Too Good But Too Young

It is such a cool thing that kids have a variety of activities they can participate in while growing up.  Schools do a very good job of providing many different sports, clubs and other activities so that our children can grow-up with a chance to try many different things.

One activity that has put Fort Zumwalt on the map is the dance team at West High.  Each year the varsity dance team goes to nationals in Florida, they improve in the rankings.  It's very impressive.

This year at try-outs there was so much talent, even some incoming Freshmen made it on the varsity team.  Now that's an example of mad skills.  A thirteen year old girl makes the team populated by seventeen and eighteen year olds.

Skill wise, these young girls have every reason to be on the Varsity team. To watch them dance is to witness something amazing. However, are these very young girls ready in terms of maturity to be surrounded by kids that will soon be heading out for college?

I'm not so sure it's a good idea.  The team will benefit at competitions, that's for sure.  But at what cost?  These young girls aren't ready for the types of conversations and life experiences these much older girls are dealing with.

My daughter tried out and made the freshman team, right where she belongs.  If she had been a fantastic dancer and had made varsity, I would have had a dilema on my hands.  I would not want her to be exposed to the content and context of the other, much older girls.