Sport and children is a really great combination. Children that play sports will build healthy bodies, minds, life skills and friendships. But how does it encourage children to have a positive attitude? Read on.
Learning to try their best
When children play sports they will get the opportunity to experience emotional highs and lows in a safe environment. The highs would be racing to the finishing line or scoring a goal, and the lows being pipped to the post or clipping the net. Sport is an opportunity for children to experience being part of a team early on. Experience winning and losing, and sometimes coping with injuries.
As well as the above, sport will teach children about the importance of trying hard, even if it doesn’t result in a win. It’s important how you and your children view the experience, not just the end result.
Encouragement of a positive attitude
Our children love to please us, most of the time! So it’s important for us to let them know what makes us proud. Let them know that just by taking part you will be proud of them and it’s not all down to whether they win, or score the most goals during the football match.
If you watch sport together at home, think about what you say before you say it. A simple technique of encouraging a positive attitude is to cheer on your favourite team whether their performance was good or bad. If you miss a match and later have to check the scores, don’t show disdain or disappointment if you find out that your team lost. Instead, say something like ‘not to worry, we’ll win next time’. Remember you want to encourage children to have a positive attitude. Negative comments towards a team can send negative messages to your children and this is something you want to avoid.
Going to sporting events
The way you behave at a sporting event will be recognised by your child, so please be mindful of this. I’ve seen people swearing at footballers and referees on so many occasions in the past, in front of children and it makes my skin crawl. What kind of impression is this giving to the child? That it’s okay to insult someone just because they didn’t do as well as you had hoped or if you happen to disagree with a decision they had to make.
If you are going to watch your child play a sport, always praise their performance. They won’t want to feel like they have let you down if they lose, so always praise them and tell them how much you enjoyed watching them and that you can’t wait for the next time. This will work wonders for their self-esteem.
Growing up
A sporting passion as a child may not stay with them as they grow up and it’s important to remember this. Don’t force them to keep doing something that they no longer get excited about. Instead, see if there is .a reason why, and if there is something you can do to help. Would they prefer to play for a different team or maybe even try a new sport altogether? Encourage them but don’t make them feel like they have to. In time, they will find the activity they will grow to love into their young adulthood and this will likely stay a passion for years to come.
All of these factors will without a doubt encourage children to have a positive attitude, not only with sports but with life itself, setting them on the right track early on. It’s an invaluable life skill and should be nurtured from an early age.
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