My child has great coordination with a ball. Is he ready to play team sports?

While your three year old may be really adept a kicking a ball, there are a few things to consider before signing him up for the local team.

For instance, your child’s attention span is still very short, so it is highly unlikely that he will be able to concentrate on a full game of soccer. Also, while you as a parent will think it very exciting that your little one is competing, this will put unnecessary pressure on your pre-schooler who won’t find the game much fun at all. You find it difficult to give your three year-old instructions, so you can imagine how difficult it would be for a coach, who is to all intents and purposes, a complete stranger to your child.

It is also highly unlikely that your child will be able to follow the rules of the game at this age, or attend regular practices. At this age, your child is mainly interested in physical play that involves running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and catching, and not the complexities of an organised sport.

Activities that can help both you and your child are kiddie’s gyms and gymnastics classes. While you can enjoy some free time while your child is attending these classes, your child will enjoy it as well, as the emphasis is on free play, while at the same time helping your child to practise basic coordination, such as forward rolls.