Good "beginner" sports for 4 y/o

[Mandalorian]

Check out hockey. I played hockey as a kid and made some of my best friends. Kids wear pads/helmet and chance of injury is pretty low. It's a really fun sport.

I think most kids generally start around age 5/kindergarten.

[Me 82]

Soccer is popular in my area.

[rengirl]

Most park and rec departments offer a "Starter" year ... pre tball ... presoccer ... etc

Usually its parent and child together. Then when he's in kindergarten (or 5) you can sign him up through park and rec (or the school) for soccer (fall), basketball (winter) and/or baseball spring

Oh, and TBall is the spring BEFORE they start Kindergarten ...

My kids usually do soccer and baseball ... keeps them busy. (We do ice skating in winter time and sometimes indoor swimming lessons)

[Megan2514]

Originally Posted by ScarletG

Swim team start at age 7 here....and while I think swim lessons are VERY important for all kids...they are much different than a team.

Both of them have had swimming lessons--I think teams start around 8 here.
I'm taking the gym advice for now and enrolling him in a my gym class. I'll see how he does in a group and then maybe pursue something else.

[ChrisFromChicago]

Originally Posted by Megan2514

My son will be 4 in November. All last season he watched football with dh and said he wanted to throw a ball "like the big guys". Now we told him the season is about to start again soon and he is still talking about throwing a ball. We bought him a football and he runs around the park with it.

I was wondering if this is too early to start an organized sport. He is rather fast for his age and very resilient-rarely cries when he skins his knee, etc. Clearly the sport won't be football, but what would be the best choice?

My Sister-in-Law (neurologist) saw my son playing with a fake football.
"he is a football player"
she paused
"kidding, no football"
"i'm serious - don't let them play football"


Its not your arm being broken, its ALS, Bells Palsy, Parkisons, Suicide and the other impacts of repeated head trauma.


So any sport but football, should be fine. Locally we have multiple "under 5" leagues (Colorado Storm, Soccer Real). Under 5 they are pretty free form. . .no actual playing. My son is excited (5 nov 5th), he is on an actual team now and will be competing. . .fun stuff. I think 4 is a great starting point.

not cheap

but fun

Soccer is really popular here. . and we will leverage it. Swimming, Skiing are also popular/we want to use.