 Save My Family Today
Specializing in In-Home Family Coaching and Parent Education |
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Is Balance Possible?
Yes!
First, let's consider the following statistics.
A University of Michigan study reports that:
- Structured sports time doubled between 1981 and 1997 and has steadily been on the rise.
- At the same time, unstructured outdoor activities declined 50 percent.
- Today's parents spend eleven hours less a week (about 90 minutes a day) with their teenagers than they did two decades ago.
- The average mother spends less than a half hour per day talking with her teens.
- Only six in ten fifteen- and sixteen-year olds regularly eat dinner with their parents because of practices, games and tournaments.
- Family vacations are down by 28 percent.
- Sports have replaced church on Sunday for many families.
- Games, tournaments and practice take away time from family values and priorities such as religion, volunteerism and quality time together.
- Children are being benched for missing practice to be with their families.
If some of those points resinate with you as a parent, there is a very strong chance your family is out of balance when it comes to your teen's sports. The good news is that something can be done! Consider the following...
Be honest. Is your teen's sport's schedule taking a toll on you, as the parent? On your family as a whole? On your teen? Are any of you losing sleep or skipping meals just to accommodate the schedule? So often parents are afraid to say no because they don't want to rob their kid of the extra edge they think they may need. In doing so, they rob their kid of a balanced life that incorporates the values and purpose of the family. If you or your child is overwhelmed with sports and other activities, discuss which one to cut out.
Set boundaries. Parents in the United States spend less time with their children than those in almost any nation on the planet. And sitting court side while your child plays is not considered time together. Given your family's values and purpose, determine how many days/nights a week it is reasonable for your teen to participate in sports. Then set aside one night a week to have fun together... and stick to it! Also, encourage time with friends. Teens need each other to learn how to operate and interact in social settings. Allow them to go out on weekends and spend time together. This is all part of teaching a balanced approach to life.
Set priorities. School work, family relationships, religion and other family values should always come before sports. You want to teach your kids that values need to run life, not a schedule.
Take a break! Sports have seasons for a reason... so athletes can rest, repair and rejuvenate. It's ok to have your teen take time off from sports... perhaps the summer or during a time that is especially meaningful to your family such as holidays.
Remember that most likely sports will not be your child's future, their bread and butter. Keeping that in perspective may help you adjust the sports schedule to something more reasonable.
As a parent, you have to set the tone and the pace. If things have gotten away from you and sports have taken over... it's not too late to slow it down and take a new approach. Sports are important and beneficial... just make sure you are fitting sports in to your life, not your life in to sports.
Lisa was a guest on the radio show, Answers for the Family...listen here!
Know anyone else with kids? Send this along to them... let's join together in raising healthy children to become healthy adults! |
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Lisa is teaching a FREE Parenting Workshop
Topic: Parenting Exaggerated (learn tools to connect with your teens in healthy ways)
Tuesday, October 16
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Fusion Academy Huntington Beach Campus
7711 Center Ave., Suite 120
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
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