Should I make her continue ballet?

Question

My 13 year old daughter started ballet when she was 5 and now she wants to quit.Shes really talented,should I make her continue?

Answer 1

Encourage her to see the positive side of continuing. Have her foresee the things she could do with ballet training such as becoming an instructor. Maybe she needs to lighten the load? Maybe it has become boring? Maybe she wants to try other forms of dance?

I went through this as a teen as well. I wish my mother would have just helped me perhaps switch gears to another creative outlet, but at the time she was overburdened with other things to worry about.

Maybe she just needs a break from it all and will want to go back to it later. But if it is no longer in her, no sense to force it upon her.

Answer 2

NOOO!

At 13 she's beginning the "rebellion".

Talk to her like an adult. Let her know how you feel about it, about her talent etc.

Then offer an "olive branch" - suggest she take a break for a few weeks, months. See how she feels about it after that.

The main thing is: who is the ballet for? You or her.

After 8 years, she's probably a little burned out.

Give her a break. As a parent you should encourage, not force, participation in extracurricular activities.

Bottom line, she won't do it if you force her, so involve her in the decision making process, give her some autonomy.
And be prepared for her to decide she is done with it, and support her in whatever she chooses to replace it.

Answer 3

If her heart isn't in it, then I don't think you can force her to use her talent. Maybe find out why she's stopping ballet (is she just bored, does she want something new, is she being picked on by fellow dancers, is she feeling self-conscious about her body, etc.), but I'd say that at 13, she's probably old enough to know if she wants to carry on or try something new.

Answer 4

If her heart is not in it then she should not continue to dance because it takes alot of heart and want to be a ballet dancer. Just because she has talent won't be enough.

Answer 5

no I would ask her why she wants to quit but I was a ballerina until about then but i outgrew it. And moved onto other things. I think children should be allowed to explore as many talents as they would like to. I would however encourage her to join some other activities. Ex: Band, Sports, Choir, Art, Dance, Nature stuff? Stuff to keep her busy, busy teenagers don't use drugs.

Answer 6

Why would you want her to continue? Is it because it really benefits her in some way, or because it fulfiils some need you have to see her advance. Talk to her and find out what her feelings are. If her heart isn't in it, she will never excel. Our children get pushed too many directions by parents who want to appease their own ego. Let them be kids!

Answer 7

No. If she doesn't want to do it she wouldn't get the most out of it so you would be wasting your money. Talk to her about another activity so she maintains her exercise schedule. Perhaps she could do other types of dance classes. Or maybe it's time for something different.

Answer 8

Have you asked her why she is not interested anymore? It would not be right to "make" her continue in something she does not care for any more, but maybe finding out why may reveal something temporary.

We adults have lived our childhood, we should not force our children to live or do the things we wanted to do. Live it with them not for them.

Answer 9

WELL HEY WHO IS SHE DOING IT FOR? HERSELF OR U? IF SHE HAS LIKED IT FOR 8 YEARS NOW AND DECIDED 2 QUIT. THINK ABOUT IT...IS SHE GROWING UP?...OR HAS REALLY LIKED IT ALL THIS TIME?...WHEN I WAS A KID I WANTED 2 DO BALLET ALMOST EVERY LITTLE GIRL BUT THEN I GREW UP....I DONT KNOW...BUT GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

Answer 10

It may be too bad, but you really can't make her continue with something she no longer wants to do. Perhaps if she takes some time off she may return to it later. For now, though, you'll only get resistance and ill feelings if you push too hard.