For many kids, playing sports is a hobby that they’re involved in all year long. So when there’s any little break in their sports seasons, it’s important that you help your child prepare for the upcoming weeks or months of practices and games in the right way. To help you in doing this, here are three tips for preparing your child for their upcoming sports seasons.
See The Doctor Before The Season Starts
When a new sports season is about to start, it’s important to ensure that your child is actually physically healthy enough to participate in this type of activity. Sometimes, kids develop medical conditions which go unnoticed. For instance, carrying heavy school bags for a prolonged time might cause the development of spine issues in kids, which might require special attention from healthcare professionals like Dr Timothy Steel. However, some parents might not notice the symptoms of spine conditions and enroll their kids in sports activities without getting them physically checked up. This might further alleviate the problems.
To avoid this and get the reassurance that your children are healthy, Johns Hopkins Medicine advises that you take your child to see their doctor for a sports physical prior to that start of each sports season. At this appointment, the doctor will screen your child to ensure that he or she is healthy enough for physical activity and doesn’t have any pre-existing conditions that could get worse after playing sports. Additionally, these exams will let you know if your child needs any additional medical care, like an eye exam or other preventative treatments.
Get Your Kid The Right Gear
Whether your child is starting a new sport or is just starting a new season for a sport they’ve already played, it’s vital that they have the right gear for the season. When getting new gear for your child, make sure he or she has time to break it in before they start playing. And if they’re going to be using gear they already have, or if you’re planning on having your child use second-hand gear, Dr. Mary L. Gavin, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, recommends that you show the gear to the coaches before the first day of practice so they can ensure the gear is safe to use. After years of use, some sports gear will become less safe for your child, so you’ll want to only allow your kids to use gear that’s clean and safe.
Show Your Child That You Can Be Appropriately Supportive
Having a child in sports can be stressful for both the child and the parents. While the child likely wants to succeed, many parents tend to put too much pressure on winning as opposed to simply supporting their child regardless of what the final score is. To help you both in this area, Dr. Patrick and Lisa Cohen, contributors to Active.com, recommend that you help your child set the right expectations for their performance, that you speak to them supportively rather than judgmentally or critically, and that you put more of your focus on their progress as opposed to the end results.
If you have a child that’s about to embark upon a new sports season, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you both prepare for this.