Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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MONDAY, May 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A special type of sports parent: an overactive father or mother who curses, yells, or even becomes violent during their child's games. Everyone knows.
You may think you're rooting for your child to win, but psychiatrists say these inappropriate sports behaviors can actually make kids and teens more interested in track and field. Doctors warn.
“Some of these behaviors create unrealistic expectations for young athletes, such as demanding perfection in competition and feeling disappointed or embarrassed if the child doesn't meet those expectations.” says Lauren Havel, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. he said in a news release from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
If children feel like they can't meet their parents' expectations, they may begin to doubt their own abilities, she warns. She may also worry about whether her parents are proud of her despite her struggles on the field and court.
On the other hand, when children live up to unrealistic expectations, they may think their worth is perfect, which is a surefire way to set them up for future self-esteem issues, Havel said.
“Children can develop performance anxiety when parents set unrealistic expectations or push themselves too hard,” she says.
Children learn how to interact with others by watching the important adults in their lives, Havel said.
As a result, children may imitate the disrespect their parents show toward coaches, officials, opposing teams, or other parents.
Additionally, if a parent uses name-calling or physical aggression, young athletes may begin to believe that this is an acceptable way to deal with frustration or solve problems.
In essence, Havel says, parents themselves may be training their children to be bad at sports.
On the other hand, parents who play sports too much may discourage their children.
“If a parent is aggressive or excessive, the child may feel embarrassed or embarrassed,” Havel says.
She recommends the following for sports parents who want to behave appropriately during games:
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Focus on your child and their motivations, not your own motivations as a parent. Think about why they play the game and what they like about it.
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Embrace the fun of sports and have an encouraging and playful attitude during the event.
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Model respectful behavior and sportsmanship and support your child as well as the opposing team.
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Focus on process, not results. Instead of dwelling on a bad play or a bad loss, praise your child's hard work and hard work.
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If your child seems upset, disappointed, or frustrated, acknowledge and acknowledge their feelings and follow up with appropriate encouragement.
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If you feel that you are unable to control your actions during a match, please leave the area. Take yourself out of the situation and calm your excitement by walking around the field or buying a snack from the concession stand.
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Wait until after the game to voice your concerns to coaches and officials. Rather than having such conversations in front of your child, have them privately or through formal channels.
Children need to learn that success is not just about achieving a goal in the end, but how they achieve it.
“The idea of focusing on the process rather than the outcome is critical to developing a growth mindset in children,” Hubbell said. “A growth mindset means believing that talent is developed through work and dedication.”
She said it's not important to score goals, but to improve the process that leads to the desired result.
“This is important for kids, not just in athletics, but in school and in their personal lives,” she added.
After all, parents need to help their children build a healthy self-esteem that is not too fragile and can withstand disappointments and frustrations.
“These tips are ways to help children not only avoid behavioral patterns and self-esteem issues that can be problematic in the short term, but also avoid anxiety disorders in the future,” Havel said. .
Source: Baylor College of Medicine, News Release, April 30, 2024
Parents should emulate the best behaviors of their athletic sons and daughters so that they can grow up to be good at sports and confident adults.
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