Muscle Stretching Question for Parents with Kids in Sports or with Disability.

Turn on the music and do them with him.

And ignore the parents who don't have athletes for kids. Athletic kids get HURT if they don't learn good practice. Just like athletic adults.

Similarly, everyone says 'Kids need exercise' and then a huge chunk of people turn around and say 'Nooooooo! Don't do it properly and safely!' it's normally smart people's brains skipping a beat.

If you want to do a cartwheel without smashing your face, or play basketball without having to stop every 2 minutes for side cramps, or dance, or, or, or... It requires muscle tone, and practice, strength, and stretching.

uhhh. run for the hills! a 5 yo should NOT be doing exercises of any sort unless it is PT for a medical issue. Even if said 5 yo is in a sport. and seriously, how competitive are you talking? he's 5! everything should be fun at this age. again, their little bodies should not be doing specific exercises. that's a very good way to screw up their development and get them hurt.
good luck!

(ps - I have two in sports, so I am not anti-sport. just hyperaware of how stupid crazy the adults in kids' sports can be.)

he is young but u have to try to make him understand 2 things... 1 if he doesnt stretch he could get hurt and 2 if he really likes the sport and wants to get better he needs to do the workouts... as long as hes enjoying it id keep pushing it put some music on try to make it fun, encourage him tell him what a good job hes doing.. just make sure hes not over doing it
my fiance still has issues with his shoulder years later.. he played baseball growing up and through highschool he was always a pitcher.. at one point he was on 3 baseball teams at one time.. he go home from practice ice his shoulder go to pitching practice and then the next night have a game and then another lesson.. its definatley did some permanent damage to his shoulder.. so my advice is dont be one of those parents that pushes it too far

Stretching, when done well and correctly, is good for everyone!!! 5 yrs old or 45 yrs old....or 65 yrs old!!! (I am a fitness trainer and yoga instructor with 15 yrs experience.)

1) make sure the coach has credentials / training that make him a good source of info! Ask him where he got his info.
2) you can't make a 5 yr old do anything. but you can be interested and involved and do it with him!!! Kids prefer that!
3) What sport? Some sports are already very stretchy and those kids need balanced strenghtening (gymnasts/ dancers). Some sports develop a lot of muscle (football, track, swimming) and yes, stretching is very recommended!
For the past 3 yrs I have been leading club swim team groups in stretching per the Coaches' request. I have volunteered my time to help these kids out and the Coach knows he is not a stretching expert. I can see a huge difference by age 13, 14, 17.... of the kids who spent their younger years stretching and those who never did! WOW! The stretched and balanced bodies are so much healthier!!!

My older daughter played competitive sports if she did not do what was required of her at home she hurt, she let a goal in, she didn't bring her A game. That was always enough to get her to practice at home.

Sure in the beginning she didn't but there is a feedback loop in sports. It may be in the form of pain or disappointment but it doesn't take long for them to figure it out.

Can you please fill us in more about a 5 year old in training that needs to be in proper shape and at a certain level? It peaked my curiosity that there could be anything so competitive for such a young child. No matter what the sport, I would definitely try to make it fun. You don't want him burnt out at 5.

100% what Riley said. Exercise is important, exercise is fun, and yes children need to be used to stretched and limber, and strong enough to play. It's important and anyone who doesn't think so has never experienced (or had their kids experience) pain that comes from playing (simple as stitches from running to pulling a muscle when they weren't strong and flexible).
To encourage Joseph, I ask him to please help me do it with him and how to do it right. He is my "sifu" and he leads me, my husband, and my younger son in all the warm up exercises, balance exercises, and some basic stuff that he should practice. We compete on who does the best side kicks with their left leg or whatever, or who can hold balance on what the longest. No matter what it's just cheers for all involved. It helps us spend time as a family, it gives him a chance to be "the teacher", and he's practicing and paying attention to his form.
Music is also good, as Riley suggested, in making anything more pleasant.

Turn some music on and do the stretches with him. If you make it fun to an extent, he won't feel like it's work. Having a "stretch" buddy makes it more fun too.

Good for both of you.

Just my opinion.

I didn't read all of the responses...so if I repeat I'm sorry. I'm a cheerleading coach. My girls do 20 minutes of silent stretching before every practice. It limits injuries and really helps with flexibility! I have a chart I use the girls come get the chart after their cardo warm up (always do before stretching). If you message me your email I can send you a copy of my chart. Sit down and do them with him they feel great! We count to 10 s-l-o-w for every stretch. Does it take time yep does it work YOU BETCHA YA! Good luck.

I am just wondering what kind of sport requires this of a 5 yo? As a mom of 2 boys in sports I have not had a coach who has required this kind of thing Just curious.

Your son's coach or league must be hard core. We were told static stretching is bad for kids (standing and bending over or raising a leg or arm and pulling - traditional stretching). We were told to just have him do jumping jacks or run in place and then do some light stretching (extending limbs out for a few seconds).

I guess I don't have to make DS stretch - I just tell him if he doesn't he might be injured and then he won't be able to play the game or worse, the season. So he knows he has to do some warming up and stretching before practice or games.

*All that for a 5 yr old? If a 5 yr old is required to stretch specifically enough to get his body into specific shape, imo that is way to demanding on a child's body. He's only 5 for goodness sake. I'd like to think if my 6 yr old son is involved in a sport where that kind of conditioning is required or even suggested, then perhaps that sport or level he is playing is too intense, and will lead to future injures because his little body, muscles and joints are just worn out. I fully understand competition but let's look into the heart of the matter - if your son isn't motivated to do the required or suggested stretching it takes to avoid injury, then perhaps he's too young to be playing because he doesn't understand the ramifications of playing too hard without stretching. I guess I'm glad that my son enjoys sports but we haven't put him in a group which is THAT competitive and he can still enjoy his childhood.

I am sorry but at five years old no sport should be so competitive that it requires these exercises outside of what they do during the training sessions. That is just insane! PLEASE just let him enjoy this sport in a recreational league and don't push him to compete. If he was so eager to up his performance he would happily work for it. He would be self motivated to do it and would not think it is boring!
If he doesn't want to do it cut back on the competition or risk burning him out or injuring him.
Good luck.