Pair personality with the sport: A colleague of mine who has coached both of his kids’ various athletic teams realized his son just wasn’t cut out for soccer. His son tried it for a year and hated it. He then switched to baseball. Why? Soccer required his son to be aggressive beyond his natural disposition. In order to get the ball, you’ve got to create your own opportunities. With baseball, everyone has a chance up at bat. I can almost hear some of your responses already: Maybe pushing your comfort zone is a good thing. Well, maybe. But at 4 years old, you definitely want to make the experience fun. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Don’t overbook: Much has been written in recent years about the “overscheduled child.” Some call it hyper-parenting. Ask yourself: Does your kindergartener really want piano, dance, swimming, soccer and tennis lessons? May be the answer is “yes,” but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. What about homework, family time and free time? Experts suggest you keep an eye on the following signs your kid may be overextended: Mood swings, fatigue, a change in school performance, inability to complete homework, regular headaches or stomachaches, or losing interest in practicing for an activity.

Calling it quits: Before allowing your child to quit, parents should think things through, experts say. Is it a matter of an overly tough coach? Is your kid stretched too thin with activities? Is she a perfectionist? Identifying the problem is key and may lead you to different conclusions. I already know the challenge we’ll face with our son: He doesn’t like to do anything less than exactly right. If we’re playing catch, and he misses the ball a couple of times, he wants to stop. I’ve been trying to teach him the concept of patience and practice. He’s starting to get it. Just yesterday, as I tried to rush him through a Dr. Seuss videogame at the Apple store, he turned to me, stretched out his arm and said: “Patience.” Well said.