Supporting CS4L at Home
Finding Good Programs
To encourage your child in sport and physical activity, your first step is to identify activities and good programs that suit your child’s interests. (These might not be the same as YOUR interests!) You should do some research to see what programs are available in your community, considering whether or not the activity is suitable for lifelong activity or promotes skills that are transferable to other activities.
When researching programs, here are some of the questions you can ask:
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Does the program emphasize skill development or competition?
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What is the ratio of training to competition?
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How is playing time determined? Do all children get equal time? Do they get to play all positions?
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Are children grouped according to calendar age or degree of maturation?
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Are the coaches trained and/or certified? What type of training do they receive?
Ensuring Healthy Habits
Once your child is settled into an activity, talk to the coach or instructor to see how you can best support your child’s physical requirements at home. Ask your child’s coach or instructor if they have recommendations for eating and sleep regimens around training and competition. You can also do some of your own basic research, see Links.
Promoting Self-Esteem & Character
The self-esteem and character of children is affected by the mental and emotional messages they receive during participation in sport and physical activity. Many of these messages are spoken in the form of direct praise or criticism by coaches and parents, while many others are quietly implied by how much playing or competition time they receive, or how often they are selected for training demonstrations.
Managing self-esteem and character issues requires sensitivity and skill on the part of parents, coaches, and instructors, but it need not be complicated. Here are some basic things parents can do to promote healthy self-esteem and character development:
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Encourage your child to talk about his/her favourite aspect of the activity.
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Invite your child to retell the story of a particular personal success or achievement.
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Acknowledge the details and successes they find important – remember that what is important to the is what should be most important to you!
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Never use bribes or threats to push your child into participating.
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Discuss values which may be “challenged” during your child’s participation in a sport or activity.
In general, remember that children learn better in a non-stressful environment: Don’t add more stress or anxiety at home. Encourage balanced self-esteem by reinforcing your child’s positive self-talk: “I am capable: I can do this.”
Living the CS4L Example
Children watch their parents’ habits and copy them. Studies have shown if parents make physical activity part of their daily routine, their children are much more likely to get involved in activity and stay involved.You can encourage your child to be physically active by making sure you stay active!
Fact: A Canadian study showed that a mother’s participation in sport had a greater effect on the child’s likelihood of involvement than the father’s participation.