Guide for Parents in Guiding Children to Exercise

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It is the role of parents to deliver their children to the gate of success. But in the process, parents also need to be good mentors in all activities that children follow to develop themselves. Self-development carried out by children certainly must be positive so that it can be a provision for their lives in the future.

Many activities can be done by children to develop themselves, one of them is sports. By exercising, it turns out that not only physical children are trained, but there are psychological and social benefits that children get. Previously, the sports referred to in the article were sports in participating in one field, such as soccer, basketball, swimming, badminton, and other types of competitive sports, not only jogging, squatting, etc.

The importance of exercise for children

Exercise requires children to move their body and mind. Researchers state that participating in sports has a good effect on children, such as moving the body, developing skill and sportsmanship, increasing self-esteem, persistence in children, and expanding the circle of child friendships (Theokas, 2009). There are also studies conducted in Mexico with child respondents who state that children who follow sports are less likely to suffer from obesity compared to children who do not follow sports (Salazar-Martinez, et al., 2006).

Besides being beneficial, both for body, soul, and social circle, it turns out that children who follow the sports field have high scores on the study habits test. In this study, children's athletes were more motivated to learn and had clear reasons why they had to study. This research was conducted by Ana Capdevila from Universitat Jaume I in her thesis. Ana Capdevila also found that female students who attend private schools and exercise competitively with parents who have high educational backgrounds, have better academic performance than nonatlet teens. In addition, young athletes have good study habits and use their empty time in activities that are more beneficial than non-athletic teens.

The role of parents in guiding children's sports

Support from parents is very important for children to continue to exercise. Because, after all, success according to children comes from their view of the efforts they have made and social acceptance, according to the research from Dr. Jean Whitehead. Support from parents is also proven to make sports more fun and challenging for girls.

The following is a guide from the Women's Sports Foundation (2011) for parents in guiding children to exercise:

Which must be done

Make sports sessions more fun so that children are interested in continuing to play
Keep in mind that mistakes made by children are very reasonable
Take the time to discuss with children about the sports that he follows with supportive lines of conversation
Give appreciation for the child's efforts to exercise
Always think positively in supporting children
Become a good role model for children in sports

What not to do

Shout to children
Commenting on children's mistakes on an ongoing basis
Comment on children's mistakes in front of other people
Impatient in seeing the development of children, so that requires children to work in good performance in one try
Demanding children to take pro paths (become professional athletes)
Underestimating the child's efforts in trying
Compare children with other children better
Making a sports session isn't fun by just practicing without playing

Despite knowing the benefits if children do sports, 9 out of 10 parents in America in a survey from the EspnW / Aspen Institute Project Play Survey of Parents on Youth Sports Issues (2014), claimed they were worried about injuries and accidents that might occur in sports sessions. But really, every incident in sports can be prevented, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Shannon Cohen from the East Tennessee Children's Hospital revealed the main key to preventing accidents in children. That is to make each exercise session fun for children. That way, there is no need to hesitate so children participate in sports, right?

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