Posts Tagged ‘Character’
Ready for School? Us too!
This is the time of year when kids are ready to go back to school. They have played all summer long and are ready to get back to the orderly day of school and after school activities. I remember as a child when the end of August rolled up that I was usually anxious to…
Read MoreHow to W.I.N.
We stumbled across a brilliant piece of gymnastics wisdom the other day, and it hit us right in the feels because it perfectly mirrors our philosophy here at Gymfinity. We loved it so much we had to paraphrase it, polish it up, and share it with you. When our gymnasts step up to salute the…
Read MoreWhat Makes Winners Win?
Everyone has the inner drive to succeed, whether in sports, academics, or character growth. I believe that every child can be a winner. Sometimes it may manifest as a defeat in competition, but the victory will still arrive after the game. How can any child lose when they have the capacity to help others, to learn, to increase their motivation, to grow and to flourish?
Read MoreChallenges in Getting Kids into the Gym
The instructor is the bridge between the child and the activity, so it’s important for both parents and children to feel comfortable with them.
Read MoreThe Value of Gymnastics Part 2
Gymnastics demands self-control, patience, and discipline. Children must practice focused control for activities like balancing on the beam or completing skill sequences. Learning patience, whether waiting for a turn or mastering a complex skill, builds character and mental strength. Active children can release energy in a healthy way, while those who need structure find it through the sport’s discipline.
Read MoreHow to support your athlete
Remember and share with your child that their worth is not based on the outcome of a game, meet, class, or score. Helping them to understand that no outcome is final and that tomorrow begins the opportunity to change the result you had today will help your child understand and deal with the frustrations that come with sports.
Read MoreSpecial Post: Mixed Emotions on the Passing of a Giant
So, I am saddened by Bela’s passing. I believe that his soul will return to this Earth to try again and hopefully he will evolve and grow to refill the holes he had dug in this go-around. Until then, I will respect the gifts he shared with the world, but will always qualify that respect against the damage he left us to clean up.
Read MoreWords that can make a difference
Sometimes, when you least expect it, hearing someone say “thank you” can really lift your mood and give you a burst of energy. And when you feel appreciated, you’re more likely to spread that kindness to others. It’s like a wave that keeps going.
Read MoreAllowing kids to choose their passion
If the child pulls back and the parent ends up wanting it more than the kid, there will be dire consequences. Not only will the child stagnate in development, but they will feel resentment toward the parent that is pressuring them to continue. “Not my kid.” I have heard parents say on a few occasions. But I am here to tell you. Yes, your kid. Allow them to make their decision to continue or re-choose, not only for the sport development, but because your child needs to feel that they have some say in the investment of their time and effort.
Read More6 Points to help the ride home after practice
Kids as early as 4 years old can detect false emotion. Saying something like “I don’t care how you did today, I love you just the same” is a great message. But the phrasing is cliched and will put a pre-teen or older child into defense mode. Child behavior specialists will tell you how important it is to say this and I agree, but as a coach I can tell you that cliches and following expert scripts will have the opposite effect from what you were looking for. Better yet, make a comment on how proud you are for effort, hard work, progress, or anything that will reinforce that you were actually watching. Their effort is really the only thing that they can control. To compliment it means you value what they did and who they are.
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