Article: Don't expect Willie Mays just yet

Q:I'D REALLY like my 5-year-old son to start playing baseball in the spring, but I wonder if it's too soon. How can I

tell when to sign him up for sports? How much do I push him?

A: One of the great rites of fatherhood is passing on the love of a sport to his child. That said, my first question would be whether your son has expressed an interest in baseball. If he hasn't, committing him to a league may be more than he's ready for. You might take him to watch a local high school or minor league team play a game, gauge his interest and go from there.

You also need to consider your son's emotional maturity. Does he listen to his teachers and pay attention? Does he accept making mistakes and ...

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