In this type of situation the best thing to do is have sports equipment around the home especially in areas where they commonly play. You may notice the more you force it, the more frustrating it gets. Maybe you signed them up for a sports program and they don’t seem interested. There could be some outlying factors such as the quality of the coach or the program itself. We always say one of the important things is to have a great coach. First and foremost, sports needs to be fun. Fun is phase 1 and it starts with the educator.

Introduce them to multiple sports and see what gauges their interest. You never know - they may not like tee'-ball but obsess over soccer. Keep an eye on what they attract towards.

As a parent, have them see you having fun with the sport.. Even watching on tv and your child seeing your excitement can go a long way.

Actually more common than you think! First off, its great that your child loves sports. Overtime your child will come out of their shell with a little push and again trusting the quality of the coach & or program.pushing them in a positive way. Important thing is not to force it. If they run to you or shy away - speak to them and let them know how great they are doing. Very important not to show frustration. The child feels it and will look to avoid that feeling they get when their parent shows frustration.

We actually think this a great thing. They are learning how to handle emotions and having that competitive nature will be great as they get older. As the parent, you need to polish it up and keep it going in the right direction. Emotional maturity is crucial and developing that characteristic at a young age is great! If they lose or something doesn’t go their way - show them how to handle it.

Taunting after a win or a goal should be addressed right away. We call it a “jolt” here at PESAKids. How would it feel if they did that to you - not very good. Respect your opponents & your teammates. Overtime you will see how their emotional maturity builds in a positive way

Crying after a loss or not having a desired outcome.. A jolt may not be the best option. Let them vent and get it out of their system. Once they calm down - go to their eye level & keep it light. Making them laugh - you will see how fast their mood changes. In that moment, all they know is sadness - having them feel your understanding and going down to their eye level speaking to them , eventually they will be better at handling situations that don’t go their way.

As a parent, you need to be real with your child’s ability at their current level. Some children are more athletic than others. Aiming to high of a level will lead to low self confidence - keeping it safe at a low level will lead to plateau effect on their abilities.

You never want your child at the bottom or the top of the talent pool especially as they older.

Going into kindergarten or first grade, sign them up with your local town. Recreation is a good starting point. If they are to strong for the level, finish out the season and sign-up for the higher level (example travel). Again, monitor their athleticism within the group. Club level can be an option if they are outperforming their opponents and teammates.

If your child is in the middle of the pact, it could be a nice spot for your child. This will push them to get better and keep them engaged.

If your child is getting minimal playing time but is really enjoying the experience - again could be a good spot for them. If you notice a lack of self-confidence or not looking forward to going to practice or games - there is nothing wrong with going to a less competitive environment.

Building self-confidence and having fun is so important at this age. They aren’t going pro tomorrow or getting a division 1 scholarship. Let them enjoy it first and foremost.

Another aspect is pricing especially if your child is very athletic. Don’t break the bank - if it is hurting your wallet hold off a bit. Do your research prior to committing to anything with a high price tag. Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean the best even if the club guarantees it.