In this report we outline 7 steps for parents to follow in order to encourage proper physical development and emotional well-being that will give your child the best chance for success.
Everyone needs to be a champion at something.
They need to have peace of mind and self-satisfaction as an integral part of their life.
Parents should not push their children to be great.
They need to guide and direct their children to reach their true potential.
They need to give them the means for chasing, and hopefully reaching, their goals.
The very tools you give your child to use in striving to become sports or music or academic champions are the very same life lessons he or she will need to survive-and thrive-in any endeavor.
These tools include goal setting, daily scheduling, knowing and planning the steps to reach your dreams, and overcoming tough times.
In addition, your child, in striving to excel, will acquire the important character traits of dedication, perseverance, problem solving, and self-confidence.
When a child is focused on becoming a champion, focused on striving for excellence and trying to become the best he or she is capable of being, they will not have an inclination or time to take a negative path.
While striving to reach their goals, they will find themselves coming in contact with other young people who are also heading onward and upward.
The key is, you want your child focusing his/her energies on self-improvement, not self-destruction.
Let's take a few steps back from the mindset of raising a "champion athlete," and let's focus on raising "Great Kids" first.
Proper physical development, otherwise known as coordination development, is a process that takes years to evolve and is based on diversity and adaptability.
Young athletes should not be restricted to sport-specific skill training, or one solo sport for that matter, with the expectation of becoming the next "champion" athlete.
Parents must understand that their youngsters need to first conquer the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of living in this ultra competitive society.
These traits are critical to establish in order to enjoy any type of competition whether it is on the field or in the concert hall.
Far too often, parents, coaches or teammates see exceptional sport skill in a young athlete and mistakenly push full throttle ahead into developing a young champion of the sport.
But the true nature of a champion and the longevity of their success hinge more so on the simple "house rules" that surround their personal development, lifestyle, self-image and athletic experiences.
7 House Rules: 1.
Start Young Get out and play.
Free play or discovery play for mind and body awareness, can start in the toddler years as youngsters begin to gather and process information within their environment.
Developing coordination through various experiences in gross motor movement will provide the necessary stimulation to allow young bodies to begin the critical steps of eventually perfecting a variety of movement skills throughout their developmental years.
This process lays the groundwork and stores the necessary information to begin the development of sport specific skills in the early teenage years.
Whether it the closest toddler gym program, the YMCA or your own back yard - let them twist, tumble, roll, run and even stumble.
They will learn valuable information about their bodies that no one else can ever teach them.
2.
Provide Encouragement and Opportunity.
Between the ages of 7 and 14 coordination development is critical and is most significant during the ages of 10 and 13.
Don't wait until then!! In the earlier years between birth and 6 years old parents have the responsibility to provide a rich, nurturing and engaging environment for their children that will help stimulate the physical and cognitive abilities their kids will count on later in their childhood.
This involves climbing, running, hopping, throwing, catching and kicking, playing an instrument or working on a puzzle.
It does not mean young children need to have an overflowing weekly agenda with structured activities.
Quite the contrary.
It means you need to free up time to stop at the park, go for a hike, swing on a swing, bounce a basketball, race to the biggest tree in the yard or try out those new in-line skates.
Encouraging young kids to explore fun activities which promote balance, rhythm and spatial orientation will provide a strong foundation for coordination development.
Giving them the time and opportunity to explore is priceless.
3.
Be a Role Model Reward physical activity by giving children your full attention, time and praise.
Get out and play with them! For young children, teach them games like tag, duck-duck-goose, kick-the-can and hide-and-go- seek.
Let them experience how much fun it is to be active.
For older grade school kids and young teenagers, go bike riding, kayaking or swimming.
Train for a family 5K walk-run together.
Young children have the capacity to learn quickly.
Challenge them with experience that stimulates them cognitively and physically.
Even children within the same family will develop differently.
The key to successful parenting is to determine which element that child needs the most help with, (i.
e.
: balance, rhythm, or spatial awareness) and provide fun interactive games that stimulate the senses.
4.
Change is Good - Support it As children become exposed to recreational sports, have them participate in as many activities as possible (..
but not at the same time!!!).
When the season's change, change the sport or activity.
Around the age of sixteen the ability to optimally develop coordination begins to regress.
Between the ages of 7-14 is a critical time when the body's ability to develop coordination and learn new skills is at its prime.
This validates early exposure to a variety of sport and activities are the solution from an athlete development perspective.
Adolescence is not the time to introduce elements of coordination training.
As a young athletes body begins to take shape, height body weight and body mass strength and speed are significantly changing during these years.
It is much more difficult for the nervous system to accept new movement patterns rather than trying to refine what has been put on the hard drive in the earlier years.
The refinement of previously in learn skills should take precedence Over landing new movement base skills.
Parent's coaches and trainers must understand and accept the fact that developing a healthy and successful athlete is a process that takes years encompassing varying degrees of processed information all which continue to build upon one another.
If this process is followed coordination development in the post at adolescent years can be taken to new and exciting levels.
5.
Expect Respect Aside from teaching and exposing young children to stimulus that will foster the development of coordinated movement patterns, the introduction and the reinforcement to the importance of values, family and home is just as critical.
This will give your young athletes the reassurance that they have all the support necessary to be successful not just in sport but it life.
In the early years of sharing taking turns and playing fair, young people must learn to respect their elders, coaches, teammates/classmates teachers and parents.
Teaching the values of winning and losing, proper etiquette and self respect for a healthy mind body and soul will instill an aura of confidence.
In a time where society is applying the pressure to succeed at such a young age we have seemed to forgot to instill values of sportsmanship and respect not only in the name of sport but in humanity.
As parents we must not lose sight of this.
6.
Follow Sound Principles not Fads When athletes begin to show signs (like asking you or suggesting how they can get better at what ever it is that they are doing) it may be time to explore performance or sport specific coaching.
Keep in mind the child must have the desire to do this.
Typically performance based training, meaning there is a focus on strength speed and power, doesn't begin until the age of 13.
However, there are great programs available in your area that will focus on the foundational principles of physical development, such as gymnastics and martial arts.
Some fitness companies are beginning to specialize in "Youth Fitness.
" Just make certain that the individual or company that will be working with your youngster sticks to the principles of not only proper skill development and physical conditioning, but self-esteem, leadership and teamwork.
7.
Appreciate the Value of Rest Athletes must understand and respect the importance of recovery and regeneration.
Cumulative Physical and mental stress at a young age can have a profound negative impact on the quality of life in the home in the classroom and on the field.
Quiet time for naps, homework and studying are critical for young children.
Parents must take the necessary steps to provide the adequate amount of rest and quality nutrition to nurture their kids and keep their mind and bodies as strong as possible.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of www.
Raisefitkids.
com a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a "Fit Family.
"