Another Socialization Myth Debunked

As homeschool parents, one of the issues that often comes up is that our children are deprived from joining the school sports team and thereby we, as their parents, are depriving our children from having fun, making friends and learning good sportsmanship. After all, many believe that group sports are good for children and another way for children to socialize. Well guess what? It's not true! Yup you heard me, it's NOT true!

According to Mass Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), research shows that children's top reasons for playing sports include having fun, learning skills, developing fitness and enjoying competition. SOCIALIZATION reasons are near the bottom of the list, while sportsmanship falls in the middle.

Brian Shulman, a former pro football player and owner of Learning Through Sports, explains that they have researched the reasons why 85% of kids or more have stopped playing sports by the age of 13. The number one reason that is given is that "Sports are just not any fun anymore."

What has caused this drastic downturn in children's sports? Shulman boils it down to four reasons.

1. Media coverage - too much focus on negative incidents
2. Society's focus on winning at all cost
3. Parental over-identification (in other words too much parent control and pushiness)
4. Lack of formalized sportsmanship education in the school system

Dr. John C. Flemming, a family physician and author, states about sportsmanship and parent over identification that: "Many parents live out their childhoods, personal aspirations, lost sports opportunities, and old defeats through their kids." He goes on to say that generally when "children lose a game they quickly forget, but it's the parents that drag the emotional baggage to the ball field and tend to take out years of frustration on other parents, the umpires and officials, the coaches and, most of all, their kids."

Dr. Flemming recommends that parents encourage physical activity by removing access to sedentary activities like television and to stop rewarding children with these type of activities. Instead, he suggests to play a game of tag in the backyard or in the backyard pool! Kudos for homeschooling families that have already gotten that message!

I know my son plays golf, bowls and bike rides! All fun and fit activities. Nope, we are not looking for the next Tiger Woods, just a game he can learn and take with him the rest of his life if he chooses to. My family is also part of the The President's Physical Activity and Fitness Challenge Awards Program. We get awards for being active! No tears or fears just good old fashion fun! After all, isn't that what it should be?