yes way to young...put them in front of a TV for hours and hours at a time. i would challenge this article all day long. 20-30 min for toddlers playing sports in a group/team setting is great. in addition to this parents should invest in other activities to enhance creativity.

If parents have their children (toddlers) in sports activities for fun, that is 1 thing and an important 1 at that, BUT if it is for a "career" then they are idiots. It is ridiculous to try and force any sport on a young child so that they will be some mega athlete when they grow up.

Toddlers should be toddlers--not athletes. They should be playing--not training. They have enough time for pain, suffering, competition, stress, and work in the future. Let them enjoy their childhood while they can.

I think 18months/2yrs of age, is way to young! Ihave a 23month old now and couldnt imagine putting her in a "sport". My 12yr old started dance when she was 31/2 and I thought that was plenty early. By that time she was at least able to comprehend what was being asked of her and I knew she was having fun while she was doing it. It lasted about a year and she didnt want to do it anymore, she told ME she wanted to get into cheerleading and she stayed involved in cheerleading until the end of 5th grade. Now two years later she is an avid volleyball player and enjoys every minute of it.

I think its important to involve children in sports early...say 4 or 5. It builds a good foundation for them to grow on. They key is finding the sport they truly love. That may mean trying many things first. At the same time, not all children are sports players, and thats okay to.

I do think it is wrong, when children are constantly put in MANY sports at the same time by their parents!!!!!

This is all rediculous. I am 18 years old, and i was introduced to sports and athletics when i was 2 years old. It is the best thing my parents ever did for me. They started me in a tee ball summer rec program in our community, and i was in it till 6th grade, It was absolutly wonderful. I got introduced to gymnastics at age 3, and i absolutly loved it, but ended up quiting so that i could play volleyball, basketball and softball. All of my friends that i have made through out the years were started when i was in those programs. My best childhood friends we introduced to me through the summer rec programs that my parents put me in, and my best friends that i have now as a senior or those people that I play volleyball and softball, or used to play basketball with. It gives you a group of people that all have a common intrest, and helps you bulid relationships. I have never been a very outgoing person, and had it not been for my parents getting me started at a young age i never would have been able to step out on the court/field with my freinds to play sports and to get that feeling of accomplishment that I was able to push myself though all the mornings of practice and all the two-a-daysto reach this goal. Being involved from the time i was young gave me the confidence that i could do anything that i put my mind to, and i am so greatful to my parents for getting me involved. But also on that note, i feel that parents should never ever force their child into a sport, yes my parents put me into many programs, but whenever i wanted to stop was up to me. I think that introducing athletics at a young age is wonderful, but forcing them into a sport, or anything at that matter, that they don't want to be involved in is very wrong.

My 8 year old has been in many sports and quit every single one of them. This past year I made him finish his first season of football. Why? He wanted to quit the first two weeks because he didn't like getting tackled and then the coach pulled him aside and explained his position to him. He was getting tackled so the team could score and win the game and then pizza afterward. I didn't realize that all those times before when I was letting him quit that I was letting him quit because he had to work hard. I totally agree with letting your kids quit if they don't like it ( or for coaching/self-image reasons) but make them finish the season because their teammates rely on them to be there too and it is an inforcement of quitting doesn't get you anywhere.

And also my 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son attend the games and my four year old was in bowling and gymnastics and now she wants to cheerlead. My 2 year old wants to play ball and some of the coaches suggested that I get him involved in sports because he has a great arm.

Activities, play groups, tag, hide and go seek, these are wonderful. Pushing sports that young is just insane. Yes, we should be keeping our children active and moving. We should not plant them in front of a tv or leave them to play only with themselves all the time. But parents are pushing too hard and expecting too much. Let kids be kids.

Let them play sports only if they're having a good time. The socialization with other children is great.

Define "sports". My dd was in a Mommy and me gymnastic program shortly after 18 months and absolutely loved it. It was bonding time, play time, and exercise for a very energetic child all in one. My goals for the class were for her to learn to wait her turn and how to be part of a group activity - and to learn to focus on that group only, not all the classes around her. At 3, she moved into an independent class (without me, sob) and this will decide if she continues based on her interest.

this has been wonderful for her coordination, flexibility, strength, etc - not to mention her social skills. it's a win/win.