| Debbie,
Unfortunately from what I've seen there really isn't much for
preschoolers, except for one program I've had experience with.
There is a "Central Mass Gymnasics Center" in Northboro. Their offices
are on Bear Foot Road, almost across the street from the Sweetlife
warehouse. They sponsor a (this is a vague memory it may be "off a
bit) two week Gymnastics camp, which is held weekday mornings, at the
Oxford Academy school on Howard St in Northboro. It is only during
July and August. I would only wonder if they might have a regular
program during other times of the year, and maybe even weekend
programs. MIght be worth a call to them. (will you post whatever
infor you obtain?)
Also consider a call to the Central or Greendale Branch of the YMCA, I
am aware they do all levels of swimming lessons, maybe there is more
activities I'm not aware of.
Good luck, I too am looking for ways to "burn off" lots of energy.
Lyn
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| Check with your city/town's recreation department. A lot of towns
have what they call "instructional leagues" for tennis, soccer,
swimming, and/or other sports.
--bonnie
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| Ahhh, a subject with which I have more familiarity than I care to admit.
By "organized sports" do you mean organized in the sense of organized into
teams and competing? Or do you mean organized in an instructional sense?
The reason that I ask is that 3.5 (or even 4.5) seems quite young to me to
be playing competitive team sports. Many programs that I'm familiar with
(such as our local soccer and baseball programs) have minimum age
requirements, and they are five, I think. Kids younger than that age often
have trouble understanding the rules, and/or lack the physical skills to play
the game. And make sure that you're child is ready socially as well as
physically. In competitive team situations, kids can be quite unthoughtful
and intimidating to the less skilled or aggressive.
Along with one of the other notes, I suggest you look into gymnastics
programs. That's an activity that builds up motor skills, but which doesn't
have the negative aspects of competitive team sports. Check with your town
recreation department. Also, check the phone book for gymnastics
instruction. There are many, many programs that are set up for kids
Michael's age. Also, as mentioned, check out swimming programs at the
various pools in your town.
There are probably "learn to (ice) skate" programs at Navin Rink (Marlboro).
I don't know anything about them though, such as minimum ages.
For an entry level comptetive sport, I have a strong bias toward soccer as
opposed to T-ball. Are you interested in the pros and cons of the various
possibilities?
From a "when" standpoint, soccer is typically played both spring and fall.
T-ball is primarily a spring sport, but many programs run in the fall also.
Gymnastics is pretty much year around, as is swimming. Ice skating usually
runs late fall to late spring. Signups for T-ball and soccer are usually
several months ahead.
I think it's great you are showing interest. I think youth sports activities
are especially good for a child with a family situation like yours. The non-
custodial parent can take a share of the transporting back and forth, and
there are a lot of opportunities for bonding between the child and the non-
custodial parent. Many dads who feel totally awkard around some child
raising activities do wonderfully as the parent of a young athlete, as long
as they don't get into living out their lives through their kids.
Clay
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| I too think 3.5 yr old is too young for any "organized" sports.
I took Eric to ice skate this spring and he loved it. He was
3.5 then. He cann't wait to start again this fall. We went
to the ring in Marlboro. His daycare center offers swimming
lessons every summer. He gets to swim at least 2 days a week.
We also got him a new bike this spring and he spends a lot of
time on it. And in weekends, he learns tennis with his dad.
When he turns 5, I will probably have him join a junior baseball
team or something. But it all depends on his interest. Right
now, he wants to be a hocky player.
Wendy
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