CareerArticle119:

　　WhySportsareGoodforYourChildren

　　ByTamaraDowling,CPRW

　　Sportsprovideapositivelearningexperiencethatwillenhanceyourchild'sabilitytodevelopselfconfidence,goodsportsmanshipandteamworkskills.Sportsalsoteachallofustoworkhardandhavealittlefunatthesametime.

　　Insports,childrenarechallengedbothmentallyandphysically.Coachesteachtherolesofthegame,strategytowin,andhowtoworktogether.Yourchildwillalsobuildskills,endurance,andstrength.

　　Perhapsthegreatestlifelessonsarelearnedinsports.Winningdoesnotcomeeasy;you'vegottoworkforit."Winnersneverquitandquittersneverwin."Lifeisn'tfair.Sometimesyougiveityourallandyoustilllose.Whenyoulose,pickyourselfupandtryagain.

　　Youngerchildrenlearnsocializationthroughsports.Sharing,listening,andfollowingrulesarethefundamentalspickedupinearlieryearsofsports.

　　Self-esteemissomethingyoucannotgiveyourchild.Wegainpositiveself-esteemthroughaccomplishments.Insports,yourchildcanreachgoals,bigandsmall,andfeelgoodaboutthemselves.Itisnotimportanttobethestar.Teachyourchildtostrivetoreachpersonalgoals.

　　Insportstherearesetbacks,defeatsandeveninjuries.Howyouhandleitsaysalotaboutyourcharacter.Yourchildwillbealothappierifheorshelearnstotakesetbacksinstrideandconcentratesondoingbetternexttime.

　　Ifyourchilddecidestoplayasport,makesureyouareplayingyourrolethebestwayyoucan.Don'tpressureyourchild.Insteadbesupportiveandhelphimorherthroughanydifficultiesorconflicts.It'sgreattopracticewithyourchild,butdon'tbeoverbearingandmakepracticefeellikeapunishment.

　　Keepyouremotionsincheck.Avoidcriticizingyourchildorothersinpublicandinprivate.Insteadofferhelpifthereisacertainskillheorshecanimprove.Neverhumiliateachild.

　　Sportshelpprepareyourchildrenfortheworkingworld,andlifeingeneral.Encourageyourchildtofindateamsportthattheywillenjoy.Continuetotalkwiththemandsupportthem.Yourinvolvementwillenhancetheirexperience.

　　Winningisnotthegoal.Therealgoalisyourchild'smental,physicalandemotionaldevelopment.