Dear Family Coach: My daughter doesn't want to practice the piano. She used to love it and practiced often. But now it is a constant battle even though she says she still enjoys playing. I don't want to pay for lessons that she isn't taking full advantage of, but at the same time I'll be disappointed if she gives it up. How hard should I push? — Nagging Dad

Dear Nagging: I'm going to take a stab here and guess that your daughter is not a virtuoso intent on playing Carnegie Hall in a few years. She probably doesn't have the internal drive and desire to make tickling the ivories a career. Her piano playing isn't going to get her into college. And she might not win the talent show next year by showing off her chops to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

So why is she playing? She plays, when she plays, because she likes it. The classics, like Bach or Chopin, are classics for a reason. Your daughter might love playing those classics, or she might like singing along with the latest Taylor Swift song. Whatever brought her to the piano in the first place is probably still in her.

Playing music brings about a calm, relaxed, meditative state. It is an escape from the rest of the world. And there are proven educational benefits as well. Yet the grind of practicing for many children or the battle of wills that ensues drags the joy right out the activity. When that happens it's incredibly sad. Kids give up playing music because they weren't progressing fast enough or practicing the required four days a week. That's a pity.

Find out if your daughter still enjoys the piano. Ask her what gets in her way from practicing. Maybe she is bogged down with too many activities or homework and finds little time to practice at the end of a busy day. If the lessons aren't a financial hardship and she still enjoys the piano, keep at it. Begin viewing her lessons as music appreciation. Think of it as therapy or a break from her iPhone. That's an advantage enough.

And if she's no longer game, take a deep breath and move onward.

Dear Family Coach: My daughter's junior high school has a running program that sounds great. The goal of the program is to run a marathon at the end of the year. It seems like too much for a preteen. But she is really upset that I want her to quit. How do I know if it is too much? —Concerned

Dear Concerned: Youth sports used to be simple. Get the kids together, have them run around, learn to work as a team and keep them out of trouble. Those days are long gone.

Today, sports for children are becoming more about results than fun. Coaches — and, quite frankly, parents — often push kids to play at advanced levels prematurely. If your child is good in soccer she will end up on a travel team. An eighth grader with an amazing arm will be pitching for the high school team as well as the local town league. Football stars will train all year for a summer intensive camp where they might do two- or three-a-day practices.

It might seem like all fun and games at the time, but children are suffering consequences later on. The coach wants his team to be the best, so he might not be too concerned if his goals could harm players in the future. Concussions with serious side effects, injuries and hasty aging of joints are all costly ramifications of this trend in youth sports.

Your daughter may love running. She might want to enjoy running for the rest of her life. But pushing her body too far before it has finished growing and developing can not only end that lifelong pursuit but also make walking or sitting difficult. Just because she can run that far doesn't mean she should. Trust your instincts and limit her distance.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.