Does your birthday affect your sportiness?

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Iron_Mum Jan 2016 8:53am, 2 Jan 2016 5,196 posts	0 Iron_Mum THanks HowFar: the research they cite is here - sciencedaily.com - and that also mentions some UK research with similar findings which could be the OU one cited in the BBC article. Worth being aware of as a parent, I think.
Sharkie Jan 2016 9:16am, 2 Jan 2016 8,156 posts	0 Sharkie Of course in school year terms Jan and Feb are more early-middle than early. And more to the point other factors will affect growth and development.
sioux Jan 2016 9:19am, 2 Jan 2016 19,558 posts	0 sioux I've heard this before. My son is very going in school yr and gel that there was too much comparison between him and children almost 12 months older than him when he first started school in every area. Was a constant battle to not let his confidence be knocked.
Sharkie Jan 2016 9:23am, 2 Jan 2016 8,157 posts	0 Sharkie Ah, the Australian research relates to their school year starting in January, unlike ours.
McGoohan Jan 2016 9:41am, 2 Jan 2016 20,658 posts	0 McGoohan I was born in August, was the smallest and youngest in my year and was shit at sports. There's probably something in it, as far as I'm concerned.
katypie Jan 2016 9:46am, 2 Jan 2016 5,560 posts	0 katypie In my son's school they only let the top two kids (by speed) for the sprint race (everyone else does relay). I noted that the two boys were a January birthday and a March birthday (my son) the eldest boys in the class.
katypie Jan 2016 9:46am, 2 Jan 2016 5,561 posts	0 katypie top two per class I should say, so for P1 there were 6 boys and 6 girls
Fleecings of Comfort and Joy Jan 2016 10:17am, 2 Jan 2016 25,698 posts	0 Fleecings of Comfort and Joy I think that there are lots of gender issues here too, which may be even more important than age when it comes to self-confidence and 'sportiness'.
Fellrunning Jan 2016 10:19am, 2 Jan 2016 1,562 posts	0 Fellrunning Dunno about birthdays, but my Grandson who is 5 is expected to be sporty because his parents are international athletes. He's very average and not really that interested. He's worryingly clever like his Grandma though.
Iron_Mum Jan 2016 10:19am, 2 Jan 2016 5,197 posts	0 Iron_Mum Yes Fleecy - I'd always put my own kids' differences in attitude down to gender/individual personality rather than age. Which is one reason I found that research so interesting - but I agree it's a complex mix of factors. (Isn't everything?)