Sport for All Age Groups

Maybe a swim team would have all kids at the same time although some teams split up the big and little kids. Some families have one child play up in soccer or baseball but two years might be too much. Tae Kwon Do studios generally mix all ages and even adults can participate. Tennis also often splits kids by ability rather than age.

That said, I miss the days on the side lines with all three boys or chasing the smaller ones while watching the big kids play. But there were days when I hoped for rain because I literally couldn't get all three to their games without leaving someone stranded. And it gets harder when they are older because the local league starts playing leagues from farther away. And the boys would tell you that I mostly liked the chatting with other moms.

Good luck.

Upward Sports has soccer (and a few other sports). See if you can find a league in your area. We haven't participated in this ourselves, but I have friends whose kids do. They have a much more family friendly schedule (one practice & one game a week)

http://upward.org

swimming, if they like the water. It goes by skills not age.

Gymnastics, snow sports (everyone is on the mountain at the same time), swimming, martial arts, horseback riding, ice skating... just about anything that is an "individual" sport grouped by ability instead of a team sport grouped by 12mo age group.

If you can afford it, Martial Arts are great. They can all be in the same class together(parents too!) and challenge each other. I just started it with my son and it is a good workout for mind and body.

Soccer... is one of the most demanding as far as time consumed and having to do it all week and on weekends. PLUS the parents have pot lucks etc. Ugh. And it is ALL day.
People have lives. Beyond that.

Or, do something that does not have those same demands, as soccer.

Martial arts.
Music classes
Art classes
Dance classes
Tennis
Golfing
Swimming
Fencing

Or do your own physical activity... with them.

Bottom line is they get activity. So YOU decide and dictate... how much time you are able to spend on the given activity, how much time on weekends do you want it to consume... and how much money you want to pay for it, times 2-3, since you have 3 kids.

Or, do weekend Hiking, together as a family. That is free... and then YOU decide, when and how long to spend on it each weekend.
MAKE a 'schedule' on the weekend of what Hike you all will go on.
You don't have to let them play the Wii all the time either.

all the best,
Susan

Taekwon Do or swimming?

SWIMMING!! I have a 17, 14 and 12 year old and they are all on the same team. They have all been swimming since they were 5 and they have always been on the same team. The practices may be a different times, but they are ususally on the same day at least. Plus swimming is such a great workout - it works out every muscle in your body!!

Is there anyway you can setup a carpool with other families that might live nearby? I come from a big family, so my mom was always the mom organizing carpools to practice and even games sometimes.

They could all take fencing or maybe karate (if the instructor offers wide age range classes or sibling classes).

I'm in the same boat, 3 boys, 5,7,9 all soccer, oldest plays on 2 teams (one is a travel team). I've got to say, one of the reasons we chose soccer was because it took up LESS time and was more parent friendly! Soccer games are only an hour, whereas baseball and football are MUCH longer. With our soccer, parents dont have to run concession stands, partake in fundraisers, etc (like you have to in baseball and football around here). I have lucked out in that my 2 youngest are on the same team, and last year my 2 oldest were on the same team, so its mostly been two sets of practices/games plus the travel team stuff. My 5 yo "plays-up" onto the 6-8 yo league, the next level is 9-11. Have you checked with your leagues to see if they allow something like that? (My 5 yo is almost 6, so it worked out) Sorry I havent had any good suggestions for you, just know you're not alone! And I think soccer is one of the least time consuming sports, at least in our area. Karate is a good idea, we did try that for a while, but couldnt keep the kids interested, BUT it was a class our whole family could take together, if you can peak their interest in that it could get everyone exercising. Good luck and hang in there!

Do you have any friends that you can car pool with? I don't think I would take my kids out of sports just because of all the driving and time it takes up especially if they like it. My sisters and I all danced which meant several nights a week after school and all different times. We car pooled, took the bus there, stayed longer bc one of our siblings would have a class back to back w/ one of mine or stayed and waited for a friend to get out so we could ride home w/ them. Our parents never complained because we enjoyed it.

What about something like Karate? All the boys are old enough to join (well, it might be 6 yrs for the cut off in your area). Plus, there are no "games" to attend and it is a year round thing - no "seasons." You can probably arrange it so their class times are the same or very close together on the same days.

I feel your pain - I have 6 kids, 4 still at home, and have been "chasing" sports for YEARS. Add to that homework, band/orchestra, etc., it gets pretty busy pretty quick :)

L.,
Have you considered rugby? My boys have been playing for several years and love it. The youngers kids play touch so there's no tackling. Practices are usually twice a week with a game on Saturday. The part I love the best is the camaraderie. The players, coaches, refs, parents, spectators all have to abide by good sportmanship rules. And they do. In NoVA, the leagues utilize "positive coaching alliance" techniques.

Players of other sports will play rugby as a conditioning sport. It is a fast paced sport but it isn't hard for the kids to understand. If a player isn't doing something right, it isn't uncommon for the ref or either team's coaches to explain right in the middle of play.

My youngest started playing at 4 and my oldest at 12 and my husband at 20 so it's definitely a sport anyone can pick up. You check with BRYC or SYC in NoVA and see if someone can hook you up with a league in your area.

Good luck.
~K.

Best of luck. I have been there. I have four kids. Now 10, 14, 17, & 19 years old. I am finally down to driving only two! Sooo much easier! Carpooling is a great answer. If your kids love soccer, I wouldn't pull them out for yourself. If they are not crazy about it, that's another thing. Odds are with three kids, three different personalities you will end up doing a lot of driving. My older three all play soccer. It's a great sport that they can play their whole life. My father-in-law played into his 60s. My youngest is still finding his sport. I hate to say it. Three kids that close in age means a lot of driving. I think it's best to keep them in a sport. As they get older, especially as teens, it's better to keep them busy and in a sport. Sports make them tired. If they are tired and sleeping on the coach, they are not getting into trouble. A mother who raised five sons told me that. So far I think it's true. As tiring as it is, it goes by fast.

Could you all go running as a family? My hubby loved track in middle and high school. I wasn't into sports growing up, but I started jogging a couple years ago with him and feel great. Your kids don't have to be in a sport to keep out of trouble - there are also hobbies and other fun privileges that can be used as leverage to keep them on the straight and narrow. Taking another example from my husband is building and racing RC cars (remote control) and go karting. It fostered his love of engineering. You can look up lots of other media-free fun online for more ideas.