No, this thread isn't about how to choose a travel team!
I know DFP members have some amazing kids. And I know these amazing kids have a variety of interests and activities. I'm curious how your family decided which activities your kids would concentrate on and when you made the decision? (And before someone corrects me or makes some condescending post about how it's not really my decision, let's all just agree that it's a given that we're talking about helping our DDs make the best decision possible to support their particular interests).
Now for some background on our situation. My oldest will be 11 about a week. She has a lot of interests and participates in a lot of activities, though three take up the majority of her time: ballet, soccer, and softball/pitching. She's pretty good at all and says that she loves them equally. To give an idea of where she stands with each:
We've managed to juggle everything up to this point, but suddenly this fall the time commitment to ballet has basically doubled as they begin training for pointe. They are required to be there 3 nights a week, plus take two "elective" classes. We managed to schedule her elective classes on days where she is already there, but that means she is at dance for 2.5 to 3 hours at a clip. As I said, she's also in their dance company, so with Saturday rehearsal for that, she's at dance 4 days a week for a total of 9 - 10 hours.
Soccer practice is 1.5 hours two nights a week, with an optional 1 hour clinic on Fridays, and usually one game on Sunday (unless there is a tournament). Games are within an hours drive (one way).
This was going to be the year we went to year-round travel with softball, but after we got a look at the ballet schedule we didn't even go to a tryout. Then her pitching coach invited her to participate in winter/spring team she is forming. I thought that might be a good fit until I looked at their game schedule. No way we could get in weekday games most weeks. At this point, I'm not even sure she will have time to play rec next year.
We've explained this to her of course. How trying to do all three would not be fair to us (both monetarily as well from a time perspective for shuttling her around) or fair to her activities (splitting time/attention between three instead of focusing on two). She says, "But I love softball!" If we suggest that she reduce the dance commitment or transfer to another studio, she replies, "But I love dance and all my friends are there!" Soccer fees have been paid for the year, so any changes there will have to wait for next season.
My ideal would be for her to play softball and soccer and participate in dance in some reduced capacity, but again, we are trying to help her make the choice, not make it for her. Honestly, I'm pretty sure ballet is not her future. She's very strong and agile, but doesn't have the flowing grace or flexibility that I think being a ballerina would require. I don't know if that is something that can be taught. But she really enjoys it. Plus, this is where her most consistent group of friends originated. She makes friends easily on her sports teams, but those change every year. The same girls have been taking dance together since they were toddlers.
So back to the original question. Did your family face a similar decision? And if so, how was the decision made? Did your child just naturally gravitate one direction or the other, or did you have to guide/push? Did it just work itself out, or did you force the issue?
C/N: Daughter is in too many activities. How do we decide between them?
I know DFP members have some amazing kids. And I know these amazing kids have a variety of interests and activities. I'm curious how your family decided which activities your kids would concentrate on and when you made the decision? (And before someone corrects me or makes some condescending post about how it's not really my decision, let's all just agree that it's a given that we're talking about helping our DDs make the best decision possible to support their particular interests).
Now for some background on our situation. My oldest will be 11 about a week. She has a lot of interests and participates in a lot of activities, though three take up the majority of her time: ballet, soccer, and softball/pitching. She's pretty good at all and says that she loves them equally. To give an idea of where she stands with each:
- She plays club soccer at a fairly high level (think A travel). She' s a forward and scored 55 goals last season (about 30 games).
- In ballet she is in a group with girls 1 to 2 years older. She also participates in their dance company. They put on shows in fall/spring.
- She plays rec softball (10U), including their "light travel" team (think all-stars). She dominated the rec league and was the #1 pitcher on the all-star team, played SS when not pitching, and led the team in every batting category. The previous year she was the only girl to make the 10U all-star team as a 9U.
We've managed to juggle everything up to this point, but suddenly this fall the time commitment to ballet has basically doubled as they begin training for pointe. They are required to be there 3 nights a week, plus take two "elective" classes. We managed to schedule her elective classes on days where she is already there, but that means she is at dance for 2.5 to 3 hours at a clip. As I said, she's also in their dance company, so with Saturday rehearsal for that, she's at dance 4 days a week for a total of 9 - 10 hours.
Soccer practice is 1.5 hours two nights a week, with an optional 1 hour clinic on Fridays, and usually one game on Sunday (unless there is a tournament). Games are within an hours drive (one way).
This was going to be the year we went to year-round travel with softball, but after we got a look at the ballet schedule we didn't even go to a tryout. Then her pitching coach invited her to participate in winter/spring team she is forming. I thought that might be a good fit until I looked at their game schedule. No way we could get in weekday games most weeks. At this point, I'm not even sure she will have time to play rec next year.
We've explained this to her of course. How trying to do all three would not be fair to us (both monetarily as well from a time perspective for shuttling her around) or fair to her activities (splitting time/attention between three instead of focusing on two). She says, "But I love softball!" If we suggest that she reduce the dance commitment or transfer to another studio, she replies, "But I love dance and all my friends are there!" Soccer fees have been paid for the year, so any changes there will have to wait for next season.
My ideal would be for her to play softball and soccer and participate in dance in some reduced capacity, but again, we are trying to help her make the choice, not make it for her. Honestly, I'm pretty sure ballet is not her future. She's very strong and agile, but doesn't have the flowing grace or flexibility that I think being a ballerina would require. I don't know if that is something that can be taught. But she really enjoys it. Plus, this is where her most consistent group of friends originated. She makes friends easily on her sports teams, but those change every year. The same girls have been taking dance together since they were toddlers.
So back to the original question. Did your family face a similar decision? And if so, how was the decision made? Did your child just naturally gravitate one direction or the other, or did you have to guide/push? Did it just work itself out, or did you force the issue?
C/N: Daughter is in too many activities. How do we decide between them?