I think much can be learned from modern American kids sports vs the Soviet youth sports system.
Kids specialize almost immediately now in a sport that is most likely because the parent likes that sport and wants the kid to be good at it.
The Soviet system was the athlete as a kid should try as many different sports as possible until 12 or 13 because you don't know what the kid will have natural talent at for before then.
That is not pushing the kid to practice something they hate but it is also not letting the kid be free to not do anything besides play on the phone.
Kids ultimately like what they are good at. If I had a kid, I feel like my job would be to figure out what they have some talent at and then fan the flames so that talent turns into a passion. I think many parents though are trying to live out their own dreams through the kid, if the kid has talent for the activity or not.
Kids specialize almost immediately now in a sport that is most likely because the parent likes that sport and wants the kid to be good at it.
The Soviet system was the athlete as a kid should try as many different sports as possible until 12 or 13 because you don't know what the kid will have natural talent at for before then.
That is not pushing the kid to practice something they hate but it is also not letting the kid be free to not do anything besides play on the phone.
Kids ultimately like what they are good at. If I had a kid, I feel like my job would be to figure out what they have some talent at and then fan the flames so that talent turns into a passion. I think many parents though are trying to live out their own dreams through the kid, if the kid has talent for the activity or not.