Because I did.

I loved the idea of sending my son to a karate class. I could barely wait till he reached the age of 5, before I went rushing and enrolled him in a karate program after school hours.

He hated it. And I admit I was surprised.

I assumed because he’s such an active kid that he would love the physicality of it all. As it turned out, I was wrong.

He suffered through it for a few months, all the while imploring me to take him off the program. I stubbornly stuck to my guns, insisting that he would “grow to enjoy it.”

The moment of truth came when I went to watch him at the class a few weeks into the program. He was going through the motions with a bored expression on his face, and then it struck me – he hated the discipline and rigidity of it all! A little boy full of energy and enthusiasm, he could hardly contain his frustration and boredom at being shackled to straight lines and incessant bowing – after school hours.

My son was 6 when I took him off the program, but I know many Moms struggle with figuring out the right time to place their kids in a coaching class for tennis or martial arts, or other demanding sport.

Experts will tell you that forcing a child into sports against his will before he’s turned 6 might cause him to feel pressurized and lose interest.

I think it’s far simpler – if he doesn’t enjoy what he’s doing, it’s not worth it.