Is it me or are kids a hundred times busier today than when I was a kid? I don’t remember being enrolled in a dozen different activities and when I look at my own daughter’s busy schedule, I have to wonder – are we doing our preschoolers a service or not by enrolling them in sports?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Want me to vague that up a bit more? The truth is the answer is based on a number of different factors including the type of sport, your child’s level of physical prowess and the attitudes of the other parents and coach.
Sports Should Be Fun
First and foremost, the sports activities that you sign your preschooler up for should be fun and entertaining as well as good for them. They should emphasize skill and team building. They should never overemphasize winning to the exclusion of all else.
I’ve seen a young boy who actually has anxiety attacks at the age of 6 because he might not be the best at something. His parents have told him repeatedly that there is only first place, everything else is considered losing.
Now seriously, I don’t imagine many people would endorse this attitude, but if you behave that way, trust me – your preschooler will pick up on it. By that same token, intense negativity and winnerism (my own phrase there) from other parents can adversely affect your child.
Myths and Learning
Competitiveness is a learned skill. We all strive to be our best or we don’t. But when we are pushed by our parents, we can do one of two things – become the anxiety ridden little boy mentioned above or lazy and apathetic on the topic altogether.
Don’t choose your child’s activities and force them into a sport or interest they don’t have. You can let them try out things to see what they enjoy, but don’t make them play little league because that was what you did and keep them out of dance because you think it’s a girly sport.
Don’t overemphasize winning to the exclusion of all else. If your child gets up on a stage to do a performance and they never move – you should still applaud them. If your child gets hit in the face with a ball and demonstrates fear over it happening again – don’t laugh it off or call them a wuss.
Our children learn by our example. When parents beat up other parents and yell profanities at each other over a game, a dance, a costume, a gymnastics performance or other sport – what kind of message are you sending?
Kids Need Activity
Our kids need activity. Team sports are great for structure, team building and learning to cooperate with others. But when the parents prove to be the bad seed on the cooperative front, it may be time to take a time out for you and talk to your kids about what it is they want to do.
What sports are your preschoolers enrolled in?
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