Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Short attention span

Cole's first T-ball game is Friday. He was excited about his new uniform and his hat with "Cole" on the back of it, so excited in fact he wants to wear them both to school tomorrow. The game should be interesting. He hasn't had many practices due to the weather and they ones he has had have gone something like this.
Step 1: Pull the slightly oversized baseball hat down over your eyes
Step 2: Play in dirt
Step 3: Pick grass
Step 4: Throw dirt (at someone or yourself)
Step 5: Throw grass (see above)
Step 6: Draw crop circles in the dirt
Step 7: Put glove on the ground
Step 8: Put glove on your head
Step 9: While teammates are batting and you are in the infield do any of steps individually, in any order, or all at once
Step 10: Pout when ball comes your way (and miraculously you are not beamed by it) and you miss it because you were not paying attention.

There is only 1 coach for all these boys and very little one on one attention. We rarely even have another dad to help, since most of the moms take the kids to practice. Although I'm the only single parent. The coach, while nice enough, is the type of man that would never consider a mom might be able to help out. Most of the practice, I'm calling Cole's name telling him to stand up, stop playing in the dirt, etc. When he is in the outfield I really don't care, I just don't want him hurt when he is up close. Despite all this Cole really has a great time. He loves running the bases and hitting.

I know from research and my education classes that "experts" don't recommend team sports for children until around 6 or 7 years of age. Which certainly I understand. The range of the kids gross motor skills in t-ball where the kids are from 5-7 is vast. But then you have to consider what the impact of starting sports at 7, not having played before, while other kids have been playing for several years will have on a child. So as long as Cole shows an interest I will let him play. Besides I'm just glad he wants to be out running around instead of sitting home in front of the boob tube.

2 comments:

Leah said...

You should take pictures as he doing each of the 10 steps...ha ha..
I think you are right about letting him play as long as he shows interest let him play. Thats whats wrong with the kids these days..too much time in front of the tv playing video games and not enough physcial activity.
GO COLE GO!!!

Vetmommy said...

Yeah, at least he's getting fresh air!