I have a soon to be 5 year old boy who is very active at home, but quite shy around others. We've had him in classes at the library and park district since he was an infant, and have tried every sport there is. He seems to like soccer best but only when he has the ball and he scores the goal. He is not a good team player, so this quarter we're trying something different. We signed him up for gymnastics because he is always doing jumps and handsprings off the furniture and swinging on the playground. He loved it the first week, but he was the only boy and soon become aware of that fact and the fact that the teacher rewarded kids with a purple butterfly handstamp-embarrassing and not a motivator for him. We took him to the circus to show him boys are gymnasts too, but he wants nothing to do with it now. He's not a disruption to the rest of the class, just sits and watches and I feel bad for him. Of course we paid for the whole quarter, and he still has 3 weeks left. Today he came home from gymnastics after watching all class, built his own obstacle course out of couch cushions and blankets, and did a whole routine! I know he would be great at it, but how can I encourage him? Or should I encourage him or just let him quit and try something else? Maybe karate-I'm not crazy about the violence aspect of it since I have a toddler and they tend to fight alot. Sorry this is so long! :)
Thanks everyone for the input! We are taking him to his last gymnastics class tomorrow, then out for ice cream to celebrate! I don't know who's more excited he he!
As far as the future, we've got lots of great ideas, some I hadn't thought of. Thanks a lot for your input-I think I'll definitely wait a while longer before I put him in another organized sport, he seems less mature than other kids his age. I switched him to a different gymnastics class for 3-4 year olds and he seems to do better with the younger kids.
Bolingbrook offers a Preschool Boys Gymnastics. It's $83 for 8 weeks for non-residents and the next session starts the last week of October. I know what it's like to try to give them enough to do.
A good karate club is not focused on violence at all. In fact, most instructors will actively discourage the use of karate moves on anyone outside of the class. My son has done karate with Illinois Shotokan Karate Club (thru lots of park districts) for 2 1/2 years now and we love it. And they don't even start any sort of sparring (in class) until they reach the second level. I would highly recommend it. Oh, and I'd second the other suggestion of swimming. Both of my boys have been swimming since they were babies and love it.
Last year I had my son who had just turned 5 in gymnastics as well. He was the only boy too. I think it bothered me more than him but I didn't want to continue it because I knew he would eventually realize that he was the only boy. I know that a private gymnastics usually will have separate boys & girls, but at age 6 (I think). You might want to check into that. My son was the same way, not as good in the group sports thing. I signed him up this year for karate (he just turned 6) and he loves it.
My 5 yr old is similar to yours, however our Gymnastics Center in St. Charles has many boys in it. Do you have other gymnastics programs to take him to or is it too far gone at this point for him to like it?
You could also research the various martial arts to see if you like Tae Kwon Do or Ju Jitsu better than karate. I have a friend that takes classes with her son in Martial Arts so he gets to enjoy a sport and she's getting her workout.
AE
HI ..My Daughter goes to Gymnastics as well (She will be 5 in Dec). They have boys and all of them are having fun. You can talk to teachers/ coach not to reward him with purple stamps! They listen and do good job.
Karate is a great open, My brothers kid did Taekwando and like the other post it was for discipline and for the guy to have better attention span and it really helps. Ice Hockey is another good one and fun too. Most ofth eplaces offer a sample class, ask for it, that way u are not penalized if he ends p not liking the class.
Take Care
V.
There are other gynmnastics programs that have boy's only classes. If you can't find one that offers this near you than I would talk to the parents of some of his friends or school mates to join the class with your son. It's always more fun when you do an activity with some of your friends. I do think karate or tae kwon do is also a good option. They don't teach violence, but concentrate on discipline.
I would so totally do karate - really! It's not about teaching or encouraging violence at all. It's emphasis is self-defense and self-discipline. It could really help build up his confidence and maybe even help with the shyness. If he starts it, loves it, but ends up doing moves on his brother, tell him he won't be able to do karate anymore if he can't do it appropriately.
Meanwhile, you can just tell him that he needs to finish the last 3 gymnastics classes that you have paid for and leave it at that. No sense in forcing the issue if he really is not inspired. My cousin with her boys, who were all involved in one sport after another, would tell them if they ended up not liking it, they did not have to sign up again, but they could not just quit either - they had to finish what they started and stick with it for the season.
How about swimming? Or tennis? My other cousin's son has played tennis since he was 4 and he is now 12 and still at it.
Since he enjoys it, check to see if there are gyms in your area that have separate classes for boys and girls. The one my kids go to separate them once they are school age. Ages 5 and up.
Other ideas...
Karate.. It is not about teaching violence. It teaches self-defense, self-control and respect for yourself and others.
Swimming, tennis and golf are all good individual sports.
Have you tried swimming? We've had my son in swim lessons (@ Edward Health & Fitness) since he was 2 and it's a great individual type sport. I'd try that!
I agree with the idea to talk to the instructor about finding a different reward for your son. He/she should have realized that a butterfly is not a boy thing. If the instructor is younger, he/she may have just not realized that a change was needed and would welcome the suggestion. Maybe even take your son to a craft center and let him pick out a stamp he likes and give it as a gift to the instructor. Is there another class that has more boys in it? If so, is there a way that your son can switch to that class? Other activities could be diving? Combines swimming and some tumbling type things. You would need to find a coach that will take a child that young, but it can be done. Swimming is also good as it is a team sport, but with individual success. The clubs usually start at about age 5 or 6 if he already knows how to swim. Swimming lessons if he doesn't are good too. Some dance studios have tumbling classes. My daughter's studio has one class and it has about 4-5 boys in it. Golf? Individual sport again, but most have junior clinics that the kids are together for. Some professionals may start with lessons when your son is 5, but others won't start until he turns 6. Good luck!!
