Training Infants
Little Kickers? Baby Goes Pro? I’m watching the Today Show right now and seeing these nuts. Activity for kids is good, no questions. I’m all for kiddie gymnastics etc. However, I watched a woman on the Today Show showing a baby how to roll over. Attempting to advance neuro-development for infants is potentially an athletically-fatal mistake. If you look at Kolar’s work, things happen when they should happen. Encouraging you child to roll or walk may actually cause more problems than it solves. By all means, get your kid active. Gymnastics is great for little kids to develop skills. I hate is a sport but, love it as preparation value for young children . The “sports themed” stuff with uniforms etc is perverse at best and just a little on the insane side. Look for TPI, Cyclone Circuit, type program that encourages a broad range of skills. Run away from the sports specific themed stuff as fast as possible. It’s PT Barnum at it’s best.
Michael Boyle's Strengthcoach.com Blog 
January 1, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Mike,
I thought of you when I say that segment on today. I also thought of Kolar and Cook’s stuff on primal movement patterns, etc. Those folks have no clue..it is all about tapping into a prosperous market in their business model not what is best for long term development of kids. Why can’t someone like Gray or yourself get a spot on one of these shows? Baffling.
December 31, 2010 at 5:22 am
Julie- “But should I really heed the warnings of moms of other kindergartners who insist that my kids will never get any game time in high school if they don’t commit to a sport and put in the time now?”
No, and never do. They are dead wrong. The best way to produce a good athlete is to do the opposite. Sports is not a single skill like the violin but rather an interaction of skills. The real key is a broad range of early experiences gained through many sports. Our biggest problem is Moms and Dads of 3 year olds who think they are experts. There a couple of old posts here about early specialization that I will have to re-post.
December 30, 2010 at 3:41 pm
I think it’s all about money. As a mom of 3 young kids, half the activities available for kids want to sell me all the gear, auto-draft my checking account monthly, have my kids come twice a week all year round AND sell me day camp sessions during school vacations. But what I love about my local rec department and the YMCA is we can try something for 8 weeks at a great price, and then try something else next session. True, practice makes perfect, and my college age nieces are violin virtuosos thanks in large part to my sisters’ persistence with Suzuki method starting at age 3. But should I really heed the warnings of moms of other kindergartners who insist that my kids will never get any game time in high school if they don’t commit to a sport and put in the time now?
December 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Are they wearing soccer uniforms and licking soccer balls?
December 29, 2010 at 10:31 am
Lil’ Kickers is different and should not be grouped with programs that sell athletic training for toddlers. Lil’ Kickers is a non-competitive, child development program that uses the game of soccer to teach social, life, and gross motor skills to children in an age appropriate manner. Any “athletic” progress is viewed as a by product of the fun games that are played. It’s presented as a “child development” program, not a “soccer” program.
Thanks–