If your kid just told you they want to play tennis, congratulations…and welcome to the slightly overwhelming world of youth tennis. The good news: you don't need to know anything about the sport to get your child off to a great start. You just need a plan.

Step 1: Don't book lessons yet

It's tempting to sign up for the first available class, but jumping straight into a group lesson with zero racket experience can actually work against your child. Kids who've never held a racket often spend their first few lessons just learning to hold it and make contact with the ball…time that could be spent building real skills if they'd had a little practice first.

Step 2: Get comfortable with a racket at home

Before any formal instruction, have them get comfortable holding a racket, bouncing a ball on the strings, and hitting against a wall or fence. Five or ten minutes a day is plenty. This "pre-lesson" phase builds hand-eye coordination and confidence so your child walks into their first real lesson already feeling capable.

Step 3: Choose the right first environment

Group clinic, private lesson, or just you and a bucket of balls in the driveway? For most 5–9 year olds, a mix of low-pressure home practice plus a beginner-friendly group class (not private lessons yet) works best. Group classes are social, game-based, and forgiving of mistakes — exactly what a first exposure to a new sport should be.

Step 4: Set the right expectations

The goal at first isn't a perfect forehand. It's making sure your kid *likes* tennis. Skill comes later. Enjoyment has to come first, or it won't.

Want a head start?

My guide, 25 Tennis Drills for Parents and Kids*, gives you simple, progressive drills you can run in your backyard or driveway before the first lesson to ensure your child steps onto the court already confident.

Grab your copy below

25 Tennis Drills for Kids and Parents