How to increase my son's stamina | ExpatWoman.com
 

How to increase my son's stamina

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 12:16

Hi All,
My son is five and has low energy levels. I mean I did not measure them, but I feel he is easily tired and he's not into sports at all (which doesn't help). I'd like him to have more energy and have at least one sport he's interested in. I've tried several ones, and found he likes swimming but I always have to drag him! Just feel qute sad as I would have really liked him to get some physical aptitudes at a young age. Do you have a smilar situation, or how did you get to find out your child's favourite sport/activity?

200
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:55
I did talk to a pediatrician once about low muscle tone. He said he seemed fine? But how low is low muscle tone? How do you actually diagnose it? On the other end, it could just be he's not ready for that. I used to be the same when I was young until I started ballet. So maybe he gets this from me. Hard to take for my DH though who use to be very sporty...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:32
My son was similar, I tried every sport even tried piano lessons because he seemed to enjoy music but without fail every time it came to having to practice or go to the lesson I was dragging him out the door. It was incredibly frustrating as I was paying for these activities that he wasn’t enjoying. Finally this year he is now 10 and just finished baseball and is still currently playing soccer and loving both. His attitude towards sports changed when all his friends at school were playing them too.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:20
Perhaps you should take him to an occupational therapist, maybe he has low muscle tone or something
200
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:18
Thank you all for your comments. I've tried different things: tennis, swimming, gymnastic, golf, football, even an art class because I thought he was more of an artist, but every time, I have to drag him. I agree some of the above he was too young for, but still I see plenty of kids his age enjoying football and swimming, and they had all school int he am so they 're all tired , but still have plenty of energy to play. He loves to play outside and we have a great garden with swings and other games, and he enjoys it most when we play with him, or with friends, but when it comes to anything requiring coordination, muscular effort, or physical effort, he's not into it. He eats pretty well, plenty of carbs and meat and chicken, although I'd like him to eat larger amount, and has no food allergy, so not sure other then playing mroe outside, what can help him...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:12
Kids take off adults I have noticed.. my DD used to feed off me... if am active she is active..if am sluggish she is... so even if am dead after work I try not to flop in front of telly but drag my ass with the dogs on leash whilst DD is on cycle... or she is running with the dogs... or with her frnds. Anything but telly or PSP .... Then swimming is great...or nature trail walks...to have themes every other day where we go out walking to find something interesting to bag it whilst we walk... so she is on the look out for something new ...keeps her focussed. Wish we had more greenry though like back home :O( Almonds soaked in milk overnight and given in the morning is good for growing kids.... Get him in to a group class...tennis or karate and see how he feels....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 14:01
The rule in our house is nothing that involves a TV screen is allowed to be turned on till after dinner (normally 6.30ish) with showers and homework checking added in they're lucky to watch maybe 30 minutes and don't seem to mind. Swimming is a fantastic sport to build stamina. A lot has to do with the coach and how much fun they make it. Coach my kiddos have just now is great and DS thinks he's the bees knees. Might help to join a class that some of his friends are already in?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 13:07
Neither of my 2 were interested in sports, they take after their parents! There are plenty of other ways to ensure that kids get enough exercise. My DD was a Highland dancer and both of them enjoyed cycling and general playing outside with friends plus running around playing games at Brownies/Cubs etc. They had PE at school and we always had family picnics which got the kids outside. Difficult of course in the heat of the Middle East but there are ways. Do you have room for a trampoline?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 13:07
some people just aren't into sports and that's fine. If he's got low energy levels, look to his diet. Is he eating lots of carbs - like crisps, popcorn, bread, snacks... Diet has a lot to do with energy, so maybe make some tweaks. Low energy could also be a sign of something else (still diet related, like a vitamin or mineral deficiency or a food intolerance (wheat and dairy are the main ones).
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 12:57
neither of my 2 are in the least bit sporty but it's never concerned us..they get plenty of exercise swimming, playing in the park or cycling. And as he gets older he will be doing more in PE at school...
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 12:24
My son didn't really discover sport until he was nearly six. Now he is sports-mad. I used to drag my son to all sorts of practices - even once had to chase him all the way back to the car! Give it time. I say, keep dragging him to swimming and wait it out. He is still young.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 12:19
What is he doing if not doing sport? I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to find a sport that he likes, or to force the issue with making him swim laps or something, I would just try to make sure he spent more time playing outside. I would keep the tv turned off, computers, playstation off... and head to the park and do whatever at the park... climbing frame, kicking a ball about a bit, catching a ball, playing with a frisbee, riding his scooter/bike. I would just get him playing outside... that is all.
 
 

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