Extracurricular Activities/Hobbies
John's Most Recent Articles
Youth Sports Drive Adults Crazy
Posted on 6/6/2023
My family moved to Westchester, Illinois, in 1956, where I began fourth grade at High Ridge School. At the time, my athletic skills consisted of catching and throwing a baseball. The kids in my...
Read MoreHappy Campers: Why Summer Camps Are Good for Children
Posted on 7/17/2018
If your child isn't attending an organized camping program this summer, he or she may be missing out on opportunities for growth in a several areas. There are now more than 16,000 day and...
Read MoreLet Kids Run Their Own Sports Programs
Posted on 2/28/2018
Thirty-something years ago in this column, I offered a free (expenses-only) speaking engagement to any community that would abolish all adult-organized-and-run children’s sports programs...
Read MoreWhy Kids Need Hobbies
Posted on 4/6/2017
Not long ago, speaking to a large midwestern audience, I asked, "How many of you, when you were children, had a hobby?" Nearly everyone raised a hand. I then asked them to keep their hands in the...
Read MoreIf I Were the Little League Czar
Posted on 3/27/2017
It has been 78 years since the first Little League baseball game was played in Williamsport, Pa. Last year, nearly 3 million kids participated in more than 6,500 chartered Little League programs...
Read More'No' Is Best Answer When Mom and Dad Disagree on Parenting Issue
Posted on 3/15/2016
Q: Is three hours of one sport once a week too much for a 7-year-old? This sport meets from 6 - 9 PM. It is nearly 10 PM before child is in bed (as opposed to usual 8:30 bedtime). My husband...
Read MoreShould You Pay Your Child to Do Chores?
Posted on 5/5/2015
A major US newspaper recently ran a piece detailing all the ways children benefit from doing chores. Well, not all the ways. They failed to mention the most important benefit: chores, properly...
Read MoreKicking Out of the Garden of Eden [Explained]
Posted on 10/6/2013
Kicking the child out of the Garden of Eden John's "Garden of Eden" statement: Other Q and A or articles about this method may be searched by using the keyword "Garden" Below is detailed...
Read More16-Year-Old Girl Sports Issue
Posted on 12/6/2011
Teen backs out on sports role Q: Our 16-year-old daughter has said three times over the past two years that she wants to play on the traveling soccer team. The coaches have actually asked her...
Read More15 Resolutions For Parents
Posted on 1/4/2011
15 resolutions for parents Given that this is the first column of a new year, I'm proposing a number of parenting New Year's Resolutions for my readers to consider. The list is by no means...
Read MoreRecent Questions
Should 8YO Be Allowed to Quit Soccer?
Posted 3 weeks ago
My 8 year old daughter wanted to sign up for her fourth year of soccer so we did so. After a handful of practices and a game she wants to quit. She says she hates everything about it and hates...
Read MoreTroublemaking Siblings
Posted on 7/12/2024
Our two youngest children, when together, are troublemakers. They are 6 and 7, but when they are together they revert to large babies—don’t do their chores, lay around, giggle, tickling,...
Read MoreSwim Team Dilemma for 6YO
Posted on 5/18/2024
My 6 year old son is refusing to participate in swim team, because he says it’s hard and I want to quit. In the past we’ve allowed him to quit activities, and he was told he would do swim team and...
Read MoreThe Grass Really Isn’t Greener on the Other Side
Posted on 3/25/2024
My 10-year-old daughter seems always to think the grass is greener somewhere else. For example, we homeschool, which she enjoys, but often expresses her wish to return to regular school, and when...
Read MoreDon't talk so much
Posted on 3/21/2024
My 4 year old daughter has been having problems listening and following directions, particularly at her after school program. She gets written up at least once a week and has been suspended from...
Read MoreOverboard in the Offseason? Dad, Sports, and a 13-year Old
Posted on 5/31/2023
Husband takes our 13 yr old to a sport practice 3x/wk, conditioning 1x/wk, and a trainer 1x/wk which leaves one night/wk for a non-sport activity and one weekend day open. This sport is in its...
Read MoreTime for a Reboot
Posted on 5/18/2022
Since the first email our son (8yrs) was operated on for septic arthritis 6 months ago. The pain returned 2weeks ago (now gone). His hip bone has a small weakness and he needs to ensure he has no...
Read MoreBusyness expectations.
Posted on 1/28/2022
Dear John, we have an 11 yr old son. We have always instilled in our children about doing their best at any task they set out to do whether it’s school, school, his tennis practice..etc. From the...
Read MoreShy 7 Year Old
Posted on 12/31/2021
My 7 year old first-grader has trouble joining into social situations. He plays well with his 5 year old brother, but with peers, he goes off on his own, and will tell stories to himself (I...
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