Feeling Good About Sports
Participating in sports can build your child up..or drag him down. Make athletics a positive experience for your youngster with these strategies:
- Keep games in perspective. At this age, sports should be about having fun and developing skills. Ask about his favorite part of practice or the most intersting play in the game, rather than focusing on his performance or the score.
- Encourage him to set goals-but make sure the goals are realistic. He might aim to touch the ball three times during a game or to try a move that he’s been working on.
- Avoid comments about your youngster’s size or body. Concentrate on the friends he is making, the places he is playing, and the effort he is putting forth (“I love how you tried to get the rebound”).
