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Is your child chucking a ball around the house or can’t stop busting out their best dance moves?
It may be time to take the next step and join a sports club! 👯♀️⛹️♂️🤸♀️🏌️♀️🚴♂️
The sense of belonging a child feels when they are part of a team is so valuable! ☺️
Check out these hot tips from Kudos’ therapists about how to prepare your child for a team sport and be their biggest supporter!! 👏👏
1) Find a good option
Find a program, club or community that shows commitment to including all kids in the group or team. Ask if you can come and watch or do a trial to see if the culture of the club reflects a positive attitude to inclusion and valuing all kids in the group.
2) Practise at home
Help them ‘warm up’ with the new activity and practise the basics. Eg. throwing and catching balls at home will support their confidence when playing the game.
If the family does the activity socially, your child is more likely to do it. For example, a bike-riding family will encourage them to get onto a bike and support this skill development; same for soccer families or footy, etc.
3) Emphasise the fun
Kids learn and participate better when they are enjoying themselves. Introduce them to sports that they can have fun doing. Eg. trampolining may be a lot more fun than racquet sports for a child whose coordination skills are still developing.
4) Always positive
Tell them the positive things you have seen them progress with – eg. “your goal kicking is getting better every time”.
5) Find a buddy
It may be easier to start in a team with a familiar person alongside them. Joining with other kids from their friendship group may help them feel supported in a new sport or team.
6) Start small
Start small and aim for a variety of experiences- “have a go” programs enable children to try a variety of sports without a big commitment to a whole season or membership. This will help you figure out which sports your child enjoys – you might be surprised at their choices!
7) Sports Voucher
Don’t forget to use your “sports for schools” voucher to get $100 funded towards the cost of sports fees Sports Vouchers from the SA Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.
