The role of parents in children’s sporting activities

Children’s participation in sport not only has an impact on their physical development, but also on their emotional and social development. As role models, parents play a vital role in creating an environment conducive to their children’s sporting development. Here are a few things to keep in mind as parents, to help your child thrive in his or her chosen sport.

Children tend to imitate their parents from an early age. Parents are often their children’s first role models, which gives them an important influence on their children’s behavior. With this in mind, make sure your child’s behavior during sports activities is exemplary. Negative behavior, such as shouting or criticizing during a match, can have an impact not only on children’s performance, but also on their behavior towards teammates, opposing players or the referee.

Sport can be much more than just a physical activity. It can be a powerful vehicle for conveying important messages and values. Here’s how sport can be used to convey larger messages:

1. Team spirit: Sport shows children the importance of working together and helping each other achieve common goals.
2. Perseverance and resilience: Defeats and obstacles are an integral part of sport. Learning to overcome these challenges teaches perseverance and resilience, essential life skills.
3. Leadership: Sport is a great opportunity for your child to develop leadership skills. Whether by setting an example or encouraging teammates, the sporting context is conducive to leadership development.
4. Discipline: The sporting context highlights the importance of remaining disciplined in order to achieve one’s goals. Practice and discipline are key factors in improving and achieving goals.

When talking to your child, don’t focus on winning or losing, but rather on the lessons that can be learned.

Going home after a game can be an emotional time. This is often the moment when the child expects to get feedback or simply to express his or her views on the game that has just been played. In the event of defeat or poor performance, emotions can run high and the mood can be heavier than when a win has been achieved.

During these precarious moments, it’s important that your child feels listened to rather than pointed at. Otherwise, the child’s level of motivation could be negatively impacted, leading to possible disengagement. Since children are strongly impacted by their parents, a sign of disappointment on your part could create some performance stress in your child for future games. So be sure to listen, ask questions and show empathy.

Whether in the context of schoolwork or sports, it’s vital to be able to give good constructive feedback. Take advantage of the sports context to give constructive feedback to your child, if he or she so desires. This feedback will not only help your child to improve, but will also increase his or her level of motivation and self-confidence. This will help your child maintain a positive outlook on his or her sport.

Make sure your feedback is specific and based on concrete aspects.
Choose the right moment for discussion. It’s best to avoid times when emotions run high. For example, it’s not a good idea to give feedback when you get home, since emotions can run high at that time.
Don’t forget to point out your child’s good deeds.
Be a good listener and open to discussion. Ask questions to understand how your child is feeling.

By combining these different aspects, parents can create a favorable environment where their children can not only flourish athletically, but also acquire skills and values that will help them in all facets of their lives.