“My child isn’t really sporty. Will they actually enjoy Active Camps?”
It’s a question we hear from parents, and often, there’s more behind it than whether their child is good at sport.
It’s a question we hear from parents, particularly when their child doesn’t enjoy PE, doesn’t play for a team or worries that everyone else will be better than them.
The simple answer is yes. Your child doesn’t have to be ‘sporty’ to enjoy Active Camps.
They don’t need to be the fastest runner, the best footballer or arrive with lots of sporting experience.
But there is something important to know before you book: Aspire Active Camps is active.
Being active can mean lots of different things. Depending on the camp and programme, children might play games, try different sports, dance, do gymnastics and enjoy activities with other children.
So, rather than asking, “Is my child sporty enough?”, a better question might be:
“Would my child enjoy getting involved, moving, trying different activities and having fun with other children?”
If the answer is yes, Active Camps could be a great fit.
What does “not sporty” actually mean?
Children can mean all sorts of things when they say they’re “not sporty”.
For one child, it might mean they don’t like football. Another might enjoy being active but dislike competitive team games. Some children love dancing or gymnastics but would never describe themselves as sporty.
Others simply haven’t found the activities they enjoy yet.
That’s why we think it’s important to look beyond the label.
Being active doesn’t have to mean being good at traditional sports.
Children come to Active Camps with different interests, abilities and levels of experience. Some play sport every week. Others might only take part at school, while some will be trying activities for the first time.
They don’t need to be good at everything. They just need the opportunity to have a go.
There’s more than one way to be active
Active Camps isn’t just about traditional team sports.
Depending on the venue and school holiday, children can choose from different Academies.
Multi-Sports Academy gives children the chance to experience a variety of sports, activities and games.
Dance Beatz Academy offers an active experience for children who enjoy dance and performance.
Gym Beatz Academy gives children the opportunity to enjoy gymnastics activities, with different levels of experience welcomed.
We also run specialist Football and Cricket Academies at selected camps for children with a particular interest in those sports.
So, a child who says, “I don’t like sport”, might feel very differently about dance or gymnastics. Another might discover they love dodgeball even though football has never interested them.
They don’t have to love everything they try. Finding out what they enjoy, and what they don’t, is part of the experience.
Not every Academy runs at every venue or during every school holiday, so check what’s available at your chosen camp before booking.
What if my child isn’t competitive or lacks confidence?
Not every child enjoys competition, and that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy being active.
Some love the excitement of a match. Others prefer learning a skill, dancing, trying gymnastics or simply being active and having fun with other children.
And sometimes when a child says, “I’m not sporty”, what they really mean is, “I’m worried I won’t be good enough.”
Trying something unfamiliar can feel daunting, especially on their first day.
Remind your child that they’re not expected to arrive knowing how to do everything. There will be activities they’ve tried before and others that are completely new.
It can help to look at the camp or Academy together beforehand and ask:
“What would you like to have a go at?”
Having one or two things to look forward to can make the first day feel much easier.
If there’s something in particular your child is nervous about, let our Active Camps team know. We’ll be happy to talk through what to expect.
Aspire Active Camps is about more than the activities
There’s another reason not to focus too much on whether your child is “sporty”.
Camp is also about spending time with other children, making friends, trying something independently and growing in confidence.
For one child, success might be discovering an activity they never expected to enjoy.
For another, it could be joining in when they were initially nervous.
And for someone else, it might simply be coming home smiling and excited to tell you about the friends they made.
We’re not trying to turn every child into a sports enthusiast. We want children to have positive experiences of being active in different ways.
Is Aspire Active Camps right for every child?
No, and we think parents deserve an honest answer about that.
If your child doesn’t consider themselves sporty but enjoys dancing, gymnastics, running around, playing games, being active with other children or trying something new, being “not sporty” shouldn’t rule Active Camps out.
But if they strongly dislike physical activity in general and would be unhappy spending a significant part of their day being active, another type of school holiday childcare may suit them better.
Active Camps is built around keeping children active, so we’d rather be clear about that before you book.
Still not sure?
Have a look at the programme for your chosen venue with your child.
And if they’re worried about joining in, or you’re simply not sure whether Active Camps is right for them, get in touch with our team.
We’ll happily talk through what to expect so you can make the right choice for your child.