Soccer, karate, tee-ball, cooking classes, guitar, swimming, gymnastics, dance. If you’re a mom, chances are, your kids have tried one of these activities. The real question though, is did they stick it out?
Little Mason, my younger son mentioned an interest in soccer so, I thought I’d try it out with him. I’ve been a little hesitant to sign Mason up for so many things like I did with Logan, my eldest after Logan refused to participate. In several classes, Logan initially showed interest and then quickly lost the desire to participate so, I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake with Mason while wasting time and money.
I expressed my concern to Vetta Sports after Mason said he wanted to try soccer and they were very understanding. Vetta, unlike other sports places we’ve tried, host an open house in the fall and the spring where kids can participate in a mini session to see if they like it or not. That way, you can gage whether or not it’s a good fit before making a full-time commitment. They also offer a free trial class before you sign up for the season! You can do this at any time of the year. Yeah!!
Mason’s progression with Kickaroos
Mason’s progression with Kickaroos at Vetta Sports has been surprising and fun to witness as a parent. During week 1, as I predicted, Mason did not want participate. With that being said, I was so impressed with the coaches and their patience with him. He was able to stay close to me which made him feel a little more comfortable, and they made sure not to pressure him too much but tried to include him and make the experience as fun as possible. Week 2 was a little better. Mason was a little shy at first, but started to come out of his shell near the end. He wanted to carry around a toy with him and the coaches were completely accommodating. Mason had a breakthrough during weeks 3 and 4 and actually wore his Kickaroos jersey and participated without any hesitation. He was having a blast and was a completely different kid from where he started. By the end, he had a big proud smile on his face and finished practice with energy and eagerness.
Building confidence
This program really builds Mason’s confidence which is more important to me than whether or not he ends up a star soccer player. When it comes to deciding which activities should be priority for our kids, it’s important to pay attention to their growth and progression and listen carefully to their feedback. It’s not really about whether or not your child excels from the get-go. There may be times when something just fits so naturally with their talents and interests, but most of the time it’s a gamble with younger kids. Encouraging them to stick with it no matter what is also important. They may not remember how to dribble a ball or make a perfect pass in their adult lives, but the perseverance and confidence building skills are going to make a lasting impression.
Focus on the joy
As a mom, I think it’s important to focus less on obligation and more on the joy of the activity. Vetta is great at this. Every single one of the coaches were so sweet and so patient with Mason’s progression. He was introduced to the sport in a way that was comfortable for him. So, rather than associating negative feelings about the sport, he was able to embrace it at his own pace.
Kickaroos is an active and simple introduction to sports that allows kids to discover soccer in a pressure-free environment. The program offers sessions for tots at 18 months all the way up to six year olds. There are kids of all different levels building both their soccer and social skills and it’s a fun way for your kids to make new friends. I also love Vetta’s unique approach to teaching the sport. The Kickaroos program makes learning fun. It’s child centered by putting instruction into a context kids can actually understand. And it’s not just about developing them into soccer masters. While the fundamentals of soccer are introduced, Kickaroos helps develop social and cognitive skills that are important both on and off the field. I am a 100% behind this approach!
If you’re interested in checking out a Kickaroos soccer class, visit their website for more information on each program here. Signing Mason up was a big win in my book!
***We are so thankful to partner with Vetta on this blog post but all thought and opinions are my own.
What cute pics and great post!
Thanks Sara.
So awesome for your son. I let my girls try a lot of things when they were young, under 5. When they found gymnastics, they found their love and that was about 4 & 5. Now one is competitive and the other is dance. Thanks for the post.
Isn’t it great when they find something they love?
Great for your son. Finding the right activity for your child is crucial to their confidence level. I have a gymnast and a dancer
This is awesome for your son! I enjoyed the photos and love that it’s a pressure free environment because that’s where kids thrive. Great blog post!
Amira at ASelfGuru
Thanks Amira.
What a great program, and loved the pics!
I think we should offer them a variety of activities and let them have fun with them. The most important thing is that they exercise in a regular basis!