Every child is different. All children grow and develop at their own pace and in their own way. Although there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question, there are three key areas of “readiness” to know about.

• Emotional Readiness – Has your child expressed a consistent interest in participating?
• Mental Readiness – Does your child have the appropriate attention span and ability to follow instructions? Are they ready to be coached?
• Physical Readiness – Does your child possess the gross and fine motor skills as well as  body coordination to perform required movements? This may also vary by sport (ie. gymnastics vs baseball).

Give yourself some leeway, and resist the urge to compare your child to others or succumb to the pressure of getting parenting “right”.

Want More Information?

• USOPC American Development Model
• AAP HealthyChildren.Org (Is Your Child Ready for Sports)
• AAP Clinical Report (Organized Sports for Children, Preadolescents, and Adolescents)