Illustration of a variety of equipment like chess, soccer ball, etc and a kid riding a horse

Debate photos courtesy of families; Shutterstock.com (all other images)

Is It OK to Quit?

February 13, 2023

Have you ever joined a team or started a new hobby, then realized it wasn’t right for you? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of kids across America start new activities every year. But not everyone sticks with them. According to a 2019 study, on average, most kids quit a sport by the time they are 11.

Some people think kids should finish what they start, even if they don’t enjoy it. Sticking with something difficult can help kids learn how to handle tough situations. Many coaches also argue that ditching a team mid-season will disappoint teammates who are depending on you.

But others say it’s OK for kids to quit—everyone deserves the option to change their mind. A sport or club may seem interesting at first, but it might not be what you expected. Some people point out that quitting one thing may lead to discovering something new that you will love. So why should kids be forced to do something they don’t like?

Here’s what two of our readers think.

It’s OK to quit something, especially if it makes you unhappy. After all, clubs and teams are supposed to be fun. I used to be in an art club. But I didn’t know we would be creating cartoon characters. That’s not my type of art, so I quit.

The club was also taking up my time and kept me from doing other things. I wanted to try gymnastics instead, and I was able to do that after I quit the art club. Sometimes quitting one thing can lead you to try something new!

Kids shouldn’t be so quick to quit. They should see activities through. Some sports and clubs require parents to spend a lot of money on things like uniforms and equipment. They might not get the money back if you quit.

Plus, if you don’t give an activity a chance, you might miss out on something cool. You could also be letting people down. I was recently in a local play. If I had quit, the musical might have been canceled.