Our kids have a lot of pressure on them these days in the athletic arena. They have full schedules juggling sports, school, family and other activities and there is pressure for them to “specialize” at a very young age in one sport. Gone are the days that kids could play a sport per season with little overlap. Now most sports have lengthened their seasons, have multi-season schedules and many play year round. There are many levels of competition and travel teams are the norm. Many sports even for the 12-and-under age group have additional conditioning practices. In this sometimes highly competitive, intense and demanding world of youth sports, how do we as parents support our young athletes?
Keeping our eye on the goal! Not as in the score, but in the purpose of the participation and competition. This is vital. This is a process of evaluating both your and your child’s motives. Look at the goals of sport participation for children, the goals you have for your child, and the ones your child may develop for them selves. Goals vary from building self confidence, developing physical and life skills, getting exercise to looking for the college scholarship, having professional careers and fulfilling dreams. And whose dreams they are, is very important.
In general there are many very positive reasons to encourage our children to play sports. Participation in sports builds team work skills and life skills while providing healthy social influence, peer bonding and a sense of belonging. Physical exercise and skill development are also benefits while fulfilling some children’s need for an area to work on task or skill mastery. Some children love the fun, some the competition and some a combination of the two. While partaking in a sport a child’s sense of confidence grows and blooms from playing, participating, competing, belonging and achieving. Sports should develop not define a child’s self confidence. Read the rest of this entry »
