Sports are a key factor in childhood fitness. The majority of all elementary school kids will play at least one sport and most of them will try multiple sports. As games and performances are taking place there will be fans in the stands. I will challenge you by asking who is your child’s biggest fan? Maybe I should ask the question in reverse. Who do you think your child sees as their biggest fan?
Think of what a fan is and what a fan does. Think about which professional athletes you cheer for. Maybe you are a fan of Noah Lyles, Coco Gauff, Patrick Mahomes, or Catlyn Clark. Do you support your child the same way you support your sports heroes? With our sports heroes we tend to always be positive. We take up for them and argue why they are the best at their sport. We wear their jerseys and buy their paraphernalia. We should treat our kids the same way.
Mentally supportive
Let’s start being our kids’ biggest fan by supporting them mentally. Sports should always be a positive experience. Let’s build them up and let them know when they have done a good job or made improvements. Not every kid is the best on their team but they all contribute. Be positive about their contribution. Don’t compare your child to other teammates or opponents. Your child has their own abilities. If you expect more from them than what they genetically can do then you and your child will only be frustrated.
Time
You can be your child’s biggest fan by giving of your time. The basics is to show up for games and make sure they get to practices. This is a given. You would never miss a chance to see your favorite player compete. Go the extra step and play with them on their own. When they are younger make sure you are mainly playing and not instructing. As they get older and if they are receptive then you can teach them and practice with them.
Financialy Supportive
Being financially supportive also shows your child that you are their biggest fan. Most of us do have budgets and financial limitations. You don’t have to buy a $350 STX Fuse lacrosse stick or a $499 Easton Ghost softball bat for your child, but you should make their sport a financial priority. Decide where money would be spent wisely. For some kids it is a stretch to play travel sports but it can be a great benefit to their abilities and their fitness. If you have the time and money then give them the opportunity to compete at a higher level. Extra training with a coach can also often be a good investment in their athleticism. Sometimes just buying some extras can make sports more enjoyable. A nice basketball or tennis bag can enhance a child’s experience with their sport.
Fans in the Stands
The last item to discuss is your behavior at your child’s games. The only things a child should hear from the stands during a game are positive compliments. Any negative that is received by your child from the stands will be a huge blow to their self esteem. Coaching from the stands is a huge negative and also is a distraction to your child. Let the coaches do the coaching. Often coaching from the stands is just confusing to the player. I have read some literature recently that kids should be allowed to make mistakes during games. They will learn on their own from any mistakes. The mistakes often do not have to be pointed out to them. Often after a game parents want to show their kids what they could have done better. This is tempting but can be harmful to your child’s love for the game. After the game have some positive comments but wait for the child to bring up specifics about the game before you give your comments. Many times kids would rather not talk about the game or their performance.
We love our kids and in the end we want them to enjoy life and enjoy their leisure activities. After all sports are their leisure activities and not their jobs. Be your child’s biggest fan and be positive while supporting them in any way you can. They will be better players for it and be happier children.
