One thing is a MUST for David Beckham's kids!

David Beckham has his hands pretty full with his sporting career, his hugely successful personal brand and his four kids with wife Victoria.

So that things run smoothly at home, some rules are required, and one of those is: sport is mandatory.

“It’s so important to me that they’re involved in sports—for discipline and health,” he says.

His three sons, aged 15, 11 and 9, each have different strengths: Brooklyn “is pretty skilful. My middle one, Romeo, is the quick one; he’s super fast. The small one is the tough one, of course—being the smallest boy.”

Back in February, Adrian Weale, who lived a few doors away from the famous family in London, spilled about their home life: “The Beckhams bought a mobile basketball hoop and a small skateboard ramp; combined with our spring-loaded cricket stumps and a parking barrier that doubled as a tennis net, this left most sporting bases covered,” he said.

“As word spread, increasing numbers of small children turned up in their Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United shirts to take part, and some of the games got quite big.”

When they’re not outside kicking, running and skating, the Beckham kids are allowed to play video games, but David, 39, and Victoria, 40, are careful to limit their screen time.

“We put a time limit on it. You have to,” says David. “No more than an hour. I know that sounds pretty harsh, but I want my boys to be outside playing.”

There’s also movie-watching, of course, and two of their favourites are Madagascar and Planes. That’s for the big boys, of course. Their youngest one, daughter Harper, 3, is obsessed with … naturally … Frozen.

“She just had her third birthday party [on July 10] and it was Frozen-themed,” he said. “My little girl is the biggest Frozen fan ever.”

Would your own little Frozen fan argue with that? And what is your rule about kids’ outdoor time vs screen time?

Main image: Shutterstock

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29 Comments

- - fizgig said
  - 29 Sep 2014
    11:20 pm
I think this is brilliant! I have my kids have a 90:10 for outside : screen time. Much better for them sleeping too!

- - ginoula5 said
  - 12 Aug 2014
    2:54 pm
David seems to be a hands on dad, good on him, beautiful family.

- - Kate Sander said
  - 11 Aug 2014
    1:43 am
I’m happy that he is very active with his kids and that they play a variety of different sports.

- - Happymum-2 said
  - 09 Aug 2014
    7:31 pm
its good to see a family involved in the same sport

- - neddie said
  - 08 Aug 2014
    11:46 pm
I think good for them if it works in their family – David is a sporty guy and so of course he wants to be able to run around with his children and keep them active.

- - cloverstorm said
  - 30 Jul 2014
    9:33 am
I think sport really does need to be encouraged more for a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be organized competitive sport. Just running around the backyard, throwing a ball, anything that promotes movement, exercise & FUN.

- - makerschke said
  - 30 Jul 2014
    9:29 am
I think sport is important, they aren’t being harsh… I think they are just incouraging them to be kids for longer

- - Michelle said
  - 25 Jul 2014
    9:26 am
We all have our own parenting styles and rules, however we didn’t do this limit thing on television v outside.

- - maurya said
  - 23 Jul 2014
    4:56 pm
sport is good for the athletically favoured family, and it is good for kids. but making it mandatory is wrong, not all kids are made for it

- - scottie said
  - 23 Jul 2014
    8:23 am
It is kind of surprising that they sound like normal parents

- - Dennis12 said
  - 23 Jul 2014
    7:00 am
Kids need to get out and excercise in someway, whether it is organised sport, or just chasing the dog. We spent more time outside than in as kids, but now it seems to be the other way around

- - maureen3 said
  - 22 Jul 2014
    9:19 pm
An interesting and informative read

- - cherz said
  - 22 Jul 2014
    7:18 pm
My daughter was not sports minded, she much preferred to spend her time reading.

- - mouse said
  - 22 Jul 2014
    4:39 pm
sport is good for the athletically favoured family, and it is good for kids. but making it mandatory is wrong, not all kids are made for it

- - kjgarner said
  - 22 Jul 2014
    10:59 am
My husband and I have never really been a sports fan but will encourage when the time comes for our children if they want to participate they can but we are not going to force it.

- - rachkap said
  - 22 Jul 2014
    2:08 am
Sounds like a clever plan!!

- - jools41 said
  - 21 Jul 2014
    10:17 pm
Both my husband & I encourage our daughter in physical activities, she loves kicking the soccer ball & running, she also dances. She is 4. The limit on screen time depends on who is in charge that day. My husband grew up with a T.V always on in the background so he never really notices but I am the opposite and limit screen time whenever I can.

- - deangunna said
  - 21 Jul 2014
    10:12 pm
I don’t have to fight with them to go outside as if the weather is good they are running around kicking the ball or riding bikes.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 21 Jul 2014
    8:07 pm
I like their attitude. It’s good to see kids being so active in this day and age of technology. I agree that all kids are not sporty. I encourage my son to participate in Auskick and cricket etc also for the team aspect and discipline like David Beckham says. It’s amazing the activities they find for themselves when you remove the screen based stimuli.
- no1ladydj replied
  
  21 Jul 2014 , 11:38 pm
  Totally agree, Heidi. Not all kids enjoy sports, whether they’re individual or team sports, so I’d never push a kid to take part in organized sport. But as long as they’ve got a balance between t.v./computer time and some form of activity, I think that’s o.k. Playing in a play-ground, riding a bike, walking the dog, all of these and more can be a substitute for organized sport, as long as it’s something the child enjoys.
- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 21 Jul 2014
    6:43 pm
I totally agree I love my kids to be outside weather permitting screen and wii/ipods are for sometimes but you know what they love being outside it is not a big issue