Let's Play!

Sports and Kids - Fun or Stress? It depends on Dad!
Baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, swimming and golf are just some of the organized sports your child may be involved in this summer. Those hours spent can be a time of fun or a time of stress. This is largely dependent on you, the parent, and your approach to your child's participation. You are a role model - your actions and attitudes impact your child's actions and attitudes.

Understand your child's stage of development. Youth ages 8-12 are unique in their development:

• Physical development varies greatly. Girls usually begin their growth spurt early in this age range. Boys grow faster near the end of this age span. With rapid growth comes awkwardness and energy!
• Need to belong.
• Eager for recognition and approval
• Fun is the goal of involvement.

Studies of stress in young athletes suggest that those pushed by parents and coaches run the risk of developing sports burnout - a total loss of interest in sports caused by anxiety and stress associated with competition.

Help your child develop a healthy, life-long interest in sports by eliminating the pressure to excel.

• Be positive. Praise your child for the positive aspects of his/her performance.
• Focus on your child's developing skills not the final score
• Match your child's temperament to the right sport. Be realistic about a child's physical abilities.
• Use sports as a way to teach your child about limits and strengths, goal setting and the importance of sports as a means of relaxation.
• Provide a variety of sports experiences. There is time for specialization when the child is a teen.
• Allow your child to determine the importance of sports in his her life. Do not use your child to relive your own athletic past or fulfill unmet athletic goals.
• Control your emotions and actions at sporting events. Support and respect coaches and all the children playing.
• Be a positive role model. Enjoy sports yourself.

Links
Ages & Stages--6 to 8 year olds (pdf)
Ages & Stages--9 to 11 year olds (pdf)