would you like your child to: "excel academically" or "excel in sports"

I would want my child to excel academically, whereas you are right in saying that it's down to whatever your child wants to do, but if he was to take up sports, and had an injury? His sporting career would be in tatters, and professional sportsmen retire early, so what will he do after he has retired for work? No he is better off academically for me.

If I had a child I would want them to excel academically before sports as they need to be educated and increase their knowledge about everything in life so that they can get a good job and make a good living for themselves. They can play sports at the same time and do well in both areas which is even better. You can only play sports actively for so long so education is more important.

honestly...neither...I want my children to excel at life and if that DOESNT include sports or academics then so be it....

Let me put it this way. It is unlikely but possible that a child who excels only in athletics will be able to earn enough money to have a comfortable life. But a child who excels academically will have learned enough about logic, reasoning, self-actualization, and self-expression to be comfortable in almost any situation. this is not to say that the two are mutually exclusive. There is really no reason why a child cannot achieve both academically and athletically and artistically, but when forced to choose, I would choose the path that is most versatile, with the broadest outlook in life.

study can enrich children's mind,and sports can enrich their body,all are essential

I prefer my child to excel academically. As those says it Education cant be taken by anybody,although my child needs sports but I may say I really wanted him to be knowledgeable.

I agree with you, the mind tend to follow in healthy if you have a strong and healthy body.

I would definitely want my child to excel academically. If my child excelled academically, there would be so many doors opened; and they would remain open for the rest of the child's life. If a child were to excel in sports, the doors that would open would be temporary and would hinge on whether or not the child stayed healthy and injury free. I think excelling academically would be much more stable than excelling athletically.

Christineli, that's a very nice question. But you may also include music and the arts. Anyway, I have three kids and all of them are exceptional when it comes to academics. Me and my wife never had a problem with their academic studies since all of them excel academically. That is why we are encouraging them into sports, music and the arts as whatever they find interesting to them. All work and no play makes them dull, we believe.

I want my children to excel academically, if they want to play sports that is fine, but the sports is not going to earn them a living !

Academics, definitely... I would rather have a smart nerd than a dumb jock but that is just my option.

I agree with you,I will encourage my children to develop his interests .of course somethins sports,i believe my children will be interested in sports.

I would prefer my child to excel academically. Education is forever whereas sports can be temporary. I want my child to be involved in sports but she doesn't have to "excel" at them. A person can be injured playing sports and then never be able to play again, but an education will be with them forever. (Of course, I probably think this because both my husband and I work in education! :))