Your active kid
Filed Under Tips & Tricks | April 30, 2008
We’ve been focusing on active kid ideas as much as possible this month, so to top things off we’ve asked Jennifer Hood of Jump! Gymnastics for some tips on how to pick the right sports activities for your child:
Choosing sports activities for your children can be a daunting task. You want your child to get a good grounding so they can switch sports as their interests change or physical talents develop. But you worry that your tot may not listen to the teacher. And wonder when they should start playing “seriously”. And work around juggling everyone’s schedules.
Well you can relax – if your child is going to become the next Wayne Gretzky there is plenty of time – Canadian Sport for Life emphasizes the importance of building “physical literacy” rather than acquiring specific skills for the under six set.
Here are some key points to consider as you navigate the journey:
- Focus on unstructured daily play from birth to age six. Classes can supplement, but not replace that play. (Note: We’ll be following up with another column from Jennifer devoted to unstructured play in a few weeks.)
- Programs should support the two key sporting values: fun and inclusiveness. Your child should be active and engaged. Classes should allow for a wide range in developmental levels and learning styles and all children should feel welcome to participate at the level they choose.
- A good qualified instructor will have more than the basics – coaching certifications, first aid and CPR. Ask how much experience they have working with this age group. Decide if their expectations reasonable. Do they help all children (and parents) feel welcome and supported? Tip: How long does it take an instructor to learn your child’s name? By the second week of class they should know all the kids by name.
- Age-Appropriate classes for children 0-6 should be loosely structured, allowing children lots of time and space for exploration. They should always be non-competitive and value participation over achievement. Choose classes that help your child feel successful… this confidence is what keeps them active for life.
- Classes should be a good “family fit” for your schedule and budget. Choose a swim class for your six-month-old because it will be a fun family outing, not to give her a leg up for the 2020 Olympics. If you feel overscheduled and the budget is tight…walk to the local pool for toonie swim and know that your child is getting just as much out of it.
Canadian Sport for Life’s A Sport Parent’s Guide has lots of info about how you can give your child an Active Start, offer them the FUNdamentals and help them be Active For Life. And really, what more could you want for your child?
After 15 years developing gymnastics programming for young children, Jennifer Hood will open Jump! Gymnastics in summer 2008. She believes in giving children the basic building blocks of physical movement to help them become active for life.
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Great tips for parents to follow as they choose programs for their small children. As a coach of 14 years, I would also add this: don’t tolerate coaches who yell at your children or belittle them as a form of motivation. It’s bad, wrong and destructive. I can’t believe how many parents tolerate it — not willing to question authority? Look for quality programs with trained coaches and instructors. Per above, programs should be FUN. They should also teach real skills and give every child equal playing time at least until they are 12 years old (when programs generally begin to split between recreational programs and high-performance or “select” programs).