How to Help Your Child Practice Before a Big Game

Helping your child prep for a big game is as much about verbal support as it is about hands-on, interactive help during practice sessions. Let your kiddo know that you are there for them, win or lose, with open arms, a wide smile, and support in your heart. Give them pep talks, cheer from the stands, and volunteer to help with their team when opportunities arise. You are your child’s biggest and best cheerleader.

Balancing Sports Practice with Rest and Other Activities

How well each child practices will show in team performance, but sometimes kids need rest and relaxation to unwind and reset. Prevent your kid from experiencing burnout by encouraging kids to pursue other hobbies, like reading, painting, or playing video games. Teach them that it’s okay to take time out to refresh their minds and bodies, especially after a challenging sports season.

Identifying Key Areas for Improvement and Motivating Your Child to Stay Focused

Never berate a kid in areas where they lack. Instead, help them practice. Throw the ball around, encourage them to show you how well they can step up to bat, or do your research and offer advice on proper form for better results. Keep your child motivated through positive interaction and encouragement of short-term goals.

Techniques for Reducing Practice-Related Stress

Here are three ways you can help your child overcome practice-related stress:

Let them rest. Kids need to be kids. Don’t force strenuous practice regimens.
Introduce relaxation techniques — Gentle yoga, quiet reading times, or meditation through coloring or simply sitting outside in nature.
Reiterate to your kiddo that sports are games. Healthy competition can be a good thing, but youth sports are games meant to be played for fun and excitement.

The Role of Positive Reinforcement in Skill Development

Positive reinforcement is a celebration and acknowledgment of small efforts and achievements to bolster a child’s confidence and encourage them to keep trying. Some parents offer positive reinforcement with toys and rewards, like stickers or visits to an ice cream shop, whereas others offer praise and hugs to showcase affection and pride.

Positive reinforcement is subjective and personal to a parent-child bond, so either way, kiddos appreciate the recognition for a job well done. Helping a child feel valued and accomplished will motivate them, foster a love for the sport, and encourage mental growth and happiness.

Schaumburg Seminoles