How is everyone? It's been a challenging week as many of us prep for the new school year and getting all our ducks aligned....
Problem is, many of us still don't have ANY idea of where or what our kids are doing next week....from what I hear at least.
We've been forced to use the whole "daycare" method with Noah and Ellea. While at first we had a sense of relief, it quickly turned into a bit of chaos in a matter of 5 days.
Noah came home with a cold that lead to an ear infection.....that was trip # 1 to urgent care.....
Monday Ellea came home with Hand Foot Mouth......that was trip # 2.
All while it being Meg's first week back at school and me undergoing this new health protocol to get myself back feeling better....so it just seemed to be perfect timing for all this.
But one thing I've come to find is that there NEVER is a good time. It's just what you make of it. Meg and I have learned in the last year how to deal with stress and uncertainty. It's something that we often can't control yet SO MANY of us point blame and try to deal with the problems and place blames.
This vicious cycle can just dig your mental state further from where it needs to be. So instead of fixating on all the bad, we shifted our focus to what we have to be thankful for and how we can adapt to put our kid's health first.
Which brought me to my random thought for the day about parents and their children when it comes to specialization at a young age. Simply put, putting all your eggs in one basket.
I'm not a fan. Having your kids focused on one sport at a young age is something that offers minimal rewards long term. Now, location and school size can play a part because some offer sports in the same season, BUT regardless, giving your child the chance to experiment and find where their passion lies is perfectly fine.
Where it becomes a problem is if parents begin forcing unrealistic expectations in multiple areas. Having them doing too much too quickly can backfire, so ultimately you want to shift their training towards what they enjoy.
Over the years as a trainer I've even had athletes come out and say that their sport is no longer fun and it's draining and a "chore."
Now, there is a lot to blame here, but it can begin with how you introduce athletics to them at an early age. Forcing them to like basketball because you were a Divison One stud isn't the best practice. As a kid, let them explore and get a variety of sports to challenge their proprioceptive abilities to further their neurological stimulation and strength.
Each sport offers different magnitudes of training which can only benefit them as they develop.
Did you play multiple sports as a kid? At what age did you find your "specialized" interest...
Agree/Disagree, I just hope you get my point and take-home message that childhood development athletically should be wanted and natural not forced and trained.
Have a great week!
