Parents often find the question of when to allow their child to participate in sports a vexing one. Like every other parenting and educational question, developmental readiness is paramount. But there is often another issue: the parents’ own relationship to sports. It can be very hard for a parent to wait for Little League when s/he has fond memories of baseball from his or her own childhood. Baseball might be a huge part of what family does! Or maybe dad played college basketball or mom was a gymnast. It can be very hard to not assume that one’s child will follow in one’s sporty footsteps!

And, as with music or art or other such pursuits, it just may be that Junior has a talent and passion for sports that just needs to be honored. Discerning what is parental need and desire and what is a child’s need can be difficult.

In this short talk, Donna gives 5 tips to consider while one is pondering these questions.

Posted on April 9, 2026 in Active and Therapeutic Education, Family, Society & Parenting