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Kids Need To Be Pushed, Says Tennis Dad And Author. Parents Are Going Too Soft, Overcompensating For Isolated Outrageous Incidents

By Anonymous

Parents of children who play sports often overcompensate for the outrageous behavior of a few and risk sending complacent, obese kids into the real world.

Allowing children to quit after a few rough spots can do as much harm as pushing them too hard, says Keith Kattan, tennis dad and author of “Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids: A Complete Roadmap for Every Parent and Coach” (Mansion Grove House, http://MansionSelect.com).

Achieving sports proficiency will have its highs – the fun parts, and lows – the parts kids don’t like. “The trick is to maximize the highs,” says Kattan. “Help them ride out the lows through pushing that is deliberate and vigorous, but always with a positive message.”

Kattan says he was motivated to do something when introduced to three overweight kids in his block. The kids had quit sports years ago after their first tennis lesson, complaining that all they did was chase balls.

In “Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids” Kattan, drawing on more than 10 years of studying the development of junior players, offers tips to parents on when and how much to push kids:
· Push your child to master a skill, not just get a win. Dr Alan Goldberg, a sports psychologist says, “Boys should focus on beating Mr. Peter Potential, competing against themselves, while the girls challenge Ms. Patty Potential.”
· Push when the child has to learn a new, but difficult technique. A tennis kid with a two-handed backhand stroke may need a gentle push to sustain an effort to learn the one-handed backhand.
· Situations that warrant pushing should be few and far between.
· Encourage them to stick with it even if they lack the ability needed at that time. Michael Jordan did not make his high school team, because he just wasn’t good enough at the time. Children suddenly improve upon catching the next growth spurt. Interest level will bounce back.
· Don’t force the child to sign up for the next program when she’s ready to quit the current one. But make her finish this one.
· Develop alternatives from which the child can choose. Doing nothing is not an option.

“Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids” by Keith Kattan is available at leading online retailers, bookstores as well as direct from publisher’s online store at http://MansionSelect.com

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