Skiing or snowboarding are the best, IMO.
First of all, they get outside for, like, 8 hours at a time.
Second, they get a degree of independence without nutcase parents barking at them from the sidelines.
Third, it becomes a family activity. We go on snowboard trips all the time and do it with other families, so they get to enjoy a lot of social activities and situations in an awesome environment. And I'm not talking trips with whichever randos happen to be on the team that year like in so many sports. We go on trips with our real friends who ski/snowboard, so we as adults have fun and get to enjoy our 30s/40s with our actual friends, and our kids have super strong bonds with our friends' kids (we camp in the summer with the same crew).
Neither I nor my wife are wired to sit on the sidelines bored out of our skulls for practices, games, etc. I have two speeds - doing something or laying down. I hate sitting somewhere. Could never do hockey. Hated when my kids were in soccer. Love snowboarding. Love being in the mountains. Love watching the kids get awesome and I love knowing they'll be able to go on ski vacations with their friends through their life, then eventually with their kids.
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