Kids and Learning Life Lessons
Life lessons come primarily from a kid's family. Life lessons include respect for yourself and others, responsibility, self-control, goal-setting, self-discipline and good sportsmanship. Youth sports can be a great vehicle for helping instill life lessons in children. Sports provide a motivating atmosphere that can complement life lessons taught by the family.
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Self-Control and Self-Discipline
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Parents and caregivers can begin teaching children self-control when the child is a toddler. Parents should not buy everything the child wants. She should have some choices but not unlimited choices of food, activities and clothes. To help the child control her own behavior, parents should teach her to give herself a "time out" or to remove herself from a situation that causes her to become frustrated. This should be done in a quiet, dignified manner, not as part of a temper tantrum. Playing youth sports can help children build self-control and self-discipline. To participate in sports, kids must control their behavior or they will be removed from the game or team. Also, kids must keep up their grades to participate in sports, which encourages better attendance and attention at school.
Respect or Sportsmanship
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One of the greatest life lessons that can be learned through youth sports is sportsmanship or respect for others. Sportsmanship is a complicated concept and includes teamwork, being a good loser, being a graceful winner, following the rules of the game and treating others with respect. Parents can begin instilling these skills through playing games together at home. Taking turns, waiting and accepting defeat all begin with family activities. Parents should monitor children's sports teams carefully to make sure good sportsmanship is being taught and practiced on the field or court.
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Goal Setting
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Kids need to learn to set goals to be successful adults. Beginning at a young age, children can choose things they want to do: learn to play an instrument, turn a cartwheel, ride a bicycle or kick a football through the goalposts. Parents need to guide children in deciding how they will learn the skill, set dates for the goal and follow through with the learning process. Youth sports can help kids understand the importance of setting and achieving goals. Individual sports like gymnastics or team sports like baseball offer many opportunities for goal setting and achievement.
Personal Responsibility
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Children need to learn how to be responsible for themselves and their actions. The most effective way for parents and caregivers to begin this process is by setting rules and enforcing them. Parents should provide consequences for children's misbehavior for them to learn from their mistakes. Children should be encouraged to clean their rooms and take care of their belongings. Helping with household chores can help children build a sense of responsibility. If the child earns an allowance, parents can also teach him financial responsibility through saving for things he wants.
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