Anyone's LO have a one-track mind?

2-Step

My older DS has been obsessed with sports and balls since he was a tiny baby. He first sat up to grab a ball, his first laugh was when we rolled him a ball. He wants to play baseball, soccer, basketball or golf all day long. We've bought him train tables, cars, art stuff and he barely touches it. It is becoming more and more aparent as he gets older that he is extremely focused on sports and only sports.

He won't play with most kids his age because they don't play sports to his level, if kids start playing something else he would rather go kick a ball against a wall by himself than change to something other than sports.I get comments all the time from random strangers about how amazing he is at sports, he's been able to throw a spiral football since about 1.5, and hitting overhand pitches since 2, can catch a running football pass. For xmas when he was 2 he asked Santa for a tennis racquet and tennis balls because he saw it on TV, and he played with it for weeks!

It is actually really amazing to watch, but sometimes I worry that I need to encourage more diversity in his play things. I've never seen a kid with such a determined, focused passion for something so early in life. I was just wondering if there are any other kids out there with a serious passion for something in particular.  

He is normal in stages of development (can trace letters, knows abcs, 123s, colors, shapes etc). I'm not sure if I should keep trying to encourage diversity in his play things or just let him do what he is passionate about. He literally has a one track mind. Once in awhile he rides a scooter, but thats about the only other activity he is interested in.

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I think it is always good to keep exposing him to new things but I wouldn't worry about pushing the other activities.  If he takes interest in the new activity great.  If not, no big deal.

 

MMMiller

I have to let my husband read this post because I could have written it myself! My son is so hyper focused on sports his life literally revolves around it.  He can tell you the name of every kind of ball/ type of equipment from everything including golf, basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, football and tennis.  When we go into a toy store--he goes to the balls.  In the doctor's office he doesn't want to look at the kid's books he wants to look at Sports Illustrated.  He also throws a football with a spiral and can run and dribble a basketball.  He has thrown overhand since I can remember--which according to some experts I've spoken to is very unusual for this age.  There are times that I am so proud of his athletic ability and my husband and being avid sports fans we enjoy it so much--when it comes to sports and watching sports he seems to have a maturity above his age level.  Then there are times when I don't want to throw a ball any more, I want to sit and do some "pretend play" or put together a puzzle, or paint.  He'll do these things for a few minutes but he always goes back to a ball.  I think our best bet is to embrace our sons' talents and encourage them to learn and grow as athletes (who knows maybe by the time they're five they'll be over it!), and do our best to encourage play in other areas.  For Christmas I am getting him some books/puzzles with sports themes--he's always loved books but this should put it over the top! Also there is a Melissa and Doug magnetic dress up toy with a little boy who has all kinds of sports outfits.  We do a lot around sports to help him learn other things as well, like when we stand "at the line" for football we count to ten before the "snap"...LOL I read that and wish I was kidding.  Our little ones are special and I love it!!

2-Step

MMMiller:

I have to let my husband read this post because I could have written it myself! My son is so hyper focused on sports his life literally revolves around it.  He can tell you the name of every kind of ball/ type of equipment from everything including golf, basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, football and tennis.  When we go into a toy store--he goes to the balls.  In the doctor's office he doesn't want to look at the kid's books he wants to look at Sports Illustrated.  He also throws a football with a spiral and can run and dribble a basketball.  He has thrown overhand since I can remember--which according to some experts I've spoken to is very unusual for this age.  There are times that I am so proud of his athletic ability and my husband and being avid sports fans we enjoy it so much--when it comes to sports and watching sports he seems to have a maturity above his age level.  Then there are times when I don't want to throw a ball any more, I want to sit and do some "pretend play" or put together a puzzle, or paint.  He'll do these things for a few minutes but he always goes back to a ball.  I think our best bet is to embrace our sons' talents and encourage them to learn and grow as athletes (who knows maybe by the time they're five they'll be over it!), and do our best to encourage play in other areas.  For Christmas I am getting him some books/puzzles with sports themes--he's always loved books but this should put it over the top! Also there is a Melissa and Doug magnetic dress up toy with a little boy who has all kinds of sports outfits.  We do a lot around sports to help him learn other things as well, like when we stand "at the line" for football we count to ten before the "snap"...LOL I read that and wish I was kidding.  Our little ones are special and I love it!!

Yep! Sounds exactly like my DS! Great ideas. My DS does actually love books as well, but he always focuses on sports oriented everything! I'm going to check out that Melissa and Doug dress up kit too!

Now that I have my second DS I think it makes me realize even more how different it is because the younger one is totally into cars, trains and all the random boy toys you hear people talk about. I know what you mean about getting tired of playing ball, I want to encourage him with what he loves, but we play every ball game on earth and he will even coach me on how to properly pitch him the ball because he does it better than I do! Nice to know there is another sports obsessed little boy out there!

MMMiller

2-Step: I am so grateful I saw this post! My DS prefers to play with my husband because I do so much incorrectly! I will let you know if I find any other sports related toys--let me know if you find anything