In France, sport is the most common supervised leisure activity among children. The text presents the results of a questionnaire survey of 690 parents whose children, in elementary school, are enrolled in sports or physical activity. It shows that while most parents agree on the value of these practices, they do not see them in the same way. The propensity to combine sports activities, the association with cultural practices and the relationships to competition are the most salient features that distinguish social categories, their uses of these activities and, finally, family education strategies.