As a parent, I adore my 13-year-old son, but I must admit he doesn’t exactly have an active lifestyle unless pushed. With physical education and soccer canceled, and bike-riding with friends off the table, my son, Max, has turned into a couch potato, glued to video games. I’m sure many parents navigating a pandemic with kids can relate.
Recently, after hearing him plead for more screen time, I finally snapped and told him he could earn it by being active. To my surprise, he hopped on our stationary bike—yes, while balancing a tablet—and pedaled longer than I expected. He woke up the next day invigorated, proving once again that 13-year-olds bounce back quickly.
My two daughters aren’t much different. While we do family walks with our dog, the options for physical activity are scarce, especially with both parents working from home. Playgrounds remain closed, and with everything being canceled, I find myself longing for my kids to be active.
Last week, I received three email sign-up forms: two for Max and my 6-year-old daughter, Lucy, for fall soccer, and one for my 10-year-old, Lily, to join gymnastics. After the kids were tucked in bed, my partner, Mia, and I gathered at the kitchen table to discuss the pros and cons of enrolling them in sports during a pandemic.
We’ve always had a rule of one extracurricular activity per child to avoid overwhelming schedules, but now we had to consider whether these activities could be safely conducted amidst COVID-19.
We talked about the virus and our rural Oregon community, which had relatively few cases. With our area already in phase 2 of reopening, we hoped to be in phase 3 by the season’s start. Mia pointed out the differences between soccer and gymnastics. Soccer is played outdoors, allowing for more space between players. Plus, the ball is kicked, minimizing contact. Gymnastics, on the other hand, takes place indoors, where transmission risks are higher. The email about gymnastics lacked information on sanitizing equipment or mask requirements, raising our concerns.
Ultimately, we felt more secure with soccer and decided gymnastics was too risky. This decision left us in a tricky situation; it’s never easy to explain to children why some can participate while others cannot. We faced the choice of opting out of sports altogether or helping Lily find an alternative until gymnastics becomes safer.
We chose the latter. We enrolled Max and Lucy in soccer and discussed options with Lily, who wasn’t thrilled but took the news well. She’s now considering soccer or cross country.
These days, I find myself reflecting on the concept of the “new normal.” I used to worry about the logistical challenges of juggling multiple sports and practices. Now, I find myself weighing the risks of participation against the benefits.
As communities gradually open up, I believe all parents will face similar discussions, balancing safety with their children’s need for physical activity and joy. The goal is to keep our kids safe while encouraging healthy, active lives.
It’s hard to say if our decision was the right one, but as always, circumstances can change overnight.
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In summary, with youth sports resuming, my family is navigating the complexities of participation during a pandemic. We’ve opted for soccer, and while we’re mindful of risks, we’re hopeful that our kids will find joy and activity in their sports.