[audrey09]

My 8 year old son has been doing karate since the beginning of the year.
We did the free trial lessons and I made sure that he really wanted to do it before buying him the uniform. He said that he liked it and wanted to do it.

For the last couple of months he's been complaining that he doesn't want to go but I manage to get him there. Tonight they're going to a club in a different suburb just for this week(but all the same kids will be there) and he is refusing to go).
I got so angry as I'm paying whether he attends or not.
After crying and yelling I told him that he can miss today but needs to continue until the end of the term.

I'm not going to force him to do anything but I dont' want him to be a quitter. I'd like him to do one activity or sport, just once per week.
Afterschool he likes to go home and relax, watch tv, play etc.

I'd like him to find something that he's passionate about. I know that he's only 8 and may not know what he likes just yet but most boys at school do at least one thing eg, basketcall etc

Do your kids go willingly to their activities or is it a struggle?

[jodi]

My girls all play hockey... they get the choice at the start of the season whether to play or not, once the decision is made, they are committed for the season - no questions asked.

That said... they all enjoy going. We never have to fight with them or force them to go.

[slvhwke]

My DS goes willingly to football - however he doesn't take it that seriously. I sometimes feel like I am paying him to run around with his friends - which he could do at a park.

We might not renew next year and see if something else interests him more. (Football being his dad's choice )

[JRA]

DS is 9, not 8, but at 8 he also loved doing his sport activity. When he started hockey at 7 we were nervous whether he was prepared for the commitment of a team, after really falling away in Auskick.

But he has loved every moment of his hockey. He loves training, he loves the hockey camps and he loves the games.

His other activities he also enjoys

[barrington]

DS is 8 in a few weeks. He loves taekwondo and is upset if he misses a lesson.

[NoNoBoo]

My eight-year-old DS does swimming, football and drama. He loves all of them. He is a good swimmer and we're just about to join him up with a club (his older sister is a competitive swimmer, otherwise I probably would have waited until he was a bit older). He loves drama and footy, despite not being terribly good at it!

Not sure if it helps, but my DD changed calisthenics clubs at the start of last year. At the start of the year, I told her if she started the year, she needed to finish it. She really didn't like the new club, but knew she had made the commitment to stay, so saw the year out. She was 10 at the time, so perhaps able to understand the commitment a bit better.

[mumto3princesses]

Last year DD2 & DD3 didn't enjoy netball. Some days I did have to pretty much force them to go especially since they were 2 people in a team. They have tried a few things over the years but have always gone to swimming lessons (that was forced with DD1 & DD2 for a long time) and gymnastics as well.

It's only really towards the end of last year that they both became really really passionate about their activities. They will be 9yrs in November. DD2 is very passionate about Gymnastics. She now goes twice a week including at least 4 hrs on saturdays and is also part of a Team as well which she really loves. While DD3 does like Gymnastics and goes to a recreational class she is very passionate about swimming. She even asked me what she needs to do to get to the olympics for swimming when she is older.

[Super Cat]

DS8 does auskick, karate and gym. He loves them all and hates missing any sessions. Mind you, he's only been doing gym for six months and karate for three months so he might get tired of those. He's been at auskick for three years now and hasn't ever wanted to miss a game though.

My 6yo, he could take it or leave it. He never whinges about going but if we told him it wasn't on he wouldn't care. The 8yo would be devastated.

I think it's the personality of the child. I'd probably put my foot down and make them finish the season before letting them stop. That why when they sign up for something new they know they'll have to see it through.

[Jacoby28]

Nope DD love her tennis and swimming. She gets a bit grumpy if tennis is cancelled due to rain (We only have outdoor courts).
Tennis is at 5pm and she gets home from school on a Tues at 3:15pm and changes and gets her racket ready and then waits lol.

[Harmonica]

My DS has always played soccer and always loves it, never had an issue with him not wanting to go.

I think at this age it is about trying lots of different things and finding the thing that clicks with your child.

My DD8 has tried swimming, dancing, ice skating etc. but now really loves gymnastics.