{"id":1210854,"date":"2023-12-11T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1210854"},"modified":"2023-12-11T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T00:00:00","slug":"why-you-shouldnt-force-kids-into-sports-and-what-you-should-do-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1210854","title":{"rendered":"Why You Shouldn\u2019t Force Kids Into Sports (and What You Should Do Instead)"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is plenty<\/a> of<\/a> discussion<\/a> about the risks of kids participating in league sports, but if parents handle things thoughtfully, these leagues can be a great way to keep kids physically active. League sports can also help kids develop social skills by working cooperatively with their peers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You might be able to spark some interest in something they really enjoy,” says Catherine Butz, Ph.D., the Senior Associate Chief for Pediatric Psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who often works with student athletes. <\/p>\n

Of course, the flip-side is that pressuring kids into activities at a young age might backfire. Pushing our children to participate in sports can have negative impacts, such as decreased self-esteem, increased stress, and potential burnout, so it’s important to recognize the signs that they may not be enjoying their sport of choice as much as you might hope.<\/p>\n

Let them feel things out<\/h2>\n

When my boys started becoming interested in playing sports, I was concerned about the financial investment. The cost of gloves, bats, skates, cleats, rackets, and other items can add up fast, and if they become disinterested in a couple of weeks, that’s a lot of money collecting dust in the garage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead of blindly investing in a bunch of sports equipment, try to find somewhere that will let your kids try things out first. City parks and recreation departments offer low-cost practice sessions that help kids learn the basics of a sport, allowing them to find something they like instead of having us find one for them. For my boys, it’s a fun, low-pressure situation that gives them the basics without worrying about wins and losses. However, I have one rule: They must finish all the practices for the season.<\/p>\n

“Parents are there to mold their child and to provide opportunity, but to also give feedback that is often long-lasting,” says Butz. “If you’re letting them stop sports prematurely, then that’s messaging they might take on.”<\/p>\n

Let your kids know what they’re getting into<\/h2>\n

There are some inherent risks to playing contact sports. If your child wants to play tackle football, there’s a higher chance that they could get a concussion than if they were playing volleyball, for example. If they’re concerned about some hazards of playing a sport, it’s important to be transparent, but don’t get carried away.<\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t want to scare them because, for some kids, that might never happen, especially given the position they play,” says Butz.<\/p>\n

Play with them, even if you’re bad<\/h2>\n

I’m a horrendous soccer player, but if my son wants to play it outside, I’ll drop everything and join him. He doesn’t care that I’m bad at it; he just likes being outside and doing something he loves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We kept playing tennis as a family even though we’re horrible, and [my son is] obsessed with tennis now,” says Butz. “I think you can really encourage kids by participating with them.”<\/p>\n

Stay on the sidelines<\/h2>\n

Despite what the movies\u00a0Varsity Blues\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Friday Night Lights\u00a0<\/em>would have you believe, parents likely won’t force their kids to play sports solely to revisit their glory days or vicariously live through their children’s accomplishments. However, according to Butz, while parental involvement and feedback might come from a good place, they can create an unintended expectation and pressure for kids. It’s a fine line to walk, so try choosing a moment when they’ll be most receptive to what you have to say.<\/p>\n

“Allowing the coaches to coach and asking your child if they want feedback from you is key,” says Butz.<\/p>\n

Look for the signals<\/h2>\n

Butz is typically called to intervene when parents see some resistance from student athletes attending practices or games. But those are just some of the signs a child might exhibit that indicate they are uninterested in playing a sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I think any kind of behavioral disregulation, acting out, changes in their behavior that you don’t typically see, their sleep is disrupted, or they’re not eating as much can be signs that something’s up,” she says.<\/p>\n

It might not even have to do with a lack of interest in what they’re playing. Academics and sports are often tied together, and a child could be stressed about their workload. Butz says you know your kids best, so if something seems off, it’s time to open up a line of communication with them and get to the bottom of things.<\/p>\n

Make sure they’re having fun<\/h2>\n

Sports are supposed to be fun, but sometimes the league aspect can get very intense, even in elementary and middle school leagues, leading kids to get burnt out early. Check-in regularly with your child to make sure they’re not overwhelmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It’s pretty pivotal [to check in regularly], not only to ensure their longevity in the sport but just to see how they’re doing mental health-wise,” says Butz.<\/p>\n

Find an alternative<\/h2>\n

If it seems like your kid is striking out (pun intended) trying to find a sport they like, don’t stress. There are other non-league activities that kids can try to give them the physical activity and social skills they’ll need to carry them into adulthood, such as the sports skills practices mentioned previously. If the team-based aspect is what’s causing your kid difficulty, there are plenty of sports that kids can do solo, like running, or finding a skill or talent that engages them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I think the key is to encourage kids to explore a lot of different interests and see you where they land,” says Butz.<\/p>\n


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\nSource: LifeHacker – Why You Shouldn\u2019t Force Kids Into Sports (and What You Should Do Instead)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is plenty of discussion about the risks of kids participating in league sports, but if parents handle things thoughtfully, these leagues can be a great way to keep kids physically active. League sports can also help kids develop social … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,110],"tags":[92],"class_list":["post-1210854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifehacker","category-unfiltered-rss","tag-lifehacker"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1210854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1210854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1210854\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1210854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1210854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1210854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}