Taekwondo Vs. Swimming

My 5 year old "tried" kung fu 13 months ago and has been "die hard" for it ever since. That's his year round activity, by his choice. He did soccer last spring, swim last summer, horseback riding lessons PART of this fall but due to 3 deaths in the family since October and my hospitalization a month ago, we didn't really keep that up too well. A few days ago, after receiving notices for the local sports leagues, I gave him his choice: do you want to try T-ball, soccer, sparring, or horses? He chose horseback riding. I want to give him the choices. In summer, we'll stop horses and do swim again (it's the one thing I tell him to do, but fortunately he likes it....we are at the pool a couple times a week and at the beach 2-3 times a week all summer long, and I don't think it's an option to have children who can't swim). After summer, he will have a choice again: soccer, flag football, sparring, horses, chess, bongos, whatever---I don't really care as long as he's learning and enjoying it. I say if he's not excited about TKD, offer him something else. I think that's the good things about "seasons"---it gives kids options to try different things through the year.

I say if he is bored with the karate, take a break and put him in swimming. It all has to be fun, even if it benefits them.

have you asked him what he wants to do?

My boys did TKD for 5 years straight - they needed a break. They are back in again. Greg is working on his 2dn Dan Black Belt. Nicky is working on his Red.

I would ask him what he wants to do. If he is close to achieving a belt in TKD I would strongly suggest to keeping him in. I don't know how it's expensive. Our Do Jang has a set price and the only extra fees are for events like tournaments.

My oldest son did gymnastics for a while then swim, then gymnastics, then swim. We kept this up from the time he was 3 to maybe 9, then he chose soccer and swim.

Personally I would get him in the water. It's a change of pace on top of the benefits and he may want to go back to TKD. Maybe try a summer swim league.
For year round check out the Y. My kids are USA swimmers with the YMCA. But they start with mommy and me classes as early as 6 months.

If he were my boy, I might give him a break from tae kwon do once this term ends, since he's losing his excitement about it. He's learned some good skills in the program, and might want to come back to it later. That's what sports are all about at this age, anyhow.

I would tell him he really *needs* to learn to swim as a survival skill. He doesn't have to go to the Olympics or even compete on a team, but he needs to learn to swim well enough to take care of himself (and perhaps somebody else). There are just some things everyone ought to learn, and that's one.

I don't know what you have in your area for swimming. Would he learn better with a group, or with one-on-one training?

I would ask him what he wants to do.

It's funny because my son is currently in TKD as well as swimming;) He's old enough to know what he likes, I'd ask him if he'd like to take a break from TKD and try swimming for a change and if he doesn't care for it, he can come back to TKD after the summer. The one thing we are trying to teach our son who is 8, we don't start something and not finish. So, if your son does start swimming and 3 weeks into it he wants to quit, I'd push him to finish out the summer.

Do have him try new things. Too many kids get locked into one activity early and just keep doing it "because it's what I've always done" and don't have the maturity to ask parents, "Please let me drop this and try something else." Swimming can be great, but please do talk to him about whether HE is interested in swimming first -- don't put him into it without his helping make the choice, and remember your own background with swimming shouldn't come into it or he may feel pressured to do what mom and dad did. He likely will be interested just on swimming's own merits! And figure out if he will do both baseball and swimming (or another activity) together in the summer -- is that OK or too much for him? Only he and you will know.

Also, if he seems to be awkward as you note, have you ever had him evaluated by an occupational therapist who specializes in children? He may have some issues that could be greatly helped by occupational therapy. Awkwardness could be like my friend's son's issue; he too was awkward and it turned out he had a fairly common issue where the child's brain doesn't entirely coordinate both sides of the body together very well as a unit; simple, weekly therapy, disguised as fun activities, has made a huge difference. Early intervention is the best. So just consider if you should maybe get him evaluated. It doesn't mean there's something "wrong" with him or he's ill; it only means he might need a little extra help in these early years so his body can catch up with his age.
Just a thought.

My kids love summer swim team.. So much fun, exercise and friends that they have chosen to swim year round. They started swim team summer league through the city at age 7. It was about 150.00 for the summer. Even though they swim club swim during the year... They take a break and swim summer league. Lots of parent volunteer and fun. maybe try summer league :)
L.

I have always looked at swimming as a necessary life skill and wanted my kids to know how to do it at an early age. My daughter is a late developer and wasn't ready to start with lessons until age 5, my son begged to take them as soon as he turned 3. They have private lessons each week and 2 1/2 years later they are both impressive swimmers. They take lessons year round. I am a lover of private lessons. The kids can form a bond with the instructor and they get more out of their time in the pool. If he isn't liking the Tae Kwon do I would take a break from it and put him into swimming, esp with summer coming up.

For the TKD, if you have a contract with a school, check the contract. If the contract is nearing the end, just ask your son what he wants to do?
If the contract is not near the end, there is usually wording about taking a break from attendance, but you'd still have to pay.

Does he like swimming? Does he want to join a swim program?

I would think any physical activity is better than none - have you asked him what HE wants to do? Because there is nothing wrong with him taking a break from TKD if he wants to, but are you sure he wants to do swimming instead? I agree that swimming is a fantastic activity but I am more of the mindset that it is important for kids to know how to swim from a safety standpoint, not necessarily for competition, unless they really want to.

Don't worry about him switching back and forth with sports. He will be more successful at a sport that he enjoys! The YMCA has a fantastic swimming program for the beginners and it is a fun program. You can take lessons in the evenings and or weekends and they even have swim summer camps.

It's okay to take a break and try new things.
My kids swam at the Boys and Girls Clubs and loved it.
LBC

I would absolutely sign him up for swimming. It is a matter of safety. If your son is around water at any time, this could mean the difference of his life. Swimming is definitely a life skill that everyone should have.

Its great that you and your husband are helping your son by getting him involved in sports. I would take a break from any sport your son is no longer excited about. If he is not excited now - he won't be excited later by pushing. If you son is interested in swimming then I would go ahead and enroll him in a program he is excited about. I would keep it non competitive until he demonstrates a desire to compete. If your son is not interested in swimming (except to splash in the pool) then I would only enroll him in Learn To Swim type programs and let him have a break. Instead I would use the summer to play with him, ride bikes, take him to a taekwondo competition (to watch) and maybe do a family 5k race (one with a kids run).