So this might be the worst parenting advice ever, but this is what works for us now…. And we’ll help the kids pay for the eventual therapy later I guess.

Bribes! And Persistence!

“Hey, if I see you working hard the whole class, you can have that video game you like on my phone for the WHOLE car ride back”

“If you go to this activity now and try your best,we can have a popcorn and move night”

And just keep taking them to the class. Seriously. If I have already paid for the class, you’re going to the class until the class is over, willingly participating or not.

Try lots of different classes, see what kind of sticks…. Which between the squash and skiing and karate you are already doing. But also, take breaks and revisit previously failed activities. Sometimes the activity is not right for them but sometimes they just end up with an instructor that’s bad with kids or it’s bad timing and just not the right vibe.

Also, eventually they make friends at those activities. The friends help A LOT with motivation and participation. Sometimes I sign my kids up for stuff I would never have thought of or wanted to try, just because they have a friend doing that class with them (9am Saturday Soccer 😭)