cool sport to get into!!!

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  • Meg :)
    Meg :)
    Answered April 16, 2009
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    most kids start with soccer or tee ball maybe even basketball
    it depends on the kid intrest!!!!

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  • Lisa Spesard
    Lisa Spesard
    Answered April 16, 2009
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    Have you thought about a tumbling class or taekwondo...those children start at very young ages, somersaults and cartwheels. Swimming is good to do together. Three and 1/2 is definitely young; I'd try everything (the sports without equipment purchases necessary first) and then maybe your child will tell you what he or she likes best with just a smile.

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  • Kat Baldwin
    Kat Baldwin
    Answered April 18, 2009
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    I would say dance classes good for hand-eye cordation and then when she gets older ask what sports she thanks are cool and let her try some.

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  • Daniel Ellis
    Daniel Ellis
    Answered April 18, 2009
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    idk but i would put my dauter in anything she wants to do put i would say soccer but idk

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  • Alexis Bushika
    Alexis Bushika
    Answered April 20, 2009
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    I play softball, but what my dad did is basictly ALL my life he had me in the backyard batting or playing catch and saying that I was really good and I should play on a team, well eventually, after going through five sports that I absolutely hated...I started softball and I've stuck... try a family sport that you family have played well, (like baseball and softball in my family) and get them into it, tell them they are good and eventually they will find the sport they love, or the sport that you have played with them.. =)

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  • Kelsey Shacle
    Kelsey Shacle
    Answered April 25, 2009
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    I am a cheerleader and i know that little girls love to watch it and would love to
    be in it. So try cheer leading she might like it and suceeced!!

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  • Bill Mooney
    Bill Mooney
    Answered May 01, 2009
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    What do they like to do? I would say try a bunch of them. Spend some parent child time throwing and kicking balls. Anything you can do to expose them to all types of activities. The child will gravitate to what they like pretty quickly. Be sure they play several over the years.

    Coach Bill Mooney

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  • Josef Morken
    Josef Morken
    Answered May 03, 2009
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    I think you should pick a sport based on your daughters personality. Thats what my parents did. Like any kid, I started on soccer, its a great sport to keep up agility and speed in my off-season. But when she gets older she'll change her intrests just like anyother child. With her changing intrests she might not like soccer. Thats what happened to me, Ive gone through soccer, t-ball, and football, until i finaly found lacrosse. Let her try different thing in the backyard and ask her what she likes most. But more importantly don't push her to do something you want her to do.

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  • Jerry Rasmussen
    Jerry Rasmussen
    Answered May 05, 2009
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    soccer is the easiest sport for younger children. it also provides the most exercise. try watching neighbor kids at their activities to develop interest. don't push because many children who start early will burn out on a sport because it becomes more work than fun.

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  • Jennifer Smith
    Jennifer Smith
    Answered May 05, 2009
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    My father started me out with a kick ball and then eventually started tossing a whiffle ball and me hitting it. but then again I am a tomboy and loved the outside. Softball was my main sport but I played basketball in the winter months to stay in shape for softball. But let her test out a few sports and see which one she likes. She may not want to be in sports at all. Don't make her play something because you will just make her hate that sport all together.

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  • Winkie Schultz
    Winkie Schultz
    Answered May 06, 2009
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    Start them off in a fun program. It is all about having fun for young children. They have to love the sport in order to become really good at it. They will not love the sport if they are not having fun. Putting them on a really competitive team when they are too young, will not be any fun for them. Remember sitting the bench is never fun!! Fun at a young age is KEY!

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  • Coach Joe
    Coach Joe
    Answered May 06, 2009
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    There is no best sport. Just start trying them out and see which ones stick.

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  • Jay Turner
    Jay Turner
    Answered June 17, 2009
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    just introduce them to a couple sports and hopfully 1 will stick

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  • Brittney Berry
    Brittney Berry
    Answered September 24, 2009
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    get outside with them! teach them how to play the game. do not force them to play it. tell them all the grateness about it and get there friends to play too

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  • Megan Elizabeth Maassen
    Megan Elizabeth Maassen
    Answered December 17, 2009
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    if they are very young get them started... if not then maybe start them in like a fall or spring event to see if they like that sport!

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  • Jena
    Jena
    Answered April 22, 2010
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    let then get out side and try it dont forse them

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  • Hannah Barrett
    Hannah Barrett
    Answered April 22, 2010
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    see what they are interested in and try signing them up for a trial in that sport

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  • *~Lexi~* Jones
    *~Lexi~* Jones
    Answered June 26, 2010
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    i think bowling cuz its easy to get started in

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  • Spencer
    Spencer
    Answered November 30, 2010
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    You should just start by showing them baseball games or any sport on T.V. and then you ask them what sport they like the most.Basically just let them pick the sport

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  • Gianna Facchiano
    Gianna Facchiano
    Answered December 27, 2010
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    she can try hockey she just has to be a good saketer i think it is a good way to get started

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  • Bryn
    Bryn
    Answered February 20, 2011
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    I feel that Soccer is a good sport to get started in young. That's what I was in and my brother too. Mostly the sport they do is decided on their interests.

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  • Joseph
    Joseph
    Answered March 09, 2011
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    Introduce them to the sport. Make them comfortable to the sport.

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  • Ann Y
    Ann Y
    Answered May 24, 2011
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    The more fun it is to the child, the more they will want to play! There are many ways of sneaking in learning basics of any sport that won't seem like 'practice' but more like a game. They will be more excited to play. Whatever you do, do not force your child to play a sport, but do encourage them. Physical activity enhances brain activity, so it's good at the younger ages to explore different sports and they will figure out which one they like.

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  • Scott Price
    Scott Price
    Answered July 13, 2011
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    Sign them up?

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  • Kendra Wrigley
    Kendra Wrigley
    Answered July 18, 2011
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    Find friends that know different sports this way they can show her the feeling of the sport. And she can see whether she likes it or not.

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  • Dirk
    Dirk
    Answered July 30, 2011
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    let the kid tell you what kind of sport they like. cause on my travil team there are a lot of kids who only play because daddy wants them to play..

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  • Bekah-Ann
    Bekah-Ann
    Answered August 08, 2011
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    talk to them about how it wil be fun and exciting. hopefully that will encourage them. :)

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  • Ana Maafala
    Ana Maafala
    Answered August 23, 2011
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    Having them try different sports, watchn them to see what they like or into. My son started out in basketball, but after the 1st year playing football he was hooked .Imma still have him try other sports as well.

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  • Patricia Harte
    Patricia Harte
    Answered September 01, 2011
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    Karate was my son's first sport it gave him the strength and balance and also the discipline to do any sport also gives them a good self esteem also that was my son's experience

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  • Matthew Thomas
    Matthew Thomas
    Answered October 01, 2011
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    The most common "first" sport and easiest sport to start with is soccer. It has the most basic principles - run, kick, NO HANDS! Of course, teaching younger kids to not just chase the ball and stay in positions is the most difficult idea to drive home once the excitement of a practice or game get going, but soccer is the safest and most easily coachable at a young age.

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  • Sydni Grace Carter
    Sydni Grace Carter
    Answered October 09, 2011
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    My opinion is to start with soccer. If she doesn't like that, try tee-ball. My brother started out with soccer and now plays it all the time. I started out with tee-ball and usually play softball. Who knows, maybe she'll take an interest in one of these sports and turn it into something she will do when she gets a little older. Hope this helps!

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  • Chelsea
    Chelsea
    Answered December 01, 2011
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    softball or basketball

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  • Courtney Gray
    Courtney Gray
    Answered December 21, 2011
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    swimming and soccer

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  • Iryna
    Iryna
    Answered January 03, 2012
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    whell what does he like jast I HAVE NO IDEA!!!

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  • Sydney Smith
    Sydney Smith
    Answered January 03, 2012
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    what does she like its also good to teach her how to b in a team so cheerleading or something or is she more of a tom boy or a girly girl then you can decide what to put her in

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  • Al Anquillano
    Al Anquillano
    Answered January 12, 2012
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    Since you live in the city, it's tough to find a lot of space to play. Unless you have large apartment, have a large park nearby or a vacant parking lot, it's tough to get your kid "out there" and play something they love. What sports do "you" like? What sports do you play? That may influence your child. Take him/her to a game (any sport) and see what they like about it. Once they find something they really like, pursue it. Find any local youth sports organizations in your area that specialize in that particular sport your child enjoys. It's important that your child loves the sport or it will be a big waste of time and money.

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  • Jabria Thomasson
    Jabria Thomasson
    Answered January 20, 2012
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    Tick them and say it is very very fun

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  • Marie Haner
    Marie Haner
    Answered February 09, 2012
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    Well first you tell them if you dont play a sport you will stop feeding them food :D Worked for me! <33 Hoped this helped

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Asked April 10, 2009.
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