All parents want their children to excel in all aspects of life, which is why they pay attention to each and every detail. If you want your child to be an all rounder, you need to make sure that they are physically fit and are into sports. If you want your child to feel like a winner, you need to make sure that they have a positive outlook about sports and physical fitness in general. If you will do your job well, your child will learn a sport faster, will excel in it, and will eventually have a great self-esteem. The reason why it is important for your child to excel in sports is that it will serve as model to them when they will face other challenges in life. You need to know that your child can’t win without you and that you need to support them whether they win or lose.

 

How to motivate children to do their best

Teach Them about Healthy Competition

You need to teach your child that the person competing with them is a competitor and not an opponent. It is good to take a challenge and to test your limits, but they should know about all the rules that they should follow and should not view other children as ‘enemies’.  Remember that a child only performs well in sports if their parents support them through thick and thin. It is, therefore, very important that you motivate your child in sports.

Teach Them to Compete With Themselves

You need to tell your child that their ultimate goal is to improve, for which they need to challenge themselves and stay motivated. Winning is great, but tell your child that it is all about knowing their true potential. This way, your child will learn to focus on their abilities, will be more relaxed, and will perform better.

Don’t Define Success and Failure

Never equate success and failure with winning and losing, especially when it comes to sports. Remember that your child is in sports to be physically and mentally fit, and to master a skill. Teach them that losing a game does not mean failure and being an athlete is all about delivering your personal best.

Be a Facilitator Not a Coach

You are there to facilitate your child and to support them instead of bossing them around. Make sure that if you are present, you are providing them with empathy, support, and most importantly, encouragement. Unless you motivate your child in sports, they might not be able to excel.

Make the Sport fun For the Child

You need to make sure that the sport is fun for the child because this way they will not dread going to practice. When parents tell their child that they have to win no matter what, the child starts seeing the sport as a burden and starts dreading it. Make sure you tell them it’s all about having fun and is a journey of self-improvement while you motivate your child in sports.

Avoid Comparisons

Never compare your child to someone else’s because every individual is unique and have their own skills set. Make sure you tell your child that you love them unconditionally.

Tips To Help You Out

Here are some tips that will surely help you out to motivate your child in sports:

  • Let your child pick the sport they like
  • Ask all the family members to support them
  • Encourage them and help them stay motivated
  • Be present during all the important matches
  • Praise their efforts and not the result