What kind of kid were/are you? -- What kind of kid would you/have you raised?

[Velky]

So before this starts, I want to say I'm quite biased towards one group. I also am aware there are other "groups" that you might have fit in, but we'll keep it to two groups.

Question #1 - What kind of kid were/are you?

Kids who played sports - I'm talking about the kids who played sports from the age of 4 up till they finished highschool, or even continue to play until this day. I coach a (competitive, rep, travel, provincial, whatever you want to call it) basketball team and over the last 3 years I've had kids who were so dedicated to their sport, they literally live and breathe basketball. Not to mention the most important part of it all, they're in amazing shape. So aside from their dedication and the obvious health benefits of playing sports, I'm a firm believer that anyone who played sports while growing up were exposed to several positive life changing experiences. Playing sports gives a child confidence, teaches them good sportsmanship, teaches them to work hard for things they want, sometimes develops a leader out of someone, develops GREAT friendships with other kids they play their sport with every week, and the list goes on.

Kids who didn't play sports - No offense to anyone who didn't play a sport growing up, but what I see these days is 2 things. Any child I am in contact with who doesn't play sports is 1) chubby/overweight/obese, 2) lazy and/or 3) spoiled. Not to say kids who play sports aren't spoiled, but I've seen more from the 2nd group. These kids sit around at home all day playing video games, rotting their brain out over TV, get into mischief because they have nothing else to occupy their time with.

Question #2 - What kind of kid would you or have you raised?

Would you want a kid who stays active and out of trouble, or a kid who is lazy and sits around the house all day?

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I think it's obvious which group in Q1 I'm biased towards. As a kid I started playing basketball at the age of 6, and haven't looked back (24 now). There are so many great memories I have from basketball that I wouldn't trade them for anything.

[Folc]

I'm sorry if this is not the case, but I think you are highly conviced sport has something to do with dicipline.
As for the questions;
I played sports untill I was 11. When I stopped it was because I found it boring.
I've played video games ever since, even a bit before.

Question two;
I would raise a kid with dicipline. Not too strict and not too loose. He should be able to chose his own interests, instead of me tossing him into video games right away.

[Velky]

I'm sorry if this is not the case, but I think you are highly conviced sport has something to do with dicipline.
As for the questions;
I played sports untill I was 11. When I stopped it was because I found it boring.
I've played video games ever since, even a bit before.

Question two;
I would raise a kid with dicipline. Not too strict and not too loose. He should be able to chose his own interests, instead of me tossing him into video games right away.

I wish that was the case (sports = discipline) but I can also say I've had kids who have zero respect for anyone or anything around them.

It's such a broad topic that getting every single case would take ages.

[Rukentuts]

#1: I was the quiet kid from whom everyone else copied off his homework.

#2: I won't be having kids, because this world is fucked up.

[Velky]

#1: I was the quiet kid from whom everyone else copied off his homework.

#2: I won't be having kids, because this world is fucked up.

More of a reason to have kids and raise them the proper way. Be polite, respectful, patient and always appreciate things others do for them.

[Rukentuts]

More of a reason to have kids and raise them the proper way. Be polite, respectful, patient and always appreciate things others do for them.

No, rushing into parenthood is exactly what "fucked" this world in the first place. We have people breeding that are either unfit or not ready, and those responsible are waiting or abstaining entirely more and more often.

Example: You see welfare dwellers with 8 children, and you see middle class members with one, maybe two.

[Velky]

No, rushing into parenthood is exactly what "fucked" this world in the first place. We have people breeding that are either unfit or not ready, and those responsible are waiting or abstaining entirely more and more often.

Example: You see welfare dwellers with 8 children, and you see middle class members with one, maybe two.

I agree. I'm not saying rush into your kids though.

[Rukentuts]

I agree. I'm not saying rush into your kids though.

Well, there are a number of biological factors that also inhibit me having kids or raising them how I'd like them to be raised.

1) Asexual.
2) Mildly autistic.

The first issue should be pretty self explanatory, whereas the second prevents me from carrying on anywhere near what would be considered a "normal" social life. Imagine the damage potentially inflicted on a child because his / her father has trouble socializing.

[vindicatorx]

I played every sport we had available to us when I grew up. I started soccer when I was 5 played it till my freshmen year of high school got Fifa certified and officiated for 6 years after that. Started baseball when I was like 6 hated it but still played till I was like 11. Basketball hated it also but played it till I was in 8th grade. Football I started when I was in 4th grade played all of high school was all conference and got mentioned for all-state. Wrestling started in like 5th grade went till my senior year. I was on the track team 6th grade all through high school. I was the first person in my grade to get their varsity jacket. Would I expect my kids to play sports well yes, I feel there is a great deal to learn from them that relates to life. Teamwork, competition, working to meet your goals etc.

[Stir]

I played lots of sports as a child, but other than a shitload of physical endurance, I got none of the positive effects you listed from it.

I'm also not going to have children. I'm insane, and while my insanity wouldn't negatively impact a child directly, it would mean that my raising a child would make sure my child would have severe problems fitting in with the rest of humanity, and humanity doesn't take kindly to those who don't fit it.

[Joathen]

Played baseball from 5-8, then did karate from 8-12, then football from 14-15, rugby from 15-18, now in the military so PT, lol'. :S

[Deleted]

I haven't touched sports, because I find them boring. Only sport that remotely interests me is basketball, and there's no benefit for me in playing it, really.

[Vizardlorde]

I was the curious mischievous fun-loving type of child until I turned like 14. I liked to dissemble and reassemble electronics (some times not successfully and got punished for it), invent stuff, play outside, play pretend martial arts, play video games, learning, etc I really like that me better than what I turned into. If I had a child I would like him/her to be just like me except, but I doubt that'll happen so I'll just have to accept him/her however he/she comes unless he/she is really messed up and needs serious correction.

[Dacien]

#1) I was a dork, offset by sometimes being funny. Played a lot of video games, had a lot of troubles (drinking in high school, getting expelled).

#2) Bringing a child into this world seems like a cruel thing to do. Maybe my perspective will change as I get older.

[Adam Jensen]

I didn't play sports and I am not fat. I didn't derive entertainment from kicking a ball around. Don't judge me on that.

[Auloria]

If you want to rant about your opinion, just rant about it. What's the point of (this very poor job of) masquerading as a discussion?

[Seref]

1) I was an eff-up. By the time I figured out what the world was, it was too late to save my future. So I just enjoy what little I can eek out of life for now...

2) I will probably never have a kid. But if I did, I'd be the cool parent (videogames and such). I'd expose them to multiple languages at a young age, as it'd be very useful for them later in life. I'd try to get them to take their school seriously, but not be too strict on them as I know what that's like and it is usually always counter-productive. I'd impress upon them early on how important doing well even in middle school is, but let them decide if they want to focus on it or not. And I'd probably be super over-protective, as I'm very paranoid...

[cdtcpl]

I played some sports when I was real young, but stopped. My parents fully supported any activity I wanted to do, like when I wanted to take karate they enrolled me in classes and took me to every one. It got to a point where I had more fun doing things like playing games and D&D then sports, so I did those. My parents weren't supportive, but they also didn't make me stop (except for video games if my grades at all started to slip). In HS I was on the debate team and played wall ball for fun.

I joined the military after college and had no problem meeting the physical requirements. While I have gotten fat in my older years, that was mostly due to pregnancy weight I gained with my wife (IT DOES EXIST). I have also lost most of it and am currently losing the rest.

I will raise my children the same way. They can participate in anything they want really as long as it doesn't affect their schooling and they are healthy. If my kid plays SC2 competitively but can bench press a buick who am I to tell him to get outside more?

[Deleted]

I didn't finish my (sport) i started ballet and stayed there for about a year, After that i quitted because i didn't get along well with the kids!
Asside from that I was never a chubby overweight obese child,not at all even. And i behaved polite etc as a kid so not any diffrent from the other kids at my age
I don't think sports has anything to do with how your child grows up! Sport isnt a parent.

I'm expecting a Boy in February and he's free to join any sport or outside school activity when he reaches the appropriate age for it.
If he doesen't want to do so thats fine too! But if he chooses not to doesen't mean he's going to be fat or having bad behaviour. And if he does then its my fault!
And not because he didnt went to join a random sport.

[Kasierith]

I never played sports, not once. I took aikido as a side activity, but had no interest in pursuing it in terms of things like belts.

I was quiet, always stayed out of trouble, usually reading a book about something or other. Never got close to anyone personally but talked fairly often to adults to expand my knowledge. Studied games like chess and Go, and pursued a number of academic ventures. Even without parents pushing me to do so, began developing English as a second language as early as I could in life. Decided around when I was 14 that I would prefer to use the US academic system to further my knowledge and future degree, and began focusing my attention on activities such as gaining sponsors and scholarships, and researching from online and emailing a large variety of professors where I would want to go in the states. Established my future major a year later, a good school shortly after, and turned my attentions to how I would get overseas and pay for it and obtain the paperwork, and so on. Made it over to the states, and have spent the greater part of the past four years isolated from my friends and family, in a completely different country to further my academic interests.

Still think I'm lazy?