02/24/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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What Are Kid's Sports For? Fun, That's What! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Tommy is batting in a Little League game and Dad is watching from behind the fence. "Step into the ball!" Dad shouts. Tommy swings, stepping backward. He strikes out. Dad. Dad looks at his shoelaces, shaking his head quietly. What's wrong is that Tommy, age 9, sees his Dad's disapproval and is humiliated. Dad is well-meaning, but his desire for his son to succeed results in too much pressure. It works the wrong way. This happens at an age when Tommy's physical ability isn't quite ready for mastery of the game. But what he is ready for—and what he desperately needs—is help in developing self-esteem. That means approval and support from the adults he looks to most for approval and sup- port—his parents. The growth of self-esteem is one reason experts say parents should consider carefully their attitudes and actions regarding a boy's or girl's participation in sports and games. It's a topic that Child Abuse Prevention Councils (CAPCs) may want to explore as a community awareness project. Psychologist Thomas Tutko, co-author of Winning is Everything And Other American Myths, is an expert concerned about heavy-handed pressure by parents and coaches. Such pressure, Tutko says, "can destroy a child's self-esteem, tum him away from a lifelong involvement in physical activity, foster negative attitudes toward author- ity figures, and encourage hostile, aggressive behavior." Sports and exercise are important: In fact, they can actually foster self-esteem, among other things.They can promote health and fitness habits, and teach teamwork and the meeting of personal goals. They can burn off excess energy. But participation should be appropriate for a child's age. Parents should encourage but not pressure. Winning should not be crucial. Improvement in individual skills and the meeting of personal goals also should be re- warded. And the activity should be fun. Fun is a worthy goal by itself. And if a child has fun in sports or games, he or she will want to repeat the activity. 3 This will bring side benefits—physical development and self- confidence, for example. "Fun, pleasant association, and exercise are appropriate goals for the elementary school-age child," says University of Washington specialist Nathan Smith, coauthor of Kidsports. "Developing sophisticated sports skills isn't appropriate until later. There's no sense in trying to be an athlete until you have a body that's responsive to training." Many sports and games stress competition. The goal is to win. Nothing wrong with that—but if winning is everything through all stages of a child's development, undesirable aggressive tendencies may result. Let the child rejoice in winning, the experts say, but teach him or her to celebrate other achievements, too. In Tommy's case, one achievement might be a smooth swing of the bat, even though he struck out. Other tips about helping your child play well: Don't push him or her into a sport; follow the child's lead. Don't cram the day so full of organized sports that he/she has little time to be alone, to daydream, be creative. Remember that playing for small children is their "job"; it's important because it's the way they learn. There are many opportunities for parents and CAPCs to learn more about promoting the kind of recreation that helps children grow strong physically and emotionally. Bookstores and libraries have materials on the topic. Park and recreation departments should have access to speakers and resource people. ■ 1992 CTF CALENDAR REPORTS DUE 6/30 Mini -grants: 6 -month reports 7/31 Competitive Grants (1991-93): 3rd quarter reports 10/31 Competitive Grants (1991-93): 4th quarter reports 10/31 Administrative Grants: 12 -month Narrative Reports 12/31 Mini -grants: Final reports PROPOSALS - APPLICATIONS 10/31 Mini -Grants: Proposals 12/15 CAPC authorization MEETINGS 7/20 CTF Advisory Council 9/21 CTF Advisory Council 11/16 CTF Advisory Council (Review Mini -Grant proposals)