Kids Being Kids

Let get back to letting kids be kids, instead of making them into miniature adults and forcing them into sports and drills that are inappropriate and unnecessary. Turn them onto play, just old-fashioned free play where they can learn by exploration without adult guidance. Let them awaken the inner athlete, it is there, but it can quickly be taken away by forcing them into organized sports activity that turn them into robots. Let them tap into their movement instincts and patterns. Encourage activities that get them comfortable with their bodies and reasonably test their limits. All of this precedes sport skill. This approach will give youngster a broad movement vocabulary that will enable them to learn sports skills when the time is appropriate. Take advantage of the so-called “skill hungry years,” ages nine to eleven and develop fundamental movement skills. Everyone will be better for it.