Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Developing Sports Related Skills

Braden is old enough now that he has basketball goals, a tee ball set, and about 43 other balls of various shapes, sizes, and colors.  All boys that I know like balls.  Many of them choose to make it their first word. That is one of several words that Braden currently spews forth from his toothy grin.

He constantly pics up a ball, or says ball, or points at a ball, or does all of these at once.  Usually when I say throw it to Daddy he winds up and gives his ball of choice a toss.  Sometimes it comes to me.  Sometimes it just trickles in front of Braden's feet. Other times it goes backwards.  But this is just the beginning.

It will take a while before Braden develops his pitching and/or quarterbacking skills.  In the meantime he is working on developing other talents.  Basketball was his first love.  He has had a small goal for nearly a year now.  When he was big enough to sit up we started working on the dunk.  Eventually he would get the ball and dunk it home when asked.

Now we have a little Winnie the Pooh basket ball hoop in the tub.  When I say give me a dunk, Braden searches out a floating ball and turns to throw it down.  He can go either left or right.  Sometimes he can dunk without even looking.

More exciting for me as a huge baseball fan is his new love of his plastic baseball bat. Granted he uses it most often to hit things other than his baseball, as I detailed in yesterday's post.  He hits people, which is bad.  He hits toys.  He hits balls on the ground ala a little Tiger Woods. Once he even whacked a ball right off the Christmas tree. Sometimes though he puts the ball on the tee and takes his cuts.  Braden does not have the technique of an Albert Pujols, but he is able to make contact with the ball.  Eye hand coordination....Check.

I certainly don't want to be a stage dad if that is the right term. I won't be putting videos of his baby sporting prowess on You Tube (at least not yet). Braden can take up whatever interests he chooses. But as a die hard sports fan it sure is comforting to know that he is developing the skills necessary should he choose any athletic pursuits.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

so far my son prefers to take bites out of his nerf football rather than throw it, so I'm going with defensive player.

Katherine said...

I'm pretty sure Ethan will either be a soccer player and/or a wrestler. He started kicking the ball as soon as he could walk, and he loves to wrestle people to the ground. Granted his grandfather wrestled and beat Dan Gable (Gable was in college, my husband's dad was in high school), so it's sorta in the blood.

WeaselMomma said...

I think vids of his athletic prowess now would be even cuter than what he could do in 15 yrs.

Brandy@YDK said...

you should be so proud!

Manic Mommy said...

Braden's off to a good start - and I think you'll be okay, Stage Dad.

It's all a matter of perspective. I'm not expecting my children to go pro but I do want them to learn the benefits of team sports; healthy living, healthy competition, teamwork, hard work.

Anonymous said...

At least you know you don't want to be a stage dad. That's a great start!

Daddy Files said...

I love it. Will is the same way. Ball was one of his first words, followed closely by "bat."

And like Braden, he swings it to his heart's content. He even throws the ball up with one hand and then whacks it with the bat. He golfs things off the ground too, and has hit the TV, the dog, the cat, the couch and several other items while he's swinging.

But because I love that he's interested in sports, I never discourage him. Unless mom is home...

rxBambi said...

I'm trying to remember my kids at that age. Nope, no use. It's all a blur. I do remember big sister hitting little sister, but so far neither one is a sumo wrestler or anything. I'll be sure to keep you posted tho :)

Jack Steiner said...

My son is about to turn 9. He has little to no interest in baseball. For a while that was hard because I loved playing.

But he loves soccer and is interested in playing basketball. And even though he doesn't play baseball he does play catch with me.

It is one the pleasures of being a father.

Brian Miller said...

too cool. it is fun to watch them grow intot he little people they are becoming...i had one of those mini basketball hoops that hung over the door as a kid...we found it this last weekend in my moms basement and brought it home...it now hangs on my boys door...

Mike said...

All I can say is that I would put a golf club in his hand at the first available moment! That is a great career!

seashore subjects said...

Dunking in the tub is probably extra exciting because it splashes mom and dad too! (maybe he will be destined for water polo?)