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My kids tend to follow sports. Here in the U.K it’s called Football (in the U.S- soccer). They know all the scores and players. Is this worrying?
Why should you worry about it? Its healthy for kids to have an outlet, and many kids love competition.
I might be worried about them going to games; what I’ve heard about sports in England is that you have to sit on the right side of the stadium (for the team you are supporting) otherwise you will be beaten. That worries me!
noitallmr,
My kids can give you stats on their favorite teams including basketball, football(real football, lol), baseball as well as the pesukim they are learning. And are able to engage in dicussions on Torah and sports. Worrysome? Not for me.
Baruch Hashem my husband is also a fan of both Torah and sports!
Kids should be well rounded, and have interests. Hopefully it includes Torah!
Sorry, but I can’t answer that question for someone living in a different country.
It really depends your backround and what you allow or what you want your kids to do. Chofetz Chaim is very into the boys being worldy and knowing these thigns. I also know chassidish people who are considered a little messed up if they do follow it, so you have to deciede for yourself what you would like your kids doing or not.
It was considered normal in the Yeshivish environment I grew up in. It was not uncommon for a Rebbe to take his talmidim on a special trip to a baseball or basketball game once a year.
My concern/fear about this is that professional athletes are no longer role models in any way. Steroids, the outright commercialization of professional sports and the myriad personal scandals in which the athletes find themselves render them unfit role models. What do my kids learn from this? Nothing of any real value.
Its very normal for boys to be into sports just depends on your hashkafa on how you want to allow it.
Nothing wrong with it at all. It is quite normal and healthy actually.
One of my sons has become very interested in sports. I’ve never been interested in spectator sports but am interested in whatever he wants to share with me. (Sometimes if my older kids are interested in a topic I’m not interested in I tell them that normally I don’t find that topic interesting, adding that I do want to know more about topics that are important to them because I love them). It was more fun a couple of years ago when he was fascinated by animal facts; I really learned a lot from that.
cantoresq,
There is ALWAYS something to learn even if it is NOT to emulate certain behaviors…
I totally agree that so many of the “athletes” are NOT good role models, but does that have to take away from the sport?
This came up in the Yated chinuch roundtable within the last few months. The general concensus was not to get too hung up about it, it’s normal, not unhealthy. Maybe things are a bit different in the UK, especially since in the US, some frum kids actually go to ball games; in the UK I’m sure no one does.
I wouldn’t try to put a complete halt to it but would try to not let it become an obsession. My son loves reading about sports but we are limiting the number of sports books he can take out at a time, and no biographies of individuals, to discourage hero worship.
My guess is your son will outgrow it if handled well.
There’s a big difference if kids look up to the athletes and idolize them or if they just follow the game
myshadow
Obviously you’re not a fan, if you would be you would know that the two go hand in hand.
smalltowngirl
Member
cantoresq,
There is ALWAYS something to learn even if it is NOT to emulate certain behaviors…
I totally agree that so many of the “athletes” are NOT good role models, but does that have to take away from the sport?
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I’m not sure kids can separate between the two.
cantoresq, thats kind of where your role as a parent comes into play. You have to explain to them that someone did something wrong. They can learn a valuable lesson about owning up to what they did. Also, you can teach them about teamwork and fair play.
Also, some kids who have trouble with man can relate to numbers through sports. Its a very helpful way for them to understand all sorts of facts and figures.
Of course not, its OUR job as parents to be involved in our children’s lives to show them…
It is not so different from teaching our children about different hashkafas.
Even with teenage children, we must stay involved!
SJSinNYC and smalltowngirl, trust me when I say that I’m a VERY involved parent. I didn’t say I woudl prohibit or ban spectator sports from my house. I just have a concern as to their worth given the decimation of the players’ values and morality. I think my kids get much more in terms fo learning teamwork and fair play out of actually playing team sports than they do watching others do it. And I very much encourage that, whether it’s little league or a pick up ball game in someone’s yard. My rotten luck is that my oldest son, like me, prefers to read.
Sports has a proper time and place.
cantoresq: you say the sports players are no longer good role models, sorry to tell you they never were. they have been boozers and gamblers since the 20’s.
I don’t really get this whole interest in sports. You like sports? So play sports. why watch other people having fun????
Nothing wrong with following sports- so long as it doesn’t interfere with his obligations or take over his life. I myself am a big baseball fan, and I still follow a the team of my hometown despite having lived in E”Y for about 17 years (I endure quite a bit of teasing from my kids, and even my husband :-))
Other thing is, like cantoresq brought up, be careful he doesn’t conflate the game with the personal lives of the players. Also, I heard that soccer games in the U.K. can get a bit rowdy, so if your son wants to actually go to a game, consult your LOR.
Rabbi Peysach Krohn has said many times, following sports is no problem, even a good thing, as an outlet, idolizing the players is not. no posters of these people should grace their walls. just pictires of rabbonim, and jewish themed things.
I like to PLAY ball, not watch someone else do it. There aren’t many outlets for women to play in the frum community, though.
what would be wrong about it?
I think sports is a great outlet – unless you’re going to an actual game bec. every one has much pritzus, etc. No sports games are excluded. but to listen on radio and/or to follow one’s favorite team is a good solution to passing time or as an outlet.
Obviously, it should not be such an intense passion as to interfere with learning, etc.
Remember, we’re dealing with the UK where there’s an inyon of sakanas nefashos to go watch a match.
if you watch in moderation it should be okay
Is the coffee room a sport??
Is the coffee room a sport??
Sometimes its a blood sport.
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