Is Your Kid Ready to Play?

Me And My Parents (Photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik)

Will your child actually enjoy playing?

Sometimes a father may force his son into a sport just because the father himself excelled at it, and would like to see his son do the same. This can only result in failure, as there is no way his son could be good at anything he does not enjoy.

How are your child’s reflexes and coordination?

If these are not quite developed, the child will need some training to develop them first. See if basic skills, such as catching a ball, are there. If so, chances are good the child is ready to play.

Does your child get bored easily?

Make sure the child can last an entire game. If the child easily gets bored with an activity, then that may mean that team performance will suffer, and especially in the endgame, this could be crucial. It could also mean the child will want to go home before the game is over, which may upset the team and the coach as well.

Can your child get along easily with others?

If the child is the friendly sort who likes meeting new people, then joining a team may be something to look forward to for him. But if the child is shy, this will probably affect his relationship with teammates, as well as the child’s performance at the sport. Likewise, if the child does not get along well with others, the child may end up at loggerheads with teammates and coaches.

Can you both keep to the schedule?

Are both parent and child capable of maintaining the required schedule for practice and games? Both of them may be enthusiastic about the child’s start in sports, but if they find their own schedules for work and school conflict with that of the team, then all the excitement will end in disappointment.

So the last thing parents should do is jump at a chance for their child to join a team just because. But as long as these sensible guidelines are followed, following their child’s participation and progress in sports can be one of the most enjoyable experiences parents could have.