Would you put a 3.5 year old in a soccer league for 2.5 to 3.5 year olds or 3.5 to 5 year olds?

It’s their first time playing soccer or any organized team sport.

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

Do they get a tryout?
Maybe ask the coaches where would be best.

no, it’s just a house league where you sign up and then show up on the first day.

Since it’s their first ever season I would definitely do the lower group. Some kids in the older group most likely are 2nd year or more. My daughter is 5 and I wanna do tball and kids have been doing it since 2 so I’m freaking out where she would be placed due to her age

I would say depends how big the child is. If they are on the small side I would put them in 2.5 to 3.5, but if they are taller than most kids their age I would put them in 3.5 to 5

They’re average size for their age, but were 2 months premature.

I’m leaning toward letting them be the oldest in the league because I really just want them to run around and have fun, without feeling pressured to “perform” the way some 5 year olds are capable of playing. I just worry that they might get bored if the other kids can’t keep up with them.

It would also be nice to meet new friends, and most kids that will be in their kindergarten cohort will likely be in the 3.5-5 league because my guys are born late in the year.

I’m really torn.

You know your kid and their size. I would do the older group for mine. Because the learning and challenge will keep her interest. She's on the taller side and would feel more comfortable in returning to the same team. It also matters the goal. For us it's a fun way to teach teamwork discipline and get some exercise. She's not going to do any of that if her perception is she's playing with babies. I hope this helps as i know it's not aligned with what others have said. But really consider what you know about your kid

I'd put them in the lower group, if the team lead thinks they need moved up they'll tell you

It depends on how they are. My son is speech delayed and doesnt listen to instructions, so i would put him in the younger group. If he was more "mature" and was able to follow the others, then i would put him in the older group

Depends on a few factors-the child’s size, confidence level and playing ability

I spoke to the manager at their daycare and she thinks they could handle playing with the bigger kids!

If they are athletic and able to trample other kids during playtime, older. If they are cautious with mobility, younger.

How big are they? I wouldn’t want them to be the biggest or super small compared to everyone else

They’re average. About 35lbs and 3’2”

I’d put them with the bigger kids. They’ll learn a lot and it could actually develop their confidence!

I'd put them in the 2.5-3.5

My son did little Kickers last summer (youngest age available). There was a huge difference in skill level between him and some of the older kids.
Even more so with the next age up.

Also my experience teaching multi-sport, there is a huge difference between 3.5 and 5 for skill level and attention span.

You do always have that one kid who excels no matter what the age....

I ended up putting them in the 3.5-5 but I’m second guessing my decision. I plan to call the organization and ask them what they think and see if we should/can switch them.

in our community

I've finally done it

I have finally done it. I have finally become the trope, the stereotype.

I have become bitter, resentful, and very overwhelmed and overloaded. I am very unhappy and hit burnout. And I snapped at my husband last night. I work full-time, and work has been very busy so im working late a lot. Im also in grad school. I also have a toddler that has become VERY clingy with me. My husband works shorter days but commutes, so he usually gets home after me by an hour or more. When he gets home, he usually heads to the restroom for at least 30 mins when he gets home. And now my toddler doesnt want anything to do with him. So im doing all the toddler duties until bed. I dont get 5 mins to myself. Not for almost 2 years. I finally hit my wall. I have also, somehow, become my MILs medical ride service and she somehow has an appt every week, it seems?! Shes not sick!! My husband was complaining that he needs to change routine to fit in a workout sometimes, and I lost it. I have been BEGGING for 5 mins to myself for months. I have been telling him how im not good, im going to burn out for months. And between his attitude and him complaining (which really got me b/c he blames me for not being able to work out?! Saying I need help when he gets home so he just cant workout now) I just lost it completely. I told him how unfair my life has become and I have the entire mental and emotional load and it is just not fair. He got mad at me and said "hes trying" when hes literally not trying at all. What do I do?? No one is taking the load from me! And im done and dont know what to do now.
I do not like this version of me.

Is this clever or cruel?

My husband and i were talking and with social media and the internet in general being a terrifying dumpster fire, we are trying to figure out the best way to keep our son safe while still teaching him how to safely be online and moderation.

We landed on the idea of giving him the 90's kid treatment. A computer in the living room for us to keep an eye on what hes doing online, and once we feel hes mature enough to hang with friends without adult supervision he gets a flip phone. When we feel he is responsible enough and he earns and saves up the money for the physical phone, case, and screen cover, then we will be happy to take him to get a smart phone.

I thought this was air tight, but now my brother says its cruel to give a kid a flip phone, and besides he can just use his friends phones at school.

My husband and i remember a time before the internet, and we remember having complete access to something no one understood yet. We saw unspeakable things and are always battling with the urge to put the phone and social media down. I dont want that for my son, especially with his brain so vulnerable still.

If your partners parent passes away

And you and that parent didn't get along are you still go to the funeral?

Not my situation!

Partner no longer wants baby #2

Before our son was born we originally both wanted minimum 2 kids but we were hoping for 3-4. My partner found the birth traumatic to watch and also struggled a lot with the newborn/baby stage. He no longer wants to have any more children and it’s completely breaking my heart. I need another baby. We’ve spoken about it a lot and the options. He said he wasn’t COMPLETELY closed off to it so I asked him to try and work through his feelings and reconsider his decision. He eventually said he definitely doesn’t want another. I know that I will always want one and my feelings will never change. Do we have to break up or does anyone know anything else I can do to help change his mind? Has anyone else’s partner said this and then changed their mind? I don’t want to break up because I adore him and our life together and I’d hate to split up our family for “selfish” reasons and make my son miss out on having both of us together but I just don’t know what to do

Nursery funding

My child turned 9 months last week. I applied for government funded hours nearly 2 months ago and so well within the required timeframe for the April term, however upon receiving my first invoice without the funding applied and having questioned this, I have now been informed that the stretched funding doesn’t start until 4th May.

Has anyone else been told it won’t start until May?

The government site states it should start from April 1st, and so I intentionally set my nursery start and return to work as the start of April for that reason, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to afford the nursery on my sole income without the funding

Jealous of my husband

I’m so jealous of him and it’s making me resentful. We have a ten week old and I’m jealous that he is at work all day. I’m jealous he can leave for lunch and actually eat an uninterrupted lunch. Take a phone call uninterrupted. Chat with a friend he runs in to uninterrupted. Even go to the bathroom when he wants uninterrupted. He comes home from work when he wants. He’s not on a set schedule. Some days are late some are early. It depends on when he’s done. I’m jealous he can come home at 10pm and shower, eat and go right to bed uninterrupted because I already have the baby asleep. He doesn’t have to worry about anything house wise or baby wise because I’ve done it all. Meanwhile I’m covered in puke and crap and smell like rotten milk. When he is home he is VERY active and helpful. So it’s not that. I’m just jealous his world hasn’t changed and mine has I guess. This isn’t something he’s doing wrong so I’m not sure how to get past this. I wish I could keep him home all day because that’s how helpful he is, but I understand he obv needs to work.