Girls Need Sports Too!
Have you ever wondered why girls drop out of sports by the truckload once they reach high school? The drop-out rate is seven times greater than that of boys.
Take Your Daughter to a Sports Event
If it's guys playing, mention that girls can play the same game and ask if she would like to go see a game. Then, follow through by taking her to a game.
Monkey See and Monkey Do
Play around as much as possible with your daughter in various sport settings. Go to the pool, kick balls, hit balls, go hiking, skiing, running, biking and/or shoot hoops for fun.
In the Beginning, Do Not Nag About Any Weight Issues
When trying to get her up and moving, talk about your own
experience with sports. Set your goal on showing her how much fun
sports can be and things you used to do that left you feeling
good about yourself.
The Explanation of Health Benefits
Can Come Later
Eventually, she will feel and look better than ever. When this
happens, you will see a boost in her self-esteem and in her
energy level.
Introduce Healthy Eating Habits as Early as Possible
Regardless of what your daughter is involved in now, always
model good eating habits. Mention, but do not nag, how certain
foods help various parts of the body and how they make us
feel.
Always Be Your Child's Number-One
Fan
Regardless of her physical performance, cheer her on. Think of
the all-around health benefits as well as emotional balance she
is gaining.
Whatever you do, do not overschedule your kids and do not force them to play a sport if they do not want to. There is a big difference in encouraging and "forcing."
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated family/health columnist and radio personality. Parent to Parent is now going into its tenth year and appears in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular contributor to many sites including eDiets.com and is the Mom to Mom Expert for BabyCenter.com and has a regular family segment on two radio programs, one of which is syndicated to over 20 stations. She has written two books and contributed to two others, one of which was on Oprah and has appeared on NBC in a three month parenting segment. Her latest best-selling parenting/family book is Mommy CEO, revised edition. Preorder Lynn's new book, "Mom CEO: Avoiding the Distressed Housewife Syndrome and Winning at Motherhood," online or from any bookstore.
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Member Comments On...
Girls Need Sports Too!
0 |
The most important thing about sports is not the health benefits but the fact that you can bond with your daughter and have some fun together, which is why I bring my daughter snowboarding when I get the chance to.
2 |
These are great tips! Most kids--boys and girls--drop out of sports by the time they are 13 because they're not having fun. It's critical for kids to have fun and feel confident in sports--and it's our job as sports parents to ensure that happens!
1 |
Tell me about it (to comment below)! Soccer practice always runs late. And to echo what Iron Jessica said, I think it's also important to build the idea of fitness for fun, fitness to feel good -- not just something you have to do in gym class or to lose weight.
