Companies Teaching 11-Week-Olds Sports

Parents across the country who are worried their kids might fall behind on the athletic front are shuttling their babies and toddlers to gyms, or popping in DVDs to get their kids an early start in sports-related training.

Entrepreneur Doreen Bolhouis, a fitness instructor in Grand Rapids, Mich., writes on her blog that she knows teaching sports to babies may sound crazy to some. "In fact, adults have a responsibility to teach babies and toddlers sports skills," Bolhouis writes. "How many adults and teenagers do you know who watch from the sidelines because no one ever taught them how to be active. Sad, right? And preventable."

But many naysayers warn parents to put the brakes on the race to the sports field. "Younger, younger and younger is never, never better," Bob Bigelow, a former NBA player, adding that he is strongly against competitive sports for young children.

Full article here: Training baby to go pro?

We started our son on soccer at the YMCA at age 5. I felt like it was a good place for him to learn fundamentals and have fun. I can't imagine working out a baby at 11 weeks! What do you think? Too young or is it better to get a head start?

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Permalink Reply by Yvonne Roach on January 4, 2011 at 12:08am

It seems a bit much... However, I would like to hear from a pediatrician or even an expert in early childhood development. A mom of triplets (though wonderful) does not make her an expert. Unless I missed her credentials, it seems she is is sports enthusiast.

Then based on logic, what if your child at 11 months (who cannot necessarily tell you), does not want to be a pro-athlete? I am sure we all agree that getting kids outside to play and physical play in general is very important. However, why must (it seems) that the push (by some parents no less) is with full force to sports or even overboard on academics? Yes, we should encourage our children, but not at the expense of our children having a chance of discovering their aptitudes and passions.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Tillis Caldwell on January 4, 2011 at 8:12am

I think 11 weeks is INSANE Chris.

Maybe age three...or five you could start teaching simple things but 11 weeks is still a newborn to me.

I don't understand.

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Permalink Reply by barbara on January 4, 2011 at 9:56am

What will they think of next??? Not everyone is born to be an athlete & until the child reaches the point where he/she shows interest, I say let kids be kids. Some parents "push" their kids to do what parents what them to do, in the end, it's up to the child to decide. My oldest son is NOT atheltic at all, even when he was younger & we'd play ball, he didn't want to, did we forece him, of course not, his thing is music. My middle son played baseball but can live without it. There's plenty of time when the kids get into elementary school, middle & high school.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Wagner on January 4, 2011 at 10:29am

What I am discovering is that many parents are counting on an athletic scholarship to get their kids through college. It never occurred to me but once my son hit middle school, coaches were already prepping us with information. There is a lot of pressure for the child to perform early. Is it the same for music, dance I wonder? And Yvonne brought up a good point and one I discussed with our ped is that while their bodies are still growing, you have to be careful on workouts (esp weight training) Team sports is wonderful, but too much too soon not only takes the choice from the child but it also burns them out.

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Permalink Reply by Yvonne Roach on January 5, 2011 at 10:53pm

Exactly! Repetitive movement can cause injurires and/or permenent damage to a growing young bodies.

Chris Wagner said:

What I am discovering is that many parents are counting on an athletic scholarship to get their kids through college. It never occurred to me but once my son hit middle school, coaches were already prepping us with information. There is a lot of pressure for the child to perform early. Is it the same for music, dance I wonder? And Yvonne brought up a good point and one I discussed with our ped is that while their bodies are still growing, you have to be careful on workouts (esp weight training) Team sports is wonderful, but too much too soon not only takes the choice from the child but it also burns them out.