Fun Day

[Armywife5]

Well, not really ...my daughter is in All-Star Cheerleading. I was a cheerleader in college..and couldn't remember when I didn't want to be one. DD is only 4...and she's been in gymnastics in the past. Today was her first team practice..she did some of the things they asked her to...but about 45 min into the 1 hr practice..she comes out saying she's tired. I was SO through! I guess I got upset b/c I was like you only have 15 more minutes. Before practice I tried to get her to nap which she wouldn't. This month she's practicing 4 days a week..(2 required and 2 optional to work on her skills). I'm so embarrassed b/c I was talking to the coach..and she could see that I was a little upset..well, she said, "She's made the team..and we'll work on her skills)...I'm just embarrassed b/c DD cried..and I hate facing the coach and the other parents next week at practice. I felt so bad b/c you know how people say that moms sometimes "live" out their dreams through their daughters. Have I turned into that? I hope not. I did tell DD that she didn't have to continue with the program but she cried saying she still wants to be in it. How do you get a 4 yr old to understand that you must practice to get good at something? I've been thinking on this all evening. She is one of the youngest on the squad (most of them look to be 5 or 6)..I just want my daughter to do her best....guess I just wanted to vent a little... :frown3:

[happysmileylady]

That's a LOT of practice for a 4 year old....

[jesslag]

I too think that is a lot for a 4 year old. I am sure she was just tired. I bet she cried cause she doesn't want to disappoint you, you are after all her mom and the most important person in her life. Hang in there, and if she really doesn't want to be a cheerleader would that really be the worst thing ever? :gvibes: :gvibes: :gvibes:

[Armywife5]

That's a LOT of practice for a 4 year old....


Yeah, I thought so too...but it's only for this month. Then it'll be one day a week...just like she was doing for her dance/gymnastics...now she's only doing cheering so if we can just get through this month...

[Armywife5]

I too think that is a lot for a 4 year old. I am sure she was just tired. I bet she cried cause she doesn't want to disappoint you, you are after all her mom and the most important person in her life. Hang in there, and if she really doesn't want to be a cheerleader would that really be the worst thing ever? :gvibes: :gvibes: :gvibes:

No, it's not bad if she doesn't want to cheer anymore..just as long as she does something...I was just trying to get her involved in some activities. Her brothers are in sports...she's not in school yet and before the dance/cheer she was complaining all the time about not having any friends to play with..and tries to tag along behind her brothers and their friends which was horrible to witness most times due to her brothers complaining about it. So, I figured she'd meet some girls her age who lives around us. She has a few girls she knows from church..but that's in the next town over (not very convenient for playdates during the week)...so far she's met a couple of friends so far..and sometimes we carpool the girls ect..when feasible. DD wants to do everything her brothers do basketball, baseball ect...but here mostly boys play for the leagues.

[happysmileylady]

I do think that at the age of four, most kids aren't really capable of doing less than their best. They are SO eager to please at that age and want to do whatever they can to make mom and dad happy. I think that overrides any kind of "laziness"

Crying about practice at that age is totally normal and not something I think you should be embarassed about. If the other parents have an issue with it, I think that's their problem.

[Armywife5]

I do think that at the age of four, most kids aren't really capable of doing less than their best. They are SO eager to please at that age and want to do whatever they can to make mom and dad happy. I think that overrides any kind of "laziness"

Crying about practice at that age is totally normal and not something I think you should be embarassed about. If the other parents have an issue with it, I think that's their problem.


Thanks Kim :) That's exactly what my mom said! I'm going to just keep going with it..keep encouraging..and if she doesn't want to do it anymore then it's okay. This summer she will be going to VBS for a week....and she's interested in taking swimming lessons. She can't wait to start Pre-K this fall...she is my youngest and last child..she's growing up...and I was just trying to help her as far as her social skills..being around other children her own age. Thanks for the advice :)

[cesare1920]

How do you get a 4 yr old to understand that you must practice to get good at something?

4 year olds do not care about practicing to get good at something, all they care about is having fun until they get tired! I would just not push her to much or she might end up hating cheerleading. Just keep it fun :) I would also be a bit concerned about a 4 time a week practice. Maybe you could cut it down to the 2 she has to do but explain that if she wants to do this then she has to complete the entire practice on those 2 days?
Good luck!! :gvibes: