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A Lifetime of Learning

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Sports help Raise a Child

I have worked in the schools and am currently attending the University of Maryland to get my degree in early childhood education. Being in the schools is a really great opportunity as a parent. Before working in the schools, I did not really have any idea about how important rest, structure, and good solid meals are to children. It shows the most in the children who are struggling at school. For the most part, these are the children who have very unstable home lives, complain frequently of being tired and hungry, and many times are not even clean. It is sad to see the way these factors affect their school performance, even on the lowest levels.

As a mother of 4 I find it extremely important to have my kids involved in extra curricular activities. Sports especially give them the structure and balance they need to succeed in life. I know it may sound strange, but sports teach them excellent skills that they can use. Skills like getting along with others, listening to authority, and how to be a good winner and loser. Not to mention the benefits of getting out and getting some exercise and fresh air in our very sedentary society.

While other kids are sitting around watching television and playing video games, mine are out on the soccer field exercising and learning. Quite honestly, from a parent's perspective it would be much easier for me if we were home every evening. I mean between going to school all day and taking care of the house, I really don't need to spend every afternoon and evening running to ball fields to pick up this one and drop off that one. I know that someday all my hard work will pay off, but right now it seems that I am always running off somewhere. Fortunately, I do get a little socialization from being on the fields every evening, at least with all the parents who spend their evenings the same as I do.

I do often wonder why they don't do more of the recreational sports for children during the summer months when they are out of school. It seems to me that we spend every spring and fall, running and trying to fit in homework, bedtimes, and baths (even dinner quite frankly doesn't work into this schedule very well), yet summer hits and all the activities and school end, and I am left with four kids who have nothing to do. It really seems to me that at the younger ages especially, they should do more sports during the times while school is out. This would provide a little more structure to our summer and a little less chaos in our spring and fall.

Some people say that it is just too hot for the kids in summertime, but they could definitely play in the early mornings and evenings when it is a little cooler. I just know that at least for my kids it would provide them a little structure during a time when life becomes a free for all.

Finding the balance between sports and school is tricky. Most parents have their children involved in extra curricular activities because studies show that students who are involved in other activities are more balanced, more disciplined and over all better students. These extra activities are also considered by colleges as pluses for a student. As parents, where do we draw the line? How much running is too much on a school night? Isn't an 8:00pm ball game on a school night a little too late for a nine year old? I know it is a little too late for me, and I am just sitting on the sidelines. Imagine how tired those little kids are playing baseball for 7 innings!

Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:29 PM by Carol Ann