Fun sports for children
Tips for parents with active kids
Playing soccer, climbing, skateboarding: some children are just constantly on the move. They would prefer to be active all day long. They thrive in the sports club and regularly shine in competitions. But your child's enjoyment of sport can also decrease - if you don't pay attention to a few important points. If your sporty child's motivation threatens to collapse, we can help you. Here you can find out how you as a mother or father can ensure that your sporty child “stays on the ball” and read about how you can support them in their sporting development. So that you can continue to do sport in a long-term, fun and highly motivated manner. Read our tips for parents of young athletes now!
Tip one: Rejoice together
Your child enthusiastically tells you that the coach praised him at handball training today - and your only reaction is a shrug of the shoulder or maybe even a derogatory comment? This behavior affects motivation - no matter how enthusiastic your child is about sports.
The reason: If you react indifferently to things that excite your child - this also includes praise from respected people such as a trainer - the behavioral psychological principle of reinforcement takes effect . Your reaction tells your child, “I don’t care about your behavior.” Or even worse: “Your behavior is wrong.” Your child will react differently in the future. Then it may be that he no longer talks to you about his successes in sports and continues to close himself off from you. This in turn may not only affect his sporting successes, but also the harmony in your home.
Our tip is therefore: Show your child that you are involved in their life and are happy about their sporting successes. Then it knows that its behavior is wanted and desired. If you praise and reward your child for their sporting achievements, you are reinforcing the behavior patterns - they will occur more often. This means: Your child will tell you more often about their experiences playing sports. If you celebrate sporting successes together, it will strengthen the child's positive attitude towards sport.
By the way, rewards don’t always have to be big. How about a pizza to celebrate a sporting success? The diet of children who do sports should be varied, wholesome, healthy and sometimes just delicious.
Your child will always tell you enthusiastically about their successes and you can be happy together. This bonds you together and increases your child's motivation to keep going at full speed in football, athletics or judo.
Tip two: Celebrate even small sporting successes
No matter how successful your child is in their preferred sport: having fun, meeting friends and living out their urge to move are the main focus of sports for children. If your sporty child wins a prize, it is a special moment that you should celebrate - but not a prerequisite for your love and appreciation . Therefore, if you are disappointed, never show your child that he or she was not one of the best.
Don't be demanding or put pressure on yourself to perform if, in your opinion, your child has achieved something that needs improvement. Because then even a child who constantly only has football etc. on his mind begins to associate sport with negative emotions. Studies show : In addition to other factors, this behavior is a real motivation killer. Pressure to perform can also cause your child to lose self-confidence because they feel like they are not good enough. And if it doesn't believe in itself, it has no motivation to invest more in sport.
Instead, think of it this way: Just for competing and doing their best, your child deserves recognition. This is especially true if you were afraid before the competition that you wouldn't end up on the winner's podium. If the performance is not enough for a top ranking, children in particular, who otherwise always shine in sports , initially feel sad, disappointed or angry.
Especially if your child is one of those high-flyers who constantly perform at their best in sports, the following applies: Don't put pressure on them when they lose and give them a little time to process their disappointment. Treat your child with understanding in these moments. Let them know that you understand that they are disappointed because they were not among the best.
But also show him: Winning is not the most important thing in sport – team spirit, fun and exercise in the fresh air are much more important. Change your perspective together: just taking part in a competition is a sense of achievement. Studies confirm: If you support your child in experiencing positive and happy moments through their favorite sports, it motivates young athletes immensely .
Tip three: Know your role
Are you just as ambitious about sports as your child and therefore want them to excel at sports? This is understandable, especially if you want to constantly improve your performance during training . Nevertheless, the following applies: You are not your child's coach. As a parent, you should support and encourage a child, not coach them . Of course you want to support your child as best as you can. Still don't play coach. It's enough to offer your childa drink during training or give them a tablet of dextrose when they ask.
Dextrose contributes to the rapid supply of carbohydrates to the bodies of young athletes. A carbohydrate-containing instant powder for young athletes , which was specially developed for children aged 12 and over , supports every sport - from football to cycling. The instant powder also contains sodium.
We advise you: Let your child's trainers decide how the training should go and don't interfere. If you give your child instructions from the side of the field, you'll put them in an awkward position because they'll feel torn between you and the coach. You may also attract anger from trainers. Your child may feel compelled to apologize on your behalf - a situation that is uncomfortable for everyone involved.
Instead, show your child that you trust and respect the coaches’ decisions. This shows your child that you value the opinions of experts . Studies show that if you accept the decisions of authority figures, your child will do the same. This is a good learning experience.
If you don't agree with the trainer's decisions, we advise you to have a private conversation and not air conflicts in front of your child. Children have fine antennae and quickly notice disagreements, including those between trainers and parents. This can degrade the strong emotional connection your child has to their sport. Instead, be supportive and show interest.
Tip four: Give your child space
Actively participate in the life of your sporty child, get excited about competitions and celebrate small successes with him? Yes, please! However, the following applies: there are limits. Because sport and especially “the everything around it” also require organizational talent and a certain degree of independence . For example, it's also about packing your gym bag, showing up to training on time and regularly, or canceling in good time if a training appointment cannot be kept.
If you take over the organizational aspects of sport from your child, you are not doing them any favors in the long term. The reason: The more you take out of his hands, the more dependent he becomes. Conversely, if you let your child organize part of their everyday life themselves , they will gradually become more and more independent. And once your child realizes that organizing can be done well on their own, it increases their self-confidence .
The topic of “free space” also plays an important role when choosing your child’s preferred sport. For example, does your child really want to do ballet even though you would much rather send them to kickboxing? Or does he enjoy cycling more than playing handball with the team? Even if you are passionate about team sports and love playing sports in a group or with friends , do not pass your preferences on to your child, but let them decide for themselves.
@RossHelen/Shutterstock - Children need support from their parents when it comes to sports. This also applies if they choose a different path than their parents.
Avoid harsh statements like: “That’s not for you!” They will demotivate your child. Also, don't force your child to do a particular sport that you think suits them better . If he isn't 100 percent committed to his sport, he won't have fun training - and he won't be able to build a sports routine or perform well.
Our tip: Give your child the freedom to decide for themselves - even if you would do something different yourself. This is the only way to continue doing sport with fun and motivation . And if, after a certain period of time, you realize that the sport isn't as great as expected, avoid saying things like: “I told you that!” (even if it's difficult!). Instead, allow your child to make their own mistakes and learning experiences. This way you promote his independence.
Our sports tips for children who enjoy exercise
Raising children is not easy - especially not when your sporty child wants to fulfill himself in sports and you often have the feeling that you are just standing on the sidelines. Nevertheless, it is important that you give him his freedom and not put pressure on him . Follow our tips for children when doing sports - so that your little one continues to be motivated to do sports.
A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important.
SOURCES
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Ladouceur, CD, Schlund, MW, & Segreti, AM (2018). Positive reinforcement modulates fronto-limbic systems subserving emotional interference in adolescents. Behavioral brain research, 338, 109 – 117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.10.019
Witt, PA, & Dangi, TB (2018). Why Children/Youth Drop Out of Sports. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 36(3), 191 – 199. https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2018-V36-I3-8618
Hennessy E, Hughes SO, Goldberg JP et al. (2010). Parent-child interactions and objectively measured child physical activity: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 71(7), 1 – 14.
Gariépy, JF, Watson, KK, Du, E., Xie, DL, Erb, J., Amasino, D., & Platt, ML (2014). Social learning in humans and other animals. Frontiers in neuroscience, 58(8). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2014.00058
Mullin, A. Children, Paternalism and the Development of Autonomy. (2014). Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 17, 413 – 426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-013-9453-0
