3.5 DD apparently is excelling in swimming and is a natural in the water(as her swimming teacher and her coach have said), the problem is I'm not sure I could encourage her to take up the sport with the early morning training and strict regimes.

So my question is has anyone not encouraged their child in something they excell at and would I be a bad mOther if i didn't pursue her talent???

She has a condition which will limit her sports choices but she also has a musical and acting talent so maybe I could encourage that??

Thoughts please!!

i think at 3.5 you should let her be. otherwise you will burn her out by the time she is 6. it is possible to encourage your kid at something they are good at without making their life about it. why cant you encourage swimming without early morning training or strict regimes? shecould just swim because she loves swimming. take her to the pool, the beach etc join surf life saving! just because a kid has a talent for something, ir doesnt mean that they enjoy it or that they have to do itcompetitively. follow your kids lead. support her to swim now, down the track let her decide how far she wants to take it.

Surely noone is suggesting training for a 3.5 year old?

I think 3.5 is much too early to be worrying about her future pursuits. She will be able to make those choices for herself when the time comes.

I don't think you need to encourage her to take up anything - just let her follow her interests and see where she leads herself.

Tried to edit but accidentally chose reply...

I don't think avoidance of routine or training would make you a bad mother at all - she is very young so it would be better to leave her options a bit more open anyway smile

I would say at 3.5 don't worry about it, just let her swim.
I started competitive swimming at maybe 7, but I just did night trainings twice a week, competition night and the occasional swimming carnival on a Saturday.
for me I didn't start the early morning trainings (5.30) until I was about 12 and then that only lasted a short while as I hated getting up early tongue
From my experience it doesn't get strict until high school and that's only if the swimmer themselves wants to go further. I didn't have to change my eating or anything.
obviously its your call but just wanted to give you a point of view from a swimmer.

I would say at 3.5 don't worry about it, just let her swim.
I started competitive swimming at maybe 7, but I just did night trainings twice a week, competition night and the occasional swimming carnival on a Saturday.
for me I didn't start the early morning trainings (5.30) until I was about 12 and then that only lasted a short while as I hated getting up early tongue
From my experience it doesn't get strict until high school and that's only if the swimmer themselves wants to go further. I didn't have to change my eating or anything.
obviously its your call but just wanted to give you a point of view from a swimmer.

Thanks for your replies ladies.

DD does have 2 sessions a week with a private coach at our home pool, obviously it is not strict or early morning at her age, at the moment she just loves to swim but is excelling and i was thinking now she is a good swimmer shall i stop the coaching and just let her keep practicing or if we continue with the coach?
Thanks nadz im glad its not until high school it gets strict

i think at 3.5 you should let her be. otherwise you will burn her out by the time she is 6. it is possible to encourage your kid at something they are good at without making their life about it. why cant you encourage swimming without early morning training or strict regimes? shecould just swim because she loves swimming. take her to the pool, the beach etc join surf life saving! just because a kid has a talent for something, ir doesnt mean that they enjoy it or that they have to do itcompetitively. follow your kids lead. support her to swim now, down the track let her decide how far she wants to take it.

Agree, just let her enjoy it. It doesnt have to go anywhere at this point.

Thanks for your replies ladies.

DD does have 2 sessions a week with a private coach at our home pool, obviously it is not strict or early morning at her age, at the moment she just loves to swim but is excelling and i was thinking now she is a good swimmer shall i stop the coaching and just let her keep practicing or if we continue with the coach?
Thanks nadz im glad its not until high school it gets strict

I think the answer isn't dependent on how good she is at it, more how much she is enjoying it. If she is loving the lessons and she is getting something out of it, then let her keep going. Or just do one. If she doesn't care about them or isn't getting much out of it, stop them.
Forget about her talent and concentrate on what she thinks of it. Hopefully your answer would be the same even if she was a terrible swimmer but loved lessons. smile

I think the answer isn't dependent on how good she is at it, more how much she is enjoying it. If she is loving the lessons and she is getting something out of it, then let her keep going. Or just do one. If she doesn't care about them or isn't getting much out of it, stop them.
Forget about her talent and concentrate on what she thinks of it. Hopefully your answer would be the same even if she was a terrible swimmer but loved lessons. smile

Totally agree, I loved swimming you couldn't get me out of the water that's why I started competing, but a child can be a great swimmer but doesn't find it fun. I think if she finds it fun keep going, if she doesn't just cancel the lessons and let her muck around in the pool and maybe in a few years she might want to pick it up again.

If she is truly gifted then the pool is not going anywhere.

I would keep swimming fun but not go beserk with pushing it or she'll end up hating it.. My friends daughter is 10 and state age champ for her age. The thing is if you 'have' the natural ability its always going to be there. She can pick it up competitively at 8, 10, 12 and she'll excel at it if she's really that good. You can't race at most comps that I've heard of till you are 8 anyway and states the youngest is under 10's so she has plenty of years up her sleeve