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So my little guy, 5, is SUPER athletic. Problem is he has the attention span of a gnat!! I am thinking of signing him up for basketball. I know at this age they really don't play. When we tried soccer he was at one of the field and the other kids were at the other end of the field!! He has made great strides since then and I think it would be good for him, on the other hand I worry. I hate to see how much he sticks out when he is with peers. I like all moms want him to be liked and part of the group, which is very difficult when you have NO regard for personal boundaries!! So anyone with older kiddos have suggestions or advice for putting your child in group sports???
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GREAT article on just a VERY similar topic:
Game On: Picking Sports for ADHD Children
[url=http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/5708.html]Game On: Picking Sports for ADHD Children | ADDitude - Attention Deficit Information & Resources[/url]
My son was dx as RAD as a toddler and has healed but still goes through his cycles... plus he was about a year or so being in maturity and development. We have ALL heard martial arts are great for RAD kids (and I credit them with helping my son heal) but my son has excelled at martial arts AND gymnastics AND diving... all individual sports that involve interacting with other kids so he feels like he is on a team. He would love to play baseball and water polo and I'm going to let him... soon. I'm nervous about the team thing... but I think he'll be great!
I would try an Upward league....
Church based, so the leaders/coaches are usually very patient caring people. Leagues at that age are small. Practice is generally 1 time a week, and 1 game a week. My son started Soccer at 6 in Upward, his first team was 7 kids. The next year it was bigger...like 10, still a great manageable number.
We did Upward for years, and always had a good experience. They have basketball and Flag football as well.
They dont expect much from the 5 year olds, and it is humerous to watch the games.... it is about having fun!
I would try to push sports that are about individual performance that sort of involve a team. Swimming, diving, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, volleyball, dance, . I think you will find soccer, football and basketball to be very hard for someone with personal boundry and attention span issues.
My oldest son was not athletic but he loved Martial arts. It also really helped him learn to focus his attention. He is on the spectrum, PDD.
If he is athletic he might do ok in basketball. I had a super short attention span but did great at basketball even though I didn't have the attention span for slower sports.
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For us, the individual activity has been best, too. My little guy (5 in Jan.) has SPD. He's really coordinated and athletic and likes physical activity. He loved gymnastics once he settled in - the beginning was rough. And he loved swimming. But I know he's not ready for group sports. Maybe in a couple of years - but right now, I think he would struggle and then feel pretty rotten about it.