Are you finding that your kids spend a lot more time indoors than out of it? That’s fine during wet and cold seasons of the year, and on those rare summer days when it’s raining, but what about when it’s sunny and warm and great for having a kickabout? If the kids are still always inside, and usually on a screen, it’s time to encourage a love for sports in them!
You can do this in a variety of ways, especially if you’re someone who loves sports yourself. Maybe you’re always watching a game on the TV over the weekends? Or maybe you keep up with motoracing and get up super early in the morning to catch the next test? Whatever you enjoy, if you’re a sporting guy with kids, you can more than pass on this passion to the next generation.
And to get you started with doing so, here are some great ways to encourage that love for sports within your family.
Make Game Days Fun
Do you spend a lot of time watching sports on the TV? Then you’re in prime position to make sports more fun for the next generation as well. After all, they’ve heard you watching along in the past, maybe even raising your voice a little with all the passion and intensity of the game – that’s something that can be pretty inspiring to a future sports fan.
Of course, you don’t want the kids to only engage with sports through the TV screen, but it is a good starting point to gauge their interest, find out what they like, and encourage them to go a step further and try out the sport for real.
You can sit down to watch the game together, set up a little quiz or some games to play throughout, make outfits to wear as you watch, and set up a full snack table for the kids to pick from. And if the game is a pretty long one, such as a baseball match or the entirety of the Super Bowl, you’re going to need plenty of refreshments available!
Lead By Example
When you take part in sports, the kids are going to see that physical activity is a normal thing that should have a place in their life. After all, when our parents do things, we tend to take those things in and keep the tradition going!
There’s probably quite a few things you do that your parents did as well, and the only reason you picked them up in the first place is because you watched your parents take part.
The same goes for you and your kids. Show them that sports are fun and commonplace by trying out regular fitness, whether you enjoy going for runs, love to hit the swimming pool, or you’re a fan of playing a few rounds of golf.
Indeed, talk about why you love doing these things with the kids, ask them if they want to come along, and bring them on trips where you go shopping for second hand golf clubs for sale. If you do, you can ask them to help you find the best new club for you, and that may just light a spark of passion for playing golf as well!
Join Some Clubs
Did you know there are clubs out there that not only accept kids, but let the adults join in as well? Various clubs and societies are made for families to take part all at once, and that’s the kind of sports club you want to focus on finding and joining here.
After all, the kids may be a bit nervous to try something out without you being there to support them. They may also find the most enjoyment in the sport when they’re playing with you, and they don’t really want that to be removed.
You can also ask them if they’d like to join a normal club – as let’s face it, a lot of our kids can get pretty embarrassed by their parents! If the answer is yes, go ahead and sign them up for a local club that offers the sport they’re interested in.
But if they end up not really liking the club, or they find it’s nowhere near as interesting as they wanted it to be, don’t feel compelled to try and get them to stick it out for a bit longer. That can kill the passion you still have a chance to rescue here, as kids really don’t like being made to do totally optional things that they hate!
Talk about why they feel this way, and double check to see if any bullying is going on. If things are fine and they just don’t like it anymore, let them move on to something else.
Make Mistakes Normal
One issue that often crops up in sporting circles is the amount of people who have experience with sporting failures being overdramatized. People who have memories of their parents dressing them down after missing a shot in a game, or memories of being told they were terrible at a sport they loved and mocked for trying to take part in it.
Memories like these can leave a lifelong resentment for the activity at hand, and make a person feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety when trying to pick it up once again. As such, where they once had a passion for sport, and found enjoyment in doing it, they now never even let themselves think about it.
To try and prevent anything like this occurring in your kids’ lives, it’s best to make mistakes a normal and accepted thing. This really couldn’t be more important when it comes to physical activities, as human beings often tie a lot of their self worth to the bodies we live in. Being repeatedly told, in some form or another, that we’re incapable or embarrassing because of our physical forms can do a lot of damage to our mental health!
So let the kids make as many mistakes as possible, and encourage an attitude of saying ‘oh well’ and trying again. If this means you’re outside for over an hour while your child tries to kick a soccer ball into the goal just the once, so be it! As long as they’re having fun, they’ll learn how to play and pick up much more skill in the game in the long term.
Get the Kids Loving Sports Again
When the kids love sports, they’re never going to find it difficult to put their shoes on, tie their laces, and head outside for a good time. They’re going to know all too well that fun can be had outside of the tablet screen, which can be a big worry for parents in this day and age.
Lead by example and show them that playing sports can be so much fun! Then, if you’re a big fan of spending time watching the game when it’s on, make the game days fun for everyone. Remember, the more snacks, the better!
You can also encourage the kids to try out some physical clubs. They’ll be able to make friends through these, and you can live with peace of mind knowing that the kids are getting a regular dose of sport.
And remember, make sure the pressure of sports never falls too heavily on your kids’ shoulders. Mistakes should be normal, common, and perfectly acceptable. When they are, everything will be a lot more enjoyable!