Stressful for mummy's little darlings

[Gob]

Furious parents have been banned from attending their own children's sports day for fear of causing their offspring stress.



Staff at Kenningtons Primary Academy in Aveley, Essex wrote to parents saying the annual sports day would be for 'children only' and that parents should not attend the event. The letter from headteacher Miss Jo Sawtell said: 'Last year, we were not able to accommodate parents as the field was waterlogged and some of the activities took place inside.

'For lots of children, sports day is a very stressful occasion. This is invariably linked to being watched by a large crowd. 'All decisions are primarily taken with the interests of children at heart.' But Sue Wilkinson, a spokeswoman for the Association for Physical Education, criticised the decision. She said: 'We would like to see parents engage right across the educational spectrum. We would actively encourage parents to be part of their children's education.'

A group of mothers are angry at being barred from the event, with some threatening to ban their children from competing. One mother, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Quite a few of us are upset about it. We are fuming. 'I have got friends who are teachers and they say they are crying out for parents that want to get involved. 'I did not realise wanting to get involved in the sports day would brand us bad parents.' She added: 'I am keeping my children off school that day and I know other mums that are. 'We will recreate their sports day if needs be. 'The letter says sports day is very stressful for children because of the crowds watching. "But they are inviting parents from other schools to see another sports day the next day - even though we are not allowed to our own kids' sports day.'

Parents have organised a meeting to discuss the ban.

http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/news/1 ... ports_day/

[Scooter]

I have to wonder how much belligerent and unsportsmanlike behaviour by parents on previous occasions factored into the decision.

[Lord Jim]

If that was an issue, shouldn't they have made some reference to it in the letter? (since that would have made their decision seem more rational and justified.)

Instead of saying this:

The letter says sports day is very stressful for children because of the crowds watching.

[Scooter]

If that was an issue, shouldn't they have made some reference to it in the letter?

No, because the offending parents would just get defensive and deny it, as they always do.

Instead of saying this:

The letter says sports day is very stressful for children because of the crowds watching.

Sounds like a perfect euphemism for parents embarrassing the fuck out of their kids by acting like assholes.

[Lord Jim]

No, because the offending parents would just get defensive and deny it, as they always do.

they wouldn't have had to mention anyone by name...

Sounds like a perfect euphemism for parents embarrassing the fuck out of their kids by acting like assholes.

To me it sounds like a perfect euphemism for:

"Parents cheering for their children makes this a competitive event, and we think competition is bad for children, and we know better what's best for the kids than the parents do"

[Rick]

http://www.aveleyprimary.net/social%20policy%2013.pdf

Children in school are a member of 1 of 4 team
s: The Elves, Golden Dragons, Griffins or
Phoenixes. Each week the team points are co
llected and the winning team is announced in the
Friday Achievement Assembly.

Wonder if Harry Potter attends...

[Joe Guy]

To me it sounds like a perfect euphemism for:

"Parents cheering for their children makes this a competitive event, and we think competition is bad for children, and we know better what's best for the kids than the parents do"

That sums it up quite well. If the school doesn't want the kids to experience stress they shouldn't have a Sports Day.

Things were much simpler back in the old days when I was a young'n. We had a smoking section for kids who didn't want to get stressed out by doing things like running & jumping.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Having spent a few years coaching my daughters softball teams I can say from experience, parents suck.

[dgs49]

When my son was nine years old (he is 31 now), he was disappointed not to make the "tournament" baseball team in his league but still wanted to "play." The "regular" season ended on July 4th, only halfway through the summer vacation. Seeing that there might be many other kids who still wanted to play baseball for a while longer, I arranged to take over the field permits, grabbed a couple bags of catcher's equipment and spread the word that I would be arranging "pick-up" games for the kids on Saturday mornings.

Most of the moms (primary kid-transporters) had no idea what I meant by "pick-up" games, but understood that this was someplace they could take their boys for organized play.

I ended up each Saturday with enough kids for four teams, and we played on two fields that were back to back, so I could keep an eye on them. I picked four of the smallest kids and four dads, and had them pick teams out of all the kids who were there. I pitched one game (both teams) and had a dad pitch the other one, with instructions that we were to try our best to hit the kids' bats with the ball. There were no strikeouts. Every kid batted at least once every inning.

We did not keep score until the kids started to get bored (after 1-1/2 hours), then we played one final inning to see who "won." Every kid got to bat at least ten times and had at least 5 hits in every game. I refused to umpire the games. If a kid was out on the bases, he was expected to call himself out and get off the field. I never had a disputed call.

The kids loved it. I still occasionally have one of my son's friends tell me that they never had more fun playing a game than those pickup games.

The parents could not deal with it. They didn't understand the no-scoring and no-strikeout parts. They didn't like it that I allowed the kids to switch teams if they felt like it, or allowed kids to pick their friends (rather than the best available player) during the pick-up phase.

The biggest bitch I have about living in Suburbia is that the kids never get to actually "play" among themselves. Every time they play a sport it is either an organized practice, an organized workout or a game.

[Big RR]

I agree, I've known many parents like that. the other side of the coin are the parents who object to anything where there is a competition--everyone must get a medal or a trophy or whatever and no distinctions should be drawn between those who win and those who lose. I think there are valuable lessons that can be taught in learning that you don't always win, and must lose gracefully, as well as from less structured, unstructured free play. I've seen the same thing you have in suburban towns, usually because there are no fields (or even vacant lots left for free play; we used to be able to play at the parks, and even the school fields when they were unused, but not anymore. Some will say it's because of fear of lawsuits, but I don't think so; I think many just don't want to let kids play on their own.

[Gob]

Joining an "under 13s" basketball team was one of the greatest things that happened to a young Hatch. Her self esteem soared, as did her fitness and her social skills. She still plays, though now for an under 19s and an under 25s. (She's 18 now.)