Question:
What’s the best way to encourage children to take up sport?
Ernie Els
2006-10-15 13:54:08 UTC
Yahoo! Answers staff note: This is the real Ernie Els. Look here for more detail: http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-qT1KKPQoRKdVT4lowpJCljbFokkuIzI8?p=1163
664 answers:
fitasfiddle
2006-10-16 00:21:33 UTC
Encourage them from the time they are young, start them early. Lead them from the front - don't tell them they should take up sport, spend time with them in playing outdoor games. But, most importantly, don't ever force them into doing anything, else they will take dislike to sporting activities.



While you can start them off with swimming (one of the sporting activities) at a very early age, once they join school, encourage them to participate in school sports. Be there to cheer them when they are participating in any school sport activity and if they don't win any prizes, don't discourage them by critcizing them.
2006-10-17 16:30:34 UTC
I would suggest that between inclusion in sports that are already an activity within the family., or school. Exposure to other sports that are prevalent and prove to be enjoyable to the child.



Education at an early age of the advantages and variety of sports that are available, and present role models of those different sports to the child so that they appreciate the dedication required and the goals and accolade that can be achieved.

All too many times I have seen parents push their children in a direction of a sport that appeals to themselves, or was a sport they were good at when younger. The problem with that is there are so many variations, and kids have often very different ideas than their parents. How many great sports men and women could have there been only if they had been introduced to a sport they really loved and took to at the right time.. Of course with so many options it can be difficult for parents, or pre school and primary schools, to find the right key for each child. I don't doubt that each child has a particular bias to a type of sport, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will excel at it, for a number of reasons.

Importantly there are two factors here, in the first place they should whatever be allowed the opportunity, and secondly if they do wane and really cease to be serious, they should'nt be pushed into it further, because of a parents wishes, or as I hear often, the parents have spent a lot of money on this sport, so the child must do it. It would be more constructive to assess the positives from the sport that has proved to be unsuccessful, and offer the child alternatives.

It can be costly, if for each sport tried the child is bought every conceviable item concerned with the sport they choose to try. But it doesn't have to be that way. For many sports there are outlets and clubs where by using the venues equipment a "try it and see" can be arranged. If not, many sports can be tried with either cheaper second hand equipment, or through buying the basic requirements of the sport, or even borrowing a friends and joining in. Perhaps these points covered are the main reasons why there are not many more sports achievers, because the overseers whether it be the parents or schools choose not to promote sport as a worthwhile activity because of cost, available facilities, or simply the inteference of all the other facets that encroach on modern day living.

In conclusion, education and awareness is primary to ignite that spark in the children, but in addition, and indeed more importantly, there needs to be an education of the people who are in a position to guide and influence the children in the first place, and continue to maintain a realistic level of encouragement.
2006-10-16 04:38:07 UTC
Its important that we find something that stimulates the youngster be it an individual event or a team sport and that is likely to come from their background - the school environment and cultural influences. Team sports are also defined by geographical position where certain sports are encouraged more and easier to take part in organised coaching etc. We should never force the child since it could end up that we have made them detest something that they once loved. All we simply want to do is identify the interest then help them and support them in whatever way they can. Not everyone is a Tiger Woods, Venus Wiilams, or Wayne Rooney so we must make sure the child is at a level where they are comfortable as well as at the limit of their ability. Encouragement is the important factor and it must start in the home from parents and brothers and sisters then it moves up a level to the school or local coach who will have more experience and can guide the child to the next phase where a certain level of excellance has been attained and a career is a possibilty. The whole way through the process it is important that the child's wishes are considered as we should not forget that the main point of sport is for enjoyment. I'm quite sure the reason you got into golf was because you enjoyed the game and this is the underlying principle for everyone. When the child has to be forced then everything is lost.
nl
2006-10-17 07:48:08 UTC
Dear Ernie,



Firstly, congratulations on your birthday today! Hope you have many more and even more Majors!



Secondly, your question. I suppose there is neither a correct nor incorrect answer. Unfortunately, I believe the 'fix' is not one that is quick. My personal opinion is that sport has become a 'click' in which only the talented, well-built etc etc may partake in. I believe this is the fault of the institution starting at primary school level. The sports teachers tend to pick only the strongest and talented kids and they get preferential treatment. The famous "b" or second team always plays in the shadow of others. At primary level, more kids will try out at sports. Talent is not yet as evident and athletic build mostly underdeveloped. However, when the average child gets picked for the b or c team(or not at all), it leaves a scar. Moving over to high school, kids become EXTREMELY self-aware. So, scared of not being in the A team, they rather find something else to do. You see this right through SA schools. Schools with big numbers struggles to push three senior rugby teams into competition and when a 3rd or 4th team can be established, they don't have a league to play in because of lack of opposition.



The stigma: "only the best can play" MUST somehow be done away with. Whe need to put fun back in the game. It is all so serious. Look at high school rugby, the pressure is intense. I've seen 18 year old boys cry when they lose a game. The fun have been taken away. Put fun back so that the lesser talented should not feel ashamed or out of place to partake in the sports activities. School sports have really become a activity for only a select few with talent. Save that for the professional arena after school.



How can this be done in practice? This is indeed a difficult question. I believe that the new SuperSport initiative will do wonders. However, I feel clubs outside school has a great role to play. This is a arena where the peer pressure and clicks of school does not exist. I have seen time and time again that children play their sports (especially cricket) at clubs and at school they wont dare to do so even in breaktime. Clubs should actively try to establish a different (friendly) environment for sports with the main goal being fun. When kids see the fun and not the competition or pressure of A or B teams they will commit easier. With the kind of peer pressure or risk of being humiliated at school, I believe a new environment for sports could further a greater involvement from the kids sitting at home.



thanks for the question and good luck for the first win... its not far away!



regards



Niel Lubbe
Devon
2014-09-17 08:49:01 UTC
Then a divide slowly sets in. Children have to compete for places in school teams and in classes a lot of sports teachers tend to focus on the children who show immediate flare and potential. Consequently the ones who find a sport difficult very often have little time spent with them and are not encouraged enough. They give up at sport because teachers want to work with those who can do it straight away, so they can get a team together quickly to play other schools and win competitions. Some children sense that they are weaker because they can't do it and sport should not just be about competitions and being the best. It should be about keeping healthy and having fun!
?
2015-12-25 07:49:48 UTC
Children have to compete for places in school teams and in classes a lot of sports teachers tend to focus on the children who show immediate flare and potential. Consequently the ones who find a sport difficult very often have little time spent with them and are not encouraged enough. They give up at sport because teachers want to work with those who can do it straight away, so they can get a team together quickly to play other schools and win competitions. Some children sense that they are weaker because they can't do it and sport should not just be about competitions and being the best. It should be about keeping healthy and having fun!
?
2014-09-20 06:31:52 UTC
In poorer nations, this is not so much a problem but resources are and I can only suggest that sporting institutions set up academies in these nations (some football clubs do this already) to bring on talent and invest something. The other problem is that so many kids are not encouraged to take up sport unless they are a natural at it. I speak from experience because I had little encouragement at school and was always back then physically quite weak. All kids should learn that it is not just the tallest and most mature kid who can be good at sport. Building confidence in children at sport (as well as academics) is important so that it does not stay the preserve of 'jocks'
TRUEBRIT
2006-10-22 02:04:11 UTC
I myself think this should start very young with parents giving them encouragement firstly , by keeping fit , say running twice a week , skipping ,walking to school or even jogging to school, as soon as a child has any interest in any form of sport parents should support this interest , take the child swimming , ballet , football , give them the taste for all types of sport so they can make their own mind up to what suits them, Then its the schools turn , Sport should be on the curriculum at least 3 times per week , keep fit should be 3 times a week also, every sport should be on offer , this way we will not only have a fit Nation for the future we will have more Sport stars for the future too, maybe more for the Olympics , Also make sport enjoyable and children will want to do more.
2014-08-23 05:06:31 UTC
If children don't learn the fundamentals of sport, playtime can become devious or disappear prematurely; isn't the forty-five year-old enjoying his own "playtime" on the golf course saturday afternoons? So, how do we introduce children to sport? First, make it available for them to discover; cheap/free access to driving ranges, equipment and golf instruction is a great idea. Likewise, soccer and cricket access/instruction. They could be shown videos (maybe once a week during school) with varying topics on sports stars. These programs could include information such as the fundamentals of the game as well as the benefits that sport has has on that particular sports star's life. Perhaps certain athletes could speak at schools. Non-pro parents could also speak to children about the benefits that sports have had on their lives (obviously,besides income like life lession, etc.). I think the key to all the instruction is to play the game within the allowed parameters. This carries over into there lives in the form of integrity and is the way a program of this sort can have a positive impact on society as a whole.
2006-10-21 07:05:10 UTC
One way is to join in yourself, without a doubt. But one would need to take into account other scenario's too. Maybe a child is a little overweight/underweight and has trouble keeping up with their friends. So encouraging a healthy diet from a very early age is so very important.

Make sure that the child knows that sport comes in so many varying forms and it makes no difference if they can or cant kick a ball. This may come as a shock to some people but the world does not revolve around football!

As a parent, support the child, no matter how many different things the child wants to try and be there for them no matter what. The sad part is that, in this day and age, even if the child is good at the sport theres always a huge cost for equipment involved.
?
2016-04-23 12:32:41 UTC
All too many times I have seen parents push their children in a direction of a sport that appeals to themselves, or was a sport they were good at when younger. The problem with that is there are so many variations, and kids have often very different ideas than their parents. How many great sports men and women could have there been only if they had been introduced to a sport they really loved and took to at the right time.. Of course with so many options it can be difficult for parents, or pre school and primary schools, to find the right key for each child. I don't doubt that each child has a particular bias to a type of sport, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will excel at it, for a number of reasons.
?
2015-02-15 09:34:14 UTC
The stigma: "only the best can play" MUST somehow be done away with. Whe need to put fun back in the game. It is all so serious. Look at high school rugby, the pressure is intense. I've seen 18 year old boys cry when they lose a game. The fun have been taken away. Put fun back so that the lesser talented should not feel ashamed or out of place to partake in the sports activities. School sports have really become a activity for only a select few with talent. Save that for the professional arena after school.
?
2015-10-21 05:12:01 UTC
playtime can become devious or disappear prematurely; isn't the forty-five year-old enjoying his own "playtime" on the golf course saturday afternoons? So, how do we introduce children to sport? First, make it available for them to discover; cheap/free access to driving ranges, equipment and golf instruction is a great idea. Likewise, soccer and cricket access/instruction. They could be shown videos (maybe once a week during school) with varying topics on sports stars. These programs could include information such as the fundamentals of the game as well as the benefits that sport has has on that particular sports star's life. Perhaps certain athletes could speak at schools. Non-pro parents could also speak to children about the benefits that sports have had on their lives (obviously,besides income like life lession, etc.). I think the key to all the instruction is to play the game within the allowed parameters. This carries over into there lives in the form of integrity and is the way a program of this sort can have a positive impact on society as a whole.
crazycase2006
2006-10-18 12:49:58 UTC
I think the best way to ENCOURAGE children is by being a good role model. so it is down to the parents to start their child's journey into health and fitness and general well being, it should be done at a early age and it needs to be fun,exciting, new things added to keep them interested it also needs to change with their abilities so they will not become bored. Not all sport has to be expensive so there really is no excuse for children not to be participating in some kind of sport activities.Then i think as the child moves on through their journey the school's introduce different sports and the children get to use equipment (that maybe their parents couldnt afford) and the child will get some sense of achievment knowing what they are good at and with parent support ( and the schools) the children can then excel in the area of sport they have chosen. But not all children have been given this opportunity already and with them children we need to educate them and lead by example, get a ball have a kick around with your children for half an hour in the garden (or wherever) GET THEM AWAY FROM THE COMPUTERS reward them for the slighest achievment that way they will want to suceed.
mikeridout85
2006-10-18 02:01:44 UTC
Ernie,



I'm a strong believer in getting kids into sport. I'm also a firm believer in that there is a form of sport for everyone.



One of the main problem kids have when trying to get into sports is a lack of motivation. It is far easier to sit around and watch television in their spare time then it is to go the gym, for example. Thus, an education that concentrated on increasing motivation would be my starter point. The most proven ways to do this is through goal setting. Any activity that is given a goal is given an increased purpose. Setting realistic and attainable goals can greatly increase sports participation. An attainable goal designed to improve performance is a proven method to increase participation.



Sports participation, or lack of, all begins at school. The highest rate of drop out from sport is 14. Therefore, it is not leaving school that ends children's sporting days, as a lot of people think, but it something that happens during school which ceases childrens' participation. Thus, an increased emphasis on the importance of sport must occur in school. Sport is important as it brings people closer togerther; it creaters long and special friendships. Sport provides an opportunity to get outside and participate in an activity that it stimulating and good for you. These are just two postivies of sport that need to be stressed at school.



However, it is no good schools just stressing the importance of sport to kids if the opportunities to participate in sport is not there. Thus a collaboration between schools and government must take place to ensure that kids have the opportunity to participate in sport and the necessary coaching, facilities and equipment to do so.



I have only scratched the surface here of what is a very important issue. However, the items mentioned above would make a good starting point.
Andy
2006-10-16 16:51:02 UTC
If I think back to when I was young and attending school in South Africa, the main influences in my life were my parents, my teachers and also the coaches of the various sports at school.



I was exposed to sport through the schooling system and my parents interest in it and it was 'cool' to be in the A soccer team or the A cricket team. Other kids in the school would look up to you and would also want to be in the A team one day.



It seems these days that the focus has changed and that it is more 'cool' to hang around shopping centres, or be wearing the latest fashion, or have the latest gadget etc...all of which are fine in moderation but the one thing they all have in common, is that they keep young people indoors.



Who is to blame for the way the younger generation act and behave? In my opinion we need to look no further than 'us'adults, especially the younger adults in the 30-50 age bracket and also the sport setup within the school systems of most countries.



We should be exposing our children to sport from an early age, so that it is fun for them and not a chore.

What we don't want is them hating sport because they think they have to train hard and get fit .

Ideally they will just enjoy kicking a ball with their mates or playing 9 holes with Dad or Mum or both. If we can expose them to a sport without pressure from an early age they will grow to love doing some sort of physical exercise.



Sport is a great way to make a living or simply enjoy your particular sport or several sports. It encourages comradeship, you meet and share eperiences with amazing people and it broadens your network and opportunities in life.



Sport can be a tool for success or simply a hobby or social pursuit that we can enjoy when not working. Ultimately it will almost always help us to live longer more healthier lives. This is the message we should be sharing with children!



Just like STEVE IRWIN was passionate about wildlife and educated children about wildlife constantly. As parents and teachers etc, we need to be sport warriors and start the education and exposure at home.



DON'T leave it up to someone else to educate your child in something because you may not like what the end result is. It is far better to have a racquet or bat or golf club in your hand than a burger, cigarette or even worse a syringe.



EDUCATION, DISCIPLINE and DIRECTION all should start from home, when a child knows what its boundaries are, they can enjoy the game of life. Excercising and playing sport will help them play the game longer and more successfully.
Tom C
2006-10-16 11:50:54 UTC
First, I think it helps when the parent participates in the sport the child is interested in. That doesn't necessarily mean the parent has to get out on the field to practise with them (although that's great if the parent is able to), but being involved in some way helps to encourage the child's own participation. This can be something as simple as volunteering to bring refreshments at the games, or helping the coaches at practise. If the parent shows a real interest in the sport, I believe it confirms in the mind of the child that it is something of value.



Second, as the child gets older and the sport becomes more competitive, I believe it's important for the parent to make sure the sport is still fun for the child. I think a parent can tell when their child has a passion for a sport but may be lacking in self confidence or discipline, versus a child that simply doesn't enjoy what they're doing anymore. I've seen many parents push their children because of an unfulfilled dream they had, instead of letting the child pursue their own dream. Sport should be an expression of life and letting ones true self come out and play.



Finally, the parent should be there for the child to provide support in any way possible. Whether it's driving the child to practise at 5am, car pooling to tournaments out of town, or being there to provide encouragement when things aren't going well. Of course it doesn't hurt if the parent can draw on previous experience in the sport so they can relate to the ups and downs with their child, although this may not always be possible. I believe it is also helpful for a parent to be an example of what good sportsmanship is all about, and make sure their child exhibits that behvior when playing the sport.
paul c
2006-10-22 05:19:53 UTC
I think the best way to encourage children in sport is by having all sports televised and not just the major tournaments. The local children's football match, sailing ,hockey, golf,netball,athletics etc.. If they see that some of there school mates, on the telly may be that would encourage them to take part even for a bit of fun?
?
2014-08-23 22:04:17 UTC
the best way to encourage children to take up sport is to promoto sport as enjoying a fun activity based on mutual respect . This notion takes winning and being the best out of the equation . Winning and being the best is not sport , that is ambition , drive and for some of us our job . Kids get a job later . The ones that understand how to enjoy sports with others and learn respect for the rules and others will , in case they are gifted as athletes probably become top sporters . But that is adolescent stuff . Children is fun and respect .
jonathanlorenson
2006-10-18 14:44:44 UTC
Hi Ernie,

I think children have an innate proclivity toward games and playing in general. Sport is merely an organized and focused version of playtime. If children don't learn the fundamentals of sport, playtime can become devious or disappear prematurely; isn't the forty-five year-old enjoying his own "playtime" on the golf course saturday afternoons? So, how do we introduce children to sport? First, make it available for them to discover; cheap/free access to driving ranges, equipment and golf instruction is a great idea. Likewise, soccer and cricket access/instruction. They could be shown videos (maybe once a week during school) with varying topics on sports stars. These programs could include information such as the fundamentals of the game as well as the benefits that sport has has on that particular sports star's life. Perhaps certain athletes could speak at schools. Non-pro parents could also speak to children about the benefits that sports have had on their lives (obviously,besides income like life lession, etc.). I think the key to all the instruction is to play the game within the allowed parameters. This carries over into there lives in the form of integrity and is the way a program of this sort can have a positive impact on society as a whole.

Thanks for the ear and gaan bokke!!

Jonathan Lorenson

jlo2069@excite.com
bezerkangel
2006-10-17 05:29:02 UTC
For those that don't enjoy sport I think prizes, be it a trophy, certificate or 'stuff' would work. It would encourage children to find something that they enjoy and then work at getting good at it. Nothing encourages like the feeling of self worth and achievement and prizes help to do just that. Perhaps the chance to play with their hero? Also I found that a recent golf game where you have a stick in hand rather than control pad excellant! I might be past the kid catagory but that has really piqued my interest in getting to an actual golf course. If you could find more ways of doing this with other sports I wonder if that may work, could be tricky with other sports however although children have always loved computer games transferring some of that interest into actual outdoors would be the key - perhaps trying to use the two mediums together rather than trying to enforce one.
Ally
2006-10-16 10:20:50 UTC
The answer lies with schools. Sport should be a much bigger part of the cirriculum - not just twice a week for P.E. They should join with local golf courses, swimming pools, sports centres etc. to give children a chance to take up a wide range of activities. Personally when I was at school I was put off because I did not excel at the usual sports or cross country, hurdles, long jump etc. Hockey also absolutely terrified me. I did however love swimming and if the school had had a swimming team I think I would really have enjoyed this. I feel that sport is seen as unimportant because it is not an academic subject - this is entirely unfair as not everyone is academically minded. Also, if children are encouraged to take up sport at a young age they are far more likely to be healthy and active later on in life.
2014-11-17 17:15:32 UTC
around in my head for the past few months. I work at an Infant school and whilst there seems to be opportunities for children at upper primary or even secondary level it is a privileged few in usually leafy suburbs that get any real experience. Golf clubs and Local Education Authorities need to work together, devise a fun sports package and deliver them to schools. Not only will it encourage pupils to take up the sport, but may even encourage the parents, most golf clubs are suffering from falling memberships, and need to address this by being more proactive in encourage junior members and new members who may not ever get the opportunity, golf's days of elitism for the upper middle classes has had it's day. Two of golf's high profile players that get media attention are Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie both started at very, very early ages. We may not be able to find pupils/ children of that high standard , but
Madhu
2014-10-03 23:01:26 UTC
Sports participation, or lack of, all begins at school. The highest rate of drop out from sport is 14. Therefore, it is not leaving school that ends children's sporting days, as a lot of people think, but it something that happens during school which ceases childrens' participation. Thus, an increased emphasis on the importance of sport must occur in school. Sport is important as it brings people closer togerther; it creaters long and special friendships. Sport provides an opportunity to get outside and participate in an activity that it stimulating and good for you. These are just two postivies of sport that need to be stressed at school.
Willem B
2006-10-20 23:55:29 UTC
The answer lies in simplicity



Sports is a game . Games Should be fun .

Fun is an ethical value and is the result of one or more individuals enjoying the same activity with mutual respect .



So the best way to encourage children to take up sport is to promoto sport as enjoying a fun activity based on mutual respect . This notion takes winning and being the best out of the equation . Winning and being the best is not sport , that is ambition , drive and for some of us our job . Kids get a job later . The ones that understand how to enjoy sports with others and learn respect for the rules and others will , in case they are gifted as athletes probably become top sporters . But that is adolescent stuff . Children is fun and respect .
RAJEEV S
2006-10-18 14:58:18 UTC
In richer nations one has to encourage parents to get rid of the dominant TV culture where the easiest thing for kids to do is stay in, eat crisps and play on the playstations. In poorer nations, this is not so much a problem but resources are and I can only suggest that sporting institutions set up academies in these nations (some football clubs do this already) to bring on talent and invest something. The other problem is that so many kids are not encouraged to take up sport unless they are a natural at it. I speak from experience because I had little encouragement at school and was always back then physically quite weak. All kids should learn that it is not just the tallest and most mature kid who can be good at sport. Building confidence in children at sport (as well as academics) is important so that it does not stay the preserve of 'jocks'
Marinersfan
2006-10-18 05:59:25 UTC
Back in the year 2000, a couple of guys from my village and I decided that there was nothing for the youngsters to do in the way of organised sporting activity. We formed a football (soccer) team for the kids of the same age as our oldest boys (then 11) and entered the local league. OK, so we were pretty bad, but the boys enjoyed themselves and eventually won a couple of games. Nearly 7 years on, we have 3 teams of varying age groups and get a great dal of satisfaction from being able to say "We started this". Maybe the standard hasn't improved dramatically, but there's a lot more involvement in the local community so we seem to have done more than we originally set out to do.



So there you have it ... If there isn't a team locally, start one up! It doesn't matter which sport, it doesn't matter of the kids aren't any good! What does matter is that they enjoy themselves and make a few new friends along the way!
yukonplc
2006-10-17 20:52:46 UTC
In high school in Northern Ontario (Canada), the PE teachers split the year into ten segments. In each segment, you chose one activity of three. Each was a recreational 'sport' that you could learn about/play in the three-four week segment. The teachers offered these sports because they were trying to introduce us to activities that we would carry beyond school and into adulthood (no dodgeball or windsprints were involved).



The sports were a mix of indoor and outdoor activities over different seasons (it is Canada). They included curling, golf, cross country skiing, yoga. I had never tried any of them before that. It was a great experience and these are the activities/sports I continue to be involved with at 40. It was important that we got to choose what what we wanted to try and that you had to try multiple things. I tried tennis (can't hit a moving ball) but loved golf cause the ball is stationary when you hit it. So you got an opportunity to find a sport that fits your body and your mind.



It was a fabulous way to introduce kids to sports that may be competitive but are not necessarily. You learned that you do not have to be a super athlete to take part in sports. The activities offered are social on some level. The format get kids out of school and actually visit the curling rink, the golf course, tennis courts etc -- places that some of us had not been previously. It was really effective and takes away the angst of being picked for team sports. Not everyone is doing to be captain of the hockey team.



It may be more work and expense than traditional PE, but it is worth the investment. Kids may not take to all the sports but will find at least one that they enjoy and can continue outside school. And later in life may take up others having had a chance to try it as a child/teenager.
Francois Neveling
2006-10-17 04:59:38 UTC
Hi Ernie

There are many kids that do participate in sports, well done to them and their parents.

It is the rest of the kids we would like to get involved as well.

Start in the schools with the younger kids.

Their parents must help out here and find out which sports are available in the school and community.

They must then expose their kids to these sports and see which ones interest them. Let the kids choose for themselves.

Show them that outdoor activities are fun and healthy.

Participate with them where possible.

Teach the kids to endure and try the sports a few times.

Take them to live games and encourage them to watch some sports on TV, whilst explaining briefly how they work.

This type of exposure will allow more kids to take up sports.

Once they do validate them for their efforts and reward them in some way. When they decide to particpate actively in the sport then they can be coached and some basic equipment bought.

This way you wont spend a lot of time and money, but still expose your kids to very worthwhile activities and even get fit yourself.

Remember to keep it fun and let your kids know it's not the end of the world if they don't like it , but at least give it a try.

Once more kids are invloved it is easier to organize better facilities and coaches in conjuction with the schools local authorities.

This will probably take some time and effort, but it all ads up to better education for your kids.

Remember our kids are our future, lets look after them as best we could.
2006-10-17 04:56:21 UTC
Offer more variety.



When I was at school I hated PE because I'm not athletic and have no hand eye co-ordination. This made me think that I infacted hated sport. However after I left school I started going Salsa dancing with my friends which, although not technically a sport, is still physic exercise. A few months later my friend and I decided to learn self defence and took up Judo, which we both loved. We even put up with the athletic warm up because we knew that Judo itself was worth it! And now I've just joined university and have joined the rowing society which again is a great laugh.



Now I know not all schools have the facilities to offer things like rowing but surely if the cost was split between the kids in the group it wouldn't cost each child much to get trained instructors in to do courses on Judo, Salsa and other less well known sports in schools.



I feel if you use schools to allow children to try lots of different sports then when they find one they enjoy the school could provide information about local clubs the child could join. This would hopefully encourage children, who are like I was, to take up more sport.
Mark B
2006-10-16 04:40:32 UTC
From my experience I think all children enjoy playing games up until they start going to school. Then a divide slowly sets in. Children have to compete for places in school teams and in classes a lot of sports teachers tend to focus on the children who show immediate flare and potential. Consequently the ones who find a sport difficult very often have little time spent with them and are not encouraged enough. They give up at sport because teachers want to work with those who can do it straight away, so they can get a team together quickly to play other schools and win competitions. Some children sense that they are weaker because they can't do it and sport should not just be about competitions and being the best. It should be about keeping healthy and having fun!
Francois P
2006-10-17 06:46:13 UTC
Children should be introduced fun sporty activities at a young age. The focus for these activities should be for the kids to enjoy themselves and to start exposing them to competition in a fun way. This will teach them the necessary fundamentals that they would need to naturally progress to a sports activity.



The problem these days are that parents are not doing enough trouble to get their children to play rather than sit in front of the TV or computer. The parents should create that desire to be involved with games or sports and if the parents don't want to do it, kids must have the opportunity to join an institution where they can enjoy sports activities. I would even go as far as saying that the age should be as early as 18 months for them to get involved.



I'm 35 now and when I was small we didn't have an influence from TV and computers as the current kids have. Sporting activities was one of the only activities that we had and that is the reason why I'm still actively involved in all kinds of sports.



In summary my suggestion would be to start forming them while they are still young.



Regards



Francois Pretorius
?
2015-10-15 05:49:53 UTC
I believe this is the fault of the institution starting at primary school level. The sports teachers tend to pick only the strongest and talented kids and they get preferential treatment. The famous "b" or second team always plays in the shadow of others. At primary level, more kids will try out at sports. Talent is not yet as evident and athletic build mostly underdeveloped. However, when the average child gets picked for the b or c team(or not at all), it leaves a scar. Moving over to high school, kids become EXTREMELY self-aware. So, scared of not being in the A team, they rather find something else to do. You see this right through SA schools. Schools with big numbers struggles to push three senior rugby teams into competition and when a 3rd or 4th team can be established, they don't have a league to play in because of lack of opposition.
2006-10-20 15:23:03 UTC
Stick to the basics - There are many ways to encourage kids and I agree with a lot of the responses... "Role models", "Make it fun", "Lead by example" etc... Whatever you do, focus on encouraging the kids that can be encouraged - whether they have talent or not.



You can debate this subject to boredom which ever way you want. To keep things short though, I think peer pressure in sports can be used more effectively that anything else. This is the one place where peer pressure can actually be a good thing.



Children destined to do sports whether privileged or unprivileged will take up sports if its the "in" thing to do. By organising events that get certain groups excited and talking amongst each other will result in a certain percentage getting hooked. Give them the opportunity to impress and the true candidates will step forward.
feliz0257
2006-10-20 12:49:17 UTC
As many things in life, taking up sports depends on the circumstances a person faces. I used to be very good soccer player when I was 11 years old, but I entered high school which was too far from my home and I could not continue to practise soccer. The volley ball gym was closer and I finished practising volley ball and became a member of the national team for a couple of years. I always wondered if I could have become a great soccer player and earn a lot of money, but that doesn't really matter now. I am happy for what I did then and I thing I got the most of what the circumstances gave me chance to do.



Children need the appropriate environment to engage in sports. They need to see that their parents are really interested in them becoming engaged in sports because of the good things sports bring to their mental and physical health. Some parents bring the kids to practise a sports just because it is fashionable or because they want to get rid of them for awhile. Kids also need adequate facilities and by this I don't mean spectacular fields or wonderful gyms. They need the essential facility where they can meet and make friends. At the end, for every kid it is very important to do things with people they feel confortable with. They also need the tools, I mean balls, equipment and so on, that facilitate the practise. I have seen a lot of kids that are very interested in practising but the lack of resources make them to quit very soon.



Celebrities and role models can help, but they are not essential. We have to understand what is behind the motivation of a kid once he or she engages on any activity. Like the economists say: every person acts according to the incentives. If a kid has a genuine incentive, he or she will get into sports and we all be winners.



By the way, this is a very noble thing you are doing. I hope you can succeed on this project and can spread the word about the best practices you find to do this great initiative.



Greetings from Mexico.
enzuigiriuk
2006-10-20 06:23:55 UTC
I think that the best way to encourage children is, like anything else, make it fun.



If you can make a child forget the effort and focus on the enjoyment you can pretty much get them to do anything from eating cabbage to doing their homework.



It might be necessary to modify the game slightly and take out some of the more complicated rules to start with ie offside rule in football in order that they can concentrate on the main point of the game.



I think the government should get more involved and invest more money in getting young people fit and healthy since they are the future and things such as the economy and welfare state will be hit hard if they do not.



This is a great question and a great idea for keeping the future generations healthy!
2006-10-19 13:42:16 UTC
Let them experience varieties of sport. The kids I know who didn't enjoy sport were the ones not so 'athletically possessed' - but if someone had been there to encourage them instead of ignoring them for the 'better' kids, I'm sure they would have found sports they loved, whether competitively or just for fun. At my school everything was focussed on the good players, and I hated sport when I wasn't in the top group who got all the attention and praise. Fortunately, through my own desires I found sports that I loved and got good at, even captaining my School Hockey Team (Field Hockey for you overseas peeps)



And give the kids places where they can play sport - round here fields are being lost to housing developments, leaving the kids to roam the streets, often getting into mischief and trouble. Once you have the places, let the community know and encourage kids of all abilities to join and learn. Get their sporting heros to visit communities to create interest in the teams and sports, and people will join. We live in an apathetic society where you have to take the opportunities to the people, cos getting them to come find you is harder for them than sitting watching TV.
james g
2006-10-19 05:59:16 UTC
Make it accesible, make it enjoyable and make it rewarding. Children have a short attention span and many parents and carers are short of time. Children play football/cricket etc. dependent on their culture/country because they can - four shirts on the ground and a ball produces a game of soccer or a piece of wood and a tennis ball on a beach can be the start of a great cricket match. Sports like tennis and golf need to try harder a providing a range of facilities that people can attend when the spark is there. If you watch the Ryder Cup and are enthralled but can't get to play then the interest will quickly be replaced.



Parents can play both a positive and negative role but support and encourgament must be fun or again the interest will move quickly on.
Dale M
2006-10-18 14:26:01 UTC
Ernie, we have to show them it's fun to play sports. We should take them to lots of live events that they can see how the games are played at the highest level and give the kids something to aim at and allow them to creat role models. Unfortunatley many kids are forced into sport by parents attempting to produce a player that they were not. This is not fun for kids and looking around any field around the world toy will see kids that would rather not play to avoid the parentss pushing.



If kids are exposed and allowed to choose or find the one that they like, it would be far more likely to keep it up.



Parents are mostly at fault for allowing kids to spend so much time behind TV's and computers instead of running around.



Nutrition is a key factor as in North America obesity is excluding some kids from sports because of thier size!



Sports are great and kids should taught that and encouraged.



Good job Ernie
david w
2006-10-16 11:02:23 UTC
First and foremost, young kids want attention from their parents; accordingly, the best way to get kids into sports is for mom and dad to integrate themselves into the sport or activity. Play a sport together, watch them together, read about them together. Before she could actually swing her little goofy golf club, my daughter knew who Annika, Tiger and Ernie were, because we would flip through golf magazines and watch the majors on the television. But don't overdo it. Kids need WInne the Pooh and Scooby Do as well, not just Beckham and Shaq. Also make sure to try a variey of sports: tennis with balloons is fun for tiny tots, throw some nerf footballs, fashion a scale down basketball hoop, try some goofy golf clubs, etc.



Also, capitavate their imagination. I took my daugher to a golf tournament where she got to see Ernie up close (he even said hello to her!). We then found his website, and she found out that he has a daughter too. She now religiously follows his career and has developed an interest in golf.
Valiant
2006-10-16 08:03:10 UTC
The biggest problem today is television, computer games and the fear from parents that their little Timmy will get hurt if he strays more than 3 foot away from them.

Television - There were three channels when I was little, four when I was a teenager. My kids now have access to over 400 channels broadcast (the majority) 24 hours a day.



Computer Games - Widely available and offer some escapism for people paying them (I know 'cos I play Football Manager)



Fear - As reporting is more widespread these days, then people will think there are more abductions, killings etc. Due to this parents may think that if they keep little Timmy at home on the couch then he won't be hurt.



Encourage parents to get involved. Show them what a good time they can have running the team or just joining in. I take my little boy for an hour (at least) bike ride every Sunday morning. It is mine and his time and he is getting into his biking, so much so now that he wants a BMX to do some of the stunts he sees the older kids doing. Also, as we ride through the local park he is seeing the football pitches and this Sunday we have got to take a ball with us to have a kick about.



I don't think we need to get the kids into sport as much as encourage parents to allow and encourage their kids to go out and see what it is like to really kick a ball, really ride a bike and really skateboard down at the park. Go with them if you are that worried.



Thanks for reading my witterings.
thompiddock
2006-10-16 06:26:03 UTC
The local community has a massive role to play. In my village, the football goalposts that were host to countless games between the local kids were taken down in favour of some bizarre 'activity set' that includes a lone basketball net...impossible to use when the ground is lumpy turf. There's talk of a skate park too...I'm sure that football is the nation's most popular sport so why on earth do the council take away the facilities to play it?



Plus I think the chance to participate in a team at your school is important, regardless of ability. Rather than a single elite team, there should be several tiers in which different abilities are catered for.



Few more P.E lessons in schools would be good too. Could replace the useless tutorials or P.S.R.E we had.
ira d
2006-10-16 03:57:43 UTC
This is a question I have been mulling around in my head for the past few months. I work at an Infant school and whilst there seems to be opportunities for children at upper primary or even secondary level it is a privileged few in usually leafy suburbs that get any real experience. Golf clubs and Local Education Authorities need to work together, devise a fun sports package and deliver them to schools. Not only will it encourage pupils to take up the sport, but may even encourage the parents, most golf clubs are suffering from falling memberships, and need to address this by being more proactive in encourage junior members and new members who may not ever get the opportunity, golf's days of elitism for the upper middle classes has had it's day. Two of golf's high profile players that get media attention are Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie both started at very, very early ages. We may not be able to find pupils/ children of that high standard , but it would surely raise the playing standards of the game.
adam s
2006-10-21 01:48:54 UTC
To encourage children into sport, I think a 'National Sporting Agenda' should be introduced, into Primary School by government / local authority.

Seeing as though Children are taught Maths, English & Science at this age, I think Sport should also be taught, both in the class-room & out in the field. A range of sports should be introduced, & not just the mainstream. It would be great if stars like yourself Ernie, could make a DVD of your sport, showing how fun it is to play which could be distrubuted to schools nationally. Others like Freddie could also get involved! I think this would really encourage the kids to get out there and give it a go!

Each term, the children could be taken to a local sporting event, e.g local golf driving range, where they can experience what they have been taught in the class-room, with the aim of making it fun!

This system would give a child the oppurtunity to play a sport they would otherwise not neccessarily be exposed to & also give them a chance to excel at sport where they may not have done by playing standard school sport, e.g rugby, foortball or cricket.

A positive sporting culture would be created in school and hopefully generate more sporting stars of the future.
Jaques
2006-10-18 20:35:10 UTC
Dear Ernie



I got this link on your website and heres my answer.



I think the best way to encourage children to play sports is to expose them as early as possible, to as many as possible sports and outdoor activities as possible. Especially in today’s day and age were children are prone to just sit inside and watch television or play computer games. The most important thing I think however is that you as a parent should never force your own sporting dreams or preferences onto your children because that could discourage them. As long as you expose them and support them either as a mentor or a spectator they will learn to love sports. With the right role models like yourself children who are exposed to sports and love sports will become inspired and they will be the Ernie Els’ and the Springboks of tomorrow.



Hope you put in a win before the end of the year, and win the Nedbank Challenge a fourth time! You have certainly inspired me.



Groete



Jacques
Lucky Strike
2006-10-18 13:16:12 UTC
From a parent's perspective. Start young with fun games that will teach rythm, timing and hand/eye co-ordination. Make this a game and enjoyable while slowly setting targets and bringing in the concept of competition. Once they start enjoying doing excercises, get them to understand the concept of "Team" and to take part in some Team Sport. This will teach them how to rely on others from time to time - even if they will eventually be involved in an individual sport - no man is an island.

Once they have accepted these concepts and they show promise in a certain sports discipline, allow them to choose and support them all you can without being overbearing. They should also understand that although winning is important, the taking part and the charater-building that sport can do for them is even more important.

Look what it has done for you and me!!

You, one of the World's leading golfers and me a guy who has worked hard at the game all my life with limited success. We both enjoy sport, but on a different level.
Annette K
2006-10-17 13:00:07 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to find a hook that will get them interested in participating. For example, if I was to offer a free i-pod or a free playstation after children have participated in 10 different sporting activities and then had to choose to undertake 1 activity that they enjoyed doing from the original 10 once a week for 12 weeks to qualify to receive a free i-pod etc I am sure more children would participate. Also after 12 weeks of participation in something that they liked they may even continue doing it. No doubt it would also help if the i-pod etc was presented by a famous sporting icon.
2006-10-17 12:22:36 UTC
The best way to encourage kids to take up sport is to provide a safe learning environment just like Tiger Woods parents did. He knew that regardless of outcome, as long as he had tried his best his parents still loved him. Too many kids end up with their self worth tied up to performance. If you win you are a HERO, lose and you are a ZERO. Too many losses and a kid will leave sport alone from that point onward. The attitude should be " you get an A in my book" regardless of how the sport went. When a child knows he is loved no matter what, he/she has freedom to explore sports and to have fun, and a child who has FUN will play sports again.

Hope the putts start dropping soon, think you would suit a green jacket next April!
Llush
2006-10-16 18:21:05 UTC
I Believe if Parents were more active so would the Children. my Son is 12 and we do a lot of Activities together. and you would be amazed how much you can learn about your child and what they can do. are favourite sport is Ice Skating, and now my son s joined the ice hockey team.

also every house hold should have a couple of Bikes a life time Skill you never forget.

Praise your children even when it goes wrong at least they tried.

If Adults sit in front of the TV all day long what message are the Children getting.

PLus Schools should have more after school clubs football etc .

There should be more adverts around explaining the importance of SPORTS..
Jason S
2006-10-16 12:30:12 UTC
When it comes to children the answer is simple but takes a minute to explain. Children at a young age are very impressionable. They also have a tendency to look to their parents and guardians as makeshift mentors or "heros" if you will. It is my responsiblity as a father to make the game of golf "cool" to him. At a certain age, kids will shy away from things that make them uncomfortable during peer pressure.



I have never been a fan of NASCAR. I would have never given it a second thought even if I had to choose between that or a movie on Lifetime Network. Someone explained it to me so well that I simply can't miss a race or an oppertunity to get in a race car and drive.



The game of golf is no different really. There is so much that you could explain to a youngster about the game. I would start with preparation and focus. It is a cool situation to know that there is no team in golf. Children are insecure and the thought of them accomplishing something gives them a great amount of confidence. Taking a golf swing looks natural and easy. It probably is to Mr. Els, but I am certain that even he works hard at every aspect of his swing.



Also, there are no umpires policing the game. It depends on one's honesty and integrity. That is another thing that a child needs. They need to earn trust know that they can be trusted, whatever the circumstances. Golf is a disiplined sport. You can talk golf and watch it on television to get them involved with players and rules. It is fun to take my nine year old golfing and tell him things like, "Grant, breathe and focus. Take a good vision of the result of the swing. Take it back and swing easy." You'll be amazed what a child will pick-up off of it.



It is crazy, but if you explain the game and personalities of golfers, it becomes "cool" and "hip" for a child. They really get pumped at the thought of accomplishing something that maybe no one else can do. I watched a child that was no older than 12, fist pump and waive to the gallery after sinking an eight foot putt.



Funny thing, there was no gallery. Golf was cool to him and he was good at it. It was just an emotion and he reacted just like the many fine gentlemen that he sees every weekend.
2006-10-16 04:50:27 UTC
Expecting parents to encourage their children is definitely part of the answer - as we have already seen from other posts.



My solution would be to make schools take a more important role in the sporting development of our children.



In my childhood, PE lessons were largely limited to football or rugby, depending which teacher we had. I now look back and wonder how on earth I could ever have become adept at gymnastics, golf, swimming, tennis, cricket or athletics. etc. There wasn't even the opportunity, never mind any encouragement.



I find it hardly surprising that the UK consistently under-performs at the Olympics.



I would suggest that local schools offer their sporting facilities to each other, thus enabling children access to a much wider sporting curriculum. Children could then have their own choice of sports activities and even the least popular sports would then have enough support across several schools to make them viable.
aisha s
2006-10-22 10:15:54 UTC
i mostly agree with what everyone has to say but there should be a limit to what kind of sport the children are supposed to be encouraged to do. parents should observe some common sense as well. here in dubai playing with fire is also called a sport and my five year came one day asking me for matches. when i asked why he said he was going to go and play with his friends. i firmly said no he went running outside without matches and then next day i got to know that he and his friends burnt up some of the grass in the community park. now normal sports should be encouraged and the whole family should take part in it to set a good example for the younger ones to follow.
2006-10-20 07:23:37 UTC
Show them whats achievable by the very best sportsmen in the world, the lifestyle, fame, financial rewards and famous people they will be able to meet and be friends with not only in the sporting world but all other celebrities in all walks of life. Tell them any of these can be theirs through hard work and dedication and point out the benefits both physical and mental of a heathly body and healthy mind. Children love role models they should aspire to be a role model for others when they grow up. They should also never give up because they all develop at a different pace.
2006-10-19 09:04:43 UTC
I have two suggestions. The first, have putting greens built near playgrounds in as many parks as possible. The children can play on the swings and in the sand but can also try to putt a golf ball into the cup. The older children, from 5 to 9 years old, who may me tired of the playground may be curious about the game and will try putting. Somehow putters and golf balls would be provided so that the parents don't have to buy them. The second is that golf courses public and private should have a putting green and chipping area only for children under the age of 10. Adult supervision would be required. This way children will have their own practice area and the avid golfers will not have to worry about young children on their practice putting greens before their rounds of golf.
CPG
2006-10-19 02:45:44 UTC
It could not have been easy, becoming the Big Easy!

Still, practising must have been fun, under the warm South African sun.

Probably had a Daddy, always there to caddy

Mother there to mend, whatever came around the bend.



Today change is in the air, distractions everywhere

Less teachers and preachers giving their time, without asking for a dime

Parents can’t be bothered to go outside, the film is about to start inside

Parks and Fields of Dreams, fast becoming housing schemes.



What about celebs, it’s all gone to their Zizou heads!

Landis used more than sweeties, to reach the Champs Elysees

Rooney and others prefer to fight, and could really give a shi..sugar

Come on, kids need leaders and not such a bunch of weeners!



Money flowing, but the wrong parts growing

Television, X-Box, Nintendo, no lo entiendo

Greasy meals don’t make kids fast on wheels

They’ll never make the cut, always going to Pizzahut.



Mams and Dads, it’s up to ye, to solve this quandary

In closing, I am supposing, many will be opposing,

This doesn’t matter, as I enjoyed our little chatter

But if you agree with me, hope your mammy named you Ern…..ie!



End.
putting in the ocean
2006-10-17 14:42:01 UTC
Ernie,

I have been working with students for quite sometime now and I think that there are several ways to encourage children to take up a sport.



The first is having students recognize their gifts. There is a survey administered by Strengthquests that highlights the giftings of any individual. As it regards to sports, I think it is important in identifying if a child will excel, based on his giftings in a team sport or an individual sport. Once that has been determined one can go on to the next step.



One thing I have found with students of any age is that they are sharp; extremely sharp! I believe that explaining their giftings to them will enable them to get into a sport that they know they will have a great opportunity to excel in.



Next, having a coach that understands the uniqueness of the kids he/she is coaching. I know that there are different schools of thought when it comes to coaching such as: the tough never complimentary coach, or the happy encouraging coach that does not like to hurt his/her's players feeling, etc. But I think it is crucial to have coaches that understand the game and understand how to work with young kids.



Finally, I think that educating parents about the benefits of sports for their children is important. I am not referring only to the economics of the game but to the physical, psychological, and perhaps even spiritual benefits that sports imparts to an athlete.



Ernie I know that there are kids in your country that if they knew what they were good at and were directed along those lines in choosing a sport with a coach that understands how unique they are; the sky is the limit. You see, all parents want their children to do something great with their lives, and they want to be a part of their success.



P.S. You will win by the end of the year. I like to see you get hot after hitting a bad shot. I know you care partner. Thanks for considering my opinion.
Janet712inEngland
2006-10-17 11:18:18 UTC
Schools seem to do a good job with team sports but very bad job with those kids who were late bloomers or not interested in competing. Like all good teachers, the schools and parents both need to start from where a child IS and take the child the next step -- and the next -- and the next -- one tiny step at a time.



For some, that means just getting away from video and computer games and TV and indoor stuff, out walking. For others who are more used to movement in general, then it's finding JUST the right activity. Could be dancing! (Why not?) And then for others, it could be matching the right activity to the right COACH.



In short, there's no blanket answer. It could take understanding where something went wrong in school (e.g. teasing). It most certainly takes understanding the individual and his/her capacity for sports and types of motivation.
doyler78
2006-10-17 09:48:46 UTC
Children get their motivation and skills learned to them by their parents principally and those around them to a lesser extent therefore it is important that parents set a good example by involving themselves sport. It is no coincidence that many great sportsmen and women produce children who follow in their footsteps. They may never achieve the heights of their parents however their love for their sport is undimished as it is not about doing it for the sake of it. It is about it being an essential part of their life.



Too often far too much importance is placed in academic achievements and the pursuit of money through career rather than giving children a broader view of life. One which encourages both social and academic excellence. It is only as they develop will children begin to see what motivates them most however if they are more inclined to being sporting then they will still value their studies, just not to the same extent, and vice versa. That isn't a bad thing as we all at some point make choices about what gives us the most joy in our lives but we will never forget the importance of those things that don't interest us quite as much as they too are now an important part of their lives.



Money doesn't necessarily equal happiness so why give it more importance than any other part of our lives.
David Milne
2006-10-17 07:02:50 UTC
Give sports the X – FACTOR.



Once children get the opportunity to give sport or golf a go they will see it is a bug, it’s a life style....

But how to get the kids to play? Brain-wash them through the TV where they sit for hours on end.

Kids are followers and they follow what looks cool. (Especially what looks cool on TV)

Introduce a reality TV show (yes anther one) on some type of sports event or competition with cool people trying different sports ever week, making it look like the best fun in the whole wide world. With reality TV been so big all over the world- it might inspire the kids to give sports / golf a go. All that’s need is for a youngster to head to the driving range or a golf course once and the bug will bit.



Sorry probably a stupid idea - just a thought...



All the best we are really hoping you get a win in for 2006......

(Our SA Rugby and Cricket let us down from time to time - however we can always rely on our SA golfers.....)



All the best - regards

David Milne
RoryODonnell
2006-10-17 06:47:24 UTC
This is an interesting question. I have a 5 month baby boy and would like him to be very active in sports.



Once active in sports, children seem to develop their own initiative to try other sports. How do we, as parents, get them over the first hurdle? (groan!)



Most children have a salmon like urge to play and have fun. However, when children hear "Why don't you take up a sport?", from their parents, one could probably count on one hand the amount of children who would respond with, "That's an excellent idea".



I don't think it is a lack of desire, on the child's part, to play sports. Rather it is a basic fear of meeting new people. It can be bit scary for a child to join a new sports club. This also applies to adults. Remember how self-conscious you were the first time you were at the gym? Or how long it took to get your 3 score cards signed for your handicap at your first golf club.



I believe the best way to encourage children to take up sport is by helping them develop friendships with people who are active in sports.
john_ayotte
2006-10-16 10:48:21 UTC
Showing children the fun of sport is the key to creating the hook for continued involvement. It's important to know when to quit the activity as children's attention span is very short. It's almost better to stop at a high note to create a draw for the next time as they had not gotten bored with the sport yet. Always encourage a child's sport interest even if it's a sport you yourself have no interest in. As long as the interest is felt as fun by the child (and not pushed by the parent) a life long love of all sport can develop.
calliopejuly
2006-10-16 08:22:28 UTC
At a young age, children have a short attention span. This means they need to be exposed in small doses and it needs to be fun. So if you want to introduce them to golf (for example), you make it fun and easy. Play a simple game where they interact with you and perhaps beat you every once in awhile, and when they have had enough and want to go to the swimming pool or ride their bike, then you move on, whether that is in ten minutes or two hours. My daughters are 7 and 5 and love to try to whack the ball off the front of the practice tee or get more putts than me inside a three foot circle. But when they are done, we are done, and there is no pressure to continue. When they get a little older, if they have had fun and developed a little bit of skill, they will probably want to continue to learn and play, and that will be the time for a bit more effort. But the key is to introduce the sport to them at a young age and in an easily digestible manner and without pressure. Great question, warmest regards.
?
2014-10-03 03:48:59 UTC
The local community has a massive role to play. In my village, the football goalposts that were host to countless games between the local kids were taken down in favour of some bizarre 'activity set' that includes a lone basketball net...impossible to use when the ground is lumpy turf. There's talk of a skate park too...I'm sure that football is the nation's most popular sport so why on earth do the council take away the facilities to play it?
Tan Y
2006-10-21 10:54:25 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up a sport is to help children discover a sport they not only enjoy, but are also passionate about, so that playing such sport will become their lifestyle. To do this, first it is important to find them a good role model, it can be a well-known person, or it can be simply their parents who can set a good example. Regular family events such as bike riding, swimming, golfing, playing football, and playing basketball can stimulate children’s interest in sports. Taking children to popular sports matches can further inspire them. If sport is a part of the child’s family’s lifestyle, chances are the child will follow suit.
saljegi
2006-10-21 06:40:36 UTC
Horses for courses! My first thought was that you should introduce them to and participate alongside the sports you are interested in. Experience tells me it's a little more complex than that. I played representative field/astroturf hockey for many years and used to take my two children all over the country (occasionally abroad) with me from a very early age. They loved it to begin with but the enjoyment started to wear a bit thin. They were constantly suggesting it was time I retired to spend more time doing other things - what things I'm not quite sure, probably anything other than hockey! I did and then the tables turned. I started to get nagged to go back to playing again - it's still happening. The funny thing is that they both then started to play hockey themselves and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think it is very difficult for some children to follow in their parents footsteps, especially if the parents have been very successful. In some respects it may be better to encourage your children to take up a sport that you sacrificed in order to excel at another. I think most sports people could have succeeded in another sport if they had taken a different direction.

Listen to what your children have to say, don't push them too hard but make them aware of the benefits of sport. Sport can also be the foundation of a brilliant social life so make sure they know that and it might be enough to get them through the door.
Mike K
2006-10-19 01:34:41 UTC
Make it FUN. Get rid of the competitive element with young kids. The 'must-win' attitude that is introduced in sport at a very young age turns off a lot of kids. Why do they enjoy computer games so much? Because most of the time they are playing against themselves and not trying to beat someone else. How often do you see children playing multiplayer games against each other? So bring the fun back into sport where children can compete against themselves and not have to WIN to get recognition from parents, peers, etc. Even if your child is playing in the F team and they are losing 10-0 make sure you are supporting them and ensuring that they are having fun!
2006-10-16 22:28:43 UTC
Hi Ernie,



I think that parents play a big role when it comes to kids playing sports. Parents need to encourage their children by participating with them in sports. It will also help if children get taught from a young age to participate at school level and be competitive. You need to have a balance in life and this can only be taught by parents from an early age by setting an example. Kids will adapt a healthy life style if they are expose to it from an early age. Be actively involved in your child's younger life is of utmost importance. It is difficult the teach a child from 12 onwards, so you need to set the trend early. Do fun runs, go cycling, play golf, etc. That is why you have kids, to share everything with them and be a part of their lives.

Thank you for being an ambassador for Sports. I am from South Africa and followed your career since 1994. You encouraged me as a youngster and still do. Lead by example, GO ERNIE!
Biggie
2006-10-16 18:06:17 UTC
First off, huge fan of the Big Easy, try to watch you compete in person at as many american tournaments as possible. I like to think of sports in two categories, team and individual games.



The lessons a youngster can learn from a being associated with a team are critical. Negative aspects, like coping with loss, bad attitudes from others, poor sportsmanship, etc. are found later in life, whether it be with marriage, friendships and the workplace. Balancing that with the benefits of collaboration, communication and leadership are also intrical.



Individual sports are just as vital, take Ernie's game of golf. No matter how great you are, golf teaches humility, patience, strategy, preparation, and mental toughness. A young mind learning these lessons are invaluable.



Explaining adult concepts stated above to a child can be a complicating task. However, allowing the child to learn about competition while promoting fun and physical fitness can do a lot of good for anyone, but especially children since they are impressionable and still in the developmental stage.



Finally encouraging kids to play sports will keep them in shape and motivated to participate in healthy activities. America has a huge obesity problem stemming from youngsters sitting around watching TV or playing video games and their parents neglecting the importance of fitness. Sports keeps them active and will not only help kids keep weight off, but will also teach them lessons that may prove beneficial in later development.
2006-10-16 15:42:19 UTC
I think the best way to make a child curious about sports (particularely if none of the family members practice it) is to have equipment of many sports lying around in the house. Just some old tennis raquet, a rusty golf club, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc.



The child at a very young age can grab one and have lots of fun. Just an old golf iron and a ball in the backyard can be as thrilling as playing the Masters at that age.



That's the way we here in Argentina grow up. There is a soccer ball in every house, so as a child you have it always there and 8 out of 10 boys play soccer for the rest of their lifes. (Or until their knees give in!)



The child will surely find some of them interesting and then the parents can try to get him some lessons. Taking interest in the chosen sport and taking the child to participate in competitive communities of that sport is the next step.
pomme_blanche_2004
2006-10-16 11:17:05 UTC
Children learn so much from their parents, good or bad. I think the best thing to encourage children to do sport is for their parents to expose them to a variety of different sports from an early age. This is what my parents did - they took along to various things I wanted to try - although I have to say I still didn't discover the sport I really enjoy until I was 30, not their fault though!



Schools can also contribute to a love of sport, when they make sure that students can try a range of different, exciting sports as well as your usual. There is at least one school in Sheffield that takes their students for skiing lessons at the dry slope - how much better is that then when I was at school?!



Children also learn by example. By the time they go to school they have already developed various habits, so to my mind it is really important for parents to take the time to show their children a healthy, active way of life that hopefully they will carry through with them into adulthood.
Trudy D
2006-10-16 04:32:16 UTC
I would agree with Lioneld11. Both my parents did sports as kids and encouraged both mysister and me to do as many different sports as possible. I later found that I was a very good runner so ran for my school and county. I know teach fitness as a job and do not feel like I work. I get paid to exercise. Encourage your kids and they will find something they enjoy. Even Golf!! Sorry Ernie not a golf fan. Eighth so your attitide is why we're all ending up like the Americans.
2006-10-20 06:16:24 UTC
If the sport is made to be fun and the kids can see themselves as being skilled, then they are more likely to continue to enjoy participating in it. Gearing the practice sessions towards showing skills improvement (mini skills tests etc) will encourage the kids to attend practice and show the kids that they are improving. I believe that encouraging these improvements, by awarding badges or certificates for achieving various skills levels will lead to greater motivation amongst the kids. Unfortunately, some kids will not be skilled in a particular sport (even though they may enjoy the participation immensely) and these should be encouraged just as much as those with high skills levels - this could be done through participation badges or certificates.
swelwynemma
2006-10-18 07:28:26 UTC
If you're coaching, don't 'own' the group, but work as equals to them. However, you've still got to make sure they're disciplined otherwise the whole thing will collapse.



Give them praise and encouragement, even if they don't quite make it, listen to their ideas and go along with them (unless they're dangerous/inappropriate in any way). Be empathetic



Do all this and you'll be remembered for a very long time with great affection.



My former drama teacher was exactly the same as the above advice. I've only stopped having her since February-June this year and I'm only 19, but I just feel that she'll be one of those people I'll remember forever.
Evil J.Twin
2006-10-17 15:01:10 UTC
Parents should take up sports themselves where possible and get the kids to join in. More encouragement is needed, in my opinion, for those who aren't into team sports, they need to be educated about more sports because, often there are only things like football and rounders available at a lot of schools. Schools, community centres and other places should have all-access trials for different things. The cost of joining out-of-school sports should be kept to a minimum and children should be encouraged in the thoughts that no sport or physical activity is just for girls or just for boys. Also, less popular sports should be advertised because I am sure there are children, and probably adults, whoc aren't even aware that some sports exist. I know there are sports facilities in the town where I live but I know a lot of other people who live here wouldn't know about all the things which are catered for in the area. There is also now this ridiculous thing about not having winners and losers and all the wrapping children in cotton wool, maybe if children were still allowed to be children and parents, teachers, etc. accepted that they might hurt themselves sometimes, children might be more inclined to take up different sports.



I also agree with giving them motivation. My son was reluctant to continue his ice-skating so I told him that if he could skate properly at the end of his course, I'd get him some skates. It's not like giving them sweets or anything, I think offereing something to do with the sport they take up is good because it encourages them to achieve their goal to get the reward and then, well with some kids anyway, they will want to show off and do their sport in their new stuff, so you're going round in circles in a good way!



Also, I know from personal experience that if you're not a "natural" then, a lot of the time, you won't get the encouragement you need, so all children need to be given a chance. They need to know that they aren't expected to be good straight away and that it's ok to not be very good as long as they are prepared to get up and try again. Children tend to only be rewarded for achievements in sport if they are really good, whereas, they should be rewarded for their personal achievement.



I was quite lucky with my oldest son because he just asked to go ice-skating after he had seen someone do it in a film and he enjoys it. My second son, well, he can't even walk yet but he's got excellent co-ordination and will probably make a good football or rugby player! We're also lucky to have plenty of parks and fileds here for the kids to play in. I notice how many kids round here do stay at home all the time and really wonder why. So that would suggest to me that the parents need a good kick up the behind because children naturally want physical activity and the only reason they don't is because parents don't seem to have time or don't want to have the hassle.
Katkin
2006-10-17 06:32:56 UTC
Make it fun. Let them choose a sport and choose what to wear (PE pants don't encourage participation!) And if they are big and lack confidence, or indeed very small make sure the sport suits them.



Speak to children about the benefits of being fit and healthy but don't force them (like PE at school!). And maybe as an alternative to PE schools should offer health education - so any kids who have a fake note saying they've hurt their leg or whatever can do that instead then decide for themselves if they want to do sport.
harry
2006-10-16 04:55:32 UTC
Get rid of the snottiness in golf -it can be so intimidating - cut the cost or even making it free for a period of time. Probably even go down the road of pushing trick shots -this will get the kids attention and have real golf on the back of that!

There is still this stigma that golf is boring and it needs to be changed. There should perhaps be more chip and putts or mini golf. A school roadshow and even an arcade game -yes an arcade game with a swinging club rather than it being button only!
pinkyblueness
2006-10-16 04:01:15 UTC
Banning games consols would be a start. But realisticly i think we as parents should be introducing our children to sport as young as possible. Buy them balls and bats, play with them, encourage them,make sport as fun as it should be. But what I think is important is remembering your child is an individual. If the football crazy Chealsea fans son would rather be the next Andrew Murray rather than John Terry then so be it, accept it and encourage it.

I also think schools have a big responsibility too. I think as part of P. E. class trips to sporting events such as a local athletics meetings should be arranged. Children would benefit from watching people compete and be passionate about sport, and would learn what it means to be ambitous and how rewarding it is to work hard and become successful. Positive encouragement like this i believe would be the best way.
2016-02-15 04:04:51 UTC
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As you can see, the benefits of adopting a Paleo way of eating can be incredible! I’ve been eating 95% Paleo for the last 5-6 years and I’ve never felt better. I have dozens of friends that have adopted a more Paleo way of eating too, and have seen all sorts of health problems disappear, including eliminating acne and other skin problems, digestion problems, improving brain clarity, and of course, losing a lot of body fat!
Dorisdimples
2006-10-21 16:19:34 UTC
I had a heart to heart with my 2 boys a few years ago about spending so much time on the computer......I said if they spent only a fraction of the time learning a skill, be it in music or sport, then they would soon see just how good they could become. Then they would not be wasting there time.



They are now 19 and 18 and 2 of the best musicians in the country in there age group. This was also thanks to Professionals who were encouraging role models.
sapga01
2006-10-21 03:45:47 UTC
Hi Ernie

I think the best why is when you lead by example. If a you boy or girl sees their perants live a fit and healthy life the are sure to follow.The next big thing is to support your kids in any sport they show in interist in even if they are not to good at it. I also believe that kids need a hero to look up to, be it John Smit, Schumacher or any body they think is good at what they do.I could remember playing rugby on a Saturday morning and knowing my perants where there i would really put in that little bit extra.The bonus about it is what is the worst that could happen, they could get fit, learn to work in a team and learn some disipline. These are skills they are sure going to need as they grow older and it's a way to eqiup them for live.

Phylip
momof3
2006-10-20 06:33:29 UTC
Schools need to play an active part in this and encourage different sports activities at a very young age.

Parents should also encourage physical activity with their children by taking them out to the park, walking in the country side and in general getting them outside instead of stuck in door.

Take the children to watch sports at the local community centre or sports stadium it is often a cheap night out to go and watch the athletics locally.

Parents should encourage them to join a group like football/karate/netball that type of thing. Many areas have this sort of facility in and around their area.

If children where encouraged at school/with parents they would then be encouraged to join a group.

The government should put tons of money now in this area to encourage our future Olympians.

Going to a stadium on a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon to watch others participate does wonders for encouragement in young children.
vwdewaal
2006-10-18 06:56:49 UTC
Active participation by the parents. I played rugby, tennis, cricket and tennis as a child, but I excelled at tennis because my father coached me. It is not enough for parents to just drop their kids off at school and say: "You're on you own." You need encouragment and praise. An inactive parent who sits in front of the tele will not be an ispiration to his child.



Many will use the excuse of "I work all day." Well, so do I, but I still make an effort to play tennis 2 or 3 times a week and gym 2 or 3 times a week. If a parent can kick his kid out of bed every morning to do some basic stretching excercises it will both be helpful in keeping weight down as well as a bonding experience between parent and child.
2006-10-17 23:57:36 UTC
By having fun!! We go down the park with the dog the kids and a ball or they take there bikes we have kickarounds in the garden and we often take a picnic to Pembrey Country Park where there is lots of space and the kids can join in nature walks and there is also an artificial ski run, both our children enjoy swimming and our son regularly attends Judo and goes clay pigeon shooting our daughter loves swingball.

My hubby plays golf but the kids have no interest as yet but who knows they to may develop an enthusiasm for the 19th hole!!

A local footballer recently ran an after school coaching club which my daughter thoroughly enjoyed and her certificate for attending holds pride of place on the fridge.
Carol H
2006-10-17 13:00:52 UTC
Take the children to sports arena`s. Talk to them what the players are doing. Let them join in little league baseball. Also let them play basketball. They usually have sports in school so just encourage them and they will either like sports or they won`t. Starting the children in a young age is best for the parents and the children....Sports is a good thing!
demonicas8n
2006-10-17 10:41:56 UTC
Definitely practise what you preach - parents should do as much as possible to show children all the range of benefits that come from sport - teamwork skills, increased fitness levels, the thrill of competition and good old fashioned fun. Show them a range of sports though - if only we had been offered more than just football, rugby, rounders and cross country at school!



Introduce them to as many different sports as possible, encourage them to join local clubs and groups and, if they do, ALWAYS make an effort to turn up and watch them play. You can also instigate an interest by taking them along to spectate at local events. Sport should be presented as an opportunity to have fun and children should never be forceed to participate if they really aren't enjoying it.
kitty_alexis_81
2006-10-17 10:40:48 UTC
well there are several ways to encourage a child to take up sport, which can be done individually or as a whole.



1. lead by example, if children see the adults in their life being active it encourages them to follow suit.



2. encourage their interest, if a child shows interest in a sport encourage it by finding out ways they can participate.



3. start young, the younger the better to encourage them to take interest.



4. enroll in local clubs, most sports will have a local club where they can go and play with others who enjoy that sport.



5. work out a reward system, this could be days out, certificates or special treats. do this on amount of time played, goals achieved or effort involved. this can also help build self-esteem at the same time.



obviously we can only do so much to get children involved, it is also up to local authorities to help by providing the facilities and areas for children to play in.
maz_madhouse
2006-10-16 23:45:11 UTC
The best way to get kids involved with sports is via the parents, by getting parents to encourage the children and showing how to react in sport is the best way. Also we could take a tip from Action for Blind People (AFBP), they run free sports clubs called the actionaires club for blind and partially sighted children in various locations. They bring in professional trainers in multiple sporting activities e.g football, swimming, rounders, rock climbing; there's a high attendance rate and the kids throughly enjoy themselves. Obviously AFBP are a registered charity and fund these activities through ongoing donators, however similar scemes could be set up for much lower costs than many centres offer. I personally believe that kids need to get up and exercise, I have 5 nephews and a niece and I regularly get the older ones out and about doing various sports and my oldest nephew now goes to a regular atheletics club, due to this encouragement.
Gail H
2006-10-16 09:10:48 UTC
I think the best way is to initially remove the idea of competition. Children should never feel that it's the most important thing for them to be the best at something, or that they have failed somehow if they're beaten.

Encourage children to take up a sport that they find fun and get enjoyment out of. Parents should try and join in as much as possible. Try and make sport and exercise part of your family routine.



There's plenty of time later in life for children to learn about competition. When they're young the most important thing is that they're fit and healthy.
Andy P
2006-10-16 06:53:04 UTC
I suppose the best way is to start giving the kids more choice at school, and encourage them to try a few different sports to see which ones they really like.When i was at school we had quite a few sports to do,indoor and on the playing fields.That way I enjoyed playing a lot of different sports ie,footie,cricket,track and field events etc.And I may say they got me off a lot of duties in the army by being fairly good at most.So I say,more Varied sport at school ,and get parents off thier backsides and help or do some sport as well to encourage the yougsters,To easy to just sit in the chair these days.And it would relieve some of thier "stress".

Good luck Ernie you have a big task on your hands,its too easy for the kids to use the fingers,

Get a few of the golfers etc to visit schools it will do wonders for the kids,and make them want to try a given sport.
kevins299
2006-10-16 04:16:07 UTC
Start encouragement from when they are young and make it fun! Kids are natural runners and climbers so part of encouragement is having the grounds, equipment and balls for them to play with. Unfortunately the new god "Health and Safety" decrees the commandment: " you may only exercise if it is healthy and safe to do"....so anything that involves a little risk of a scrap, bruise or fall has been removed....effectively removing just about all sport of the playing field..so the end result is that as playing fields are the unsafe place they to are removed...hence kids playing virtual sport on their PlayStation...getting fat. They all know in theory how to play the sport but have never actually tried. the answer to getting kids to play sport...remove the "politically correct insanity "of the Health and Safety. Kids learn through bumps and scrapes......and then parents also need to accept if their dear little darling should get hurt, it is not an opportunity to sue someone to make some money out of an injury....the idea that it is always someone else's fault stops many people from helping out at sport events....so parents the simple solution is to get involved and take part with them...you might just enjoy it.



one final thought....when they want to give it up to encourage and help them stick to the sport as we all get discourage and tired form time to time. keep them going by taking them back to it....
andrew w
2006-10-16 03:51:33 UTC
With children it's best to get them into things from a very early age. I have three kids a girl aged 8, a boy 5 and another girl of 2. I recently began taking the two oldest to watch Aston Villa at home, they both love it even though the lad usually gets bored and starts to drop off halfway through!



That's the other thing with children, they have short attention spans so although you should encourage them by being enthusiastic about every England game etc. expect them to walk away after 20 minutes or so! But that doesn't matter as they are learning that sport can be fun and watching their dad screaming at the box teaches them about enthusiasm for sport.



Talk to them about the latest scandal/interesting story so they begin to learn who David Beckham is (was?), why it is absolutely vital that we beat the Americans in the Ryder cup and why items of clotheing are handed out at Augusta.



Slowly but surely they will grow up with a love of sport and as that developes so their interest in actually playing will. After all every professional sportsman alive can remember being a child and pretending to be his idol whilst kicking a ball in the garden, swinging a broomstick or bowling a tennis ball at a wall.



If all else fails and they just aren't sporty, give up on that kid and give him some nerdy glasses and a dictionary and concentrate on the next one, the one who should hopefully look after you in retirement with their millions from not doing a proper job!
2006-10-19 02:04:28 UTC
Looking at Rosie's answer, I was put off sport as a teenager due to gender divisions. Cold hockey and netball lessons in the mid 80s when all I wanted to do was play football!

So why are young people not given these choices in school? My suggestions are -

More investment in the PE curriculum for other sports (I now run regularly)

An end to gender divisions in sports in schools

Allowing girls to wear warmer clothing in winter (the short skirts were awful in January)

And reopening up playing fields, as a previous answer mentioned.



As for parents? Don't be pushy. They will find something they like eventually, even if it is skateboarding or biking.
Maggie P
2006-10-18 10:53:31 UTC
First off, talk to him or her and see what they're interested in. Don't be surprised if what they like today they may not be interested in tomorrow; if they're very young, just getting out there and enjoying him/herself is the point. A real attachment to a particular activity will follow.



If you know the kids and are able to participate in the sport yourself, play with them. Show them proper form and/or technique, and teach them good sportsmanship by example.



Just make sure you don't *force* a child to do a particular sport/activity. My dad used to make me play 9 holes every Friday night at 6pm all through junior high; I ended up hating golf for *years*. But I took it back up a few years ago and realized I loved it -- it was the pressure I never liked.



So expect that kids will want to try different things, that they may have times when they seem completely disinterested, even in something they've loved for quite awhile (their lives are just as hectic as ours, but the reasons are different). If it's something they really enjoy, they'll come back to it.



Good luck!
MC
2006-10-17 23:58:21 UTC
i would think that the best way to encourage children to take up sport is through their family. i love sports when i was young but because my dad passed away when i was one and my mom had to work hard to bring up three kids, she didn't really have the time to encourage us to do sports. But once a while, she will still make it a point to attend my school's sports days and that make me felt really happy. especially when i was participating in some of the races. i would think that family support is what is lacking.



for those unfortunate kids that do not have families, it will then be left to the charity groups or welfare homes to encourage them. this is easier said than done as most of these homes are lacking in funds. but we should try so as the kids can stay out of the streets and at least there are something for them to focus on.
darwebb75
2006-10-17 11:31:52 UTC
Children love to be around their friends so I reckon that schools and families should encourage group or team activities that allow children to meet and play together whilst learning about the benefits of sport, discipline and good health. I've made many friends through sport and will always advocate the importance of getting youth to get together from an early age to meet and make new friends. Sports that encourage teamwork and fun are great for kids to learn and enjoy. Its especially important for junior schools not to miss out on this opportunity...
2006-10-17 09:06:02 UTC
The best way to get a child to take up a sport is to first make sure they want to play it. If they hate that sport, then they will not enjoy and slack off if they can. See if a friend wants to join the club the child plays at so that they feel more confident and want to go every week. Also make sure they like the coach otherwise it is not going to make them feel happy. Most of all, don't pressure them into joining a club. Sugest it to them and show them what they do at the club. Let them decide and chhose which sport. Whether you enjoy the sport of not.
uwetaan1
2006-10-17 04:59:03 UTC
Answer: Have certain sports as subjects in school.



Explain: Sport (like golf) has certainly become a career. In school I was never encouraged to persue a career in sport - was only told to study hard, get good grades, go to uni and then be a successfull whatever. Give children with talent an opportunity to study it as a subject - this will give them the perfect spring board into life as a professional sportsman!

This will also keep them out of trouble and enable them to start building their career at a young stage of their lives!
Vovó (Grandma)
2006-10-16 13:02:21 UTC
Mr. Ernie Els,

What a pleasure!

I am an grandma and I love sports. My two "boys" love it too and so do my grandchildren, although my daughters in law don´t like it. So, it was grandma who had to interfere.

Children love to play with OTHER children.

So, what did I do? I decided that "swimming" was the best for one and a half year children. Took them to swimming lessons with a very good and specialised teacher, with more 16 months babies (each one with their mothers, fathers, and one grandma (me). Lots of playing around with toys and exercising breathing, diving, singing.

After that came water-polo, judo, horse-riding, volley-ball, football, etc.

All the time, the 3 encouraging factors were:

1. Playing with other children, their age - FUN

2. A very, very good coach or teacher - FUN

3. Relatives encouraging, playing with them, never demanding perfection - FUN.

To tell you the truth, Mr. Els, it is my belief that sports should be for fun, for health, for friendship, for respect to the other (mainly the weaker). Not the kind of "sports " we have today: for money, for deadly competition, making the sportsmen and women suffer, for forgetting all the other aspects of the human life such as arts, sciences, nature, etc.

"MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO" should be always the motto.

It was a pleasure.
misery
2006-10-16 05:43:27 UTC
I think it must start at an early age. In my children's school they are encouraging the children and the adults to get active. They organise special events so all the family can take part. No child is ever turned down for an out of school activity, no matter what their ability. If a child can't kick a ball they are still made to feel welcome at football, if they can't catch they are still welcome at netball, it's not the winning it's the taking part that counts, You don't have to end up with a child built like a body builder, just one that enjoys a walk or a kick around the park with the family as appose to sitting in front of the play station or TV.
2006-10-16 04:51:20 UTC
Quite simply, tell them that they can't stay in the house all year, so pick a sport that they would like to try. Then as a parent, go to the games, go to the practices, play an active part in promoting good sportsmanship, comraderie, teamwork, and competitive spirit. It worked for me and led to a brief but fulfilling career in the NHL. Praise them when they win with teamwork, be supportive when they lose. The thing that "todays" parent seems to forget is that kids don't know whats best for them, parents should know whats best for them, and sitting in front of the square box eating crisps, and soda pop for 10 hours on a saturday is not healthy. Child obesity is a big item in the news these days, but oddly enough 25 years ago, when I was a boy we ate loads of junk food, McDonalds, drank gallons of soda, but very few of us were overweight, nevermind obese. Why? Because our parents kicked our butts outside with a soccerball, basketball, football, baseball, glove, bat, hockey stick and skates etc. You don't want fat, lazy kids, never Jamie Oliver and his food program, EXCERSISE people EXCERSISE!! For you parents whose kids are already addicted to the square box and video games, you may have to confiscate these items for a few months to encourage them to find other things to do. YOU CAN DO IT, YOU ARE THE PARENT AFTER ALL. As well parents should drive it into their local schools and community centers that they want more sport and a variety not just football. If their are not enough volenteers, give a few hours a week, you might enjoy it too. Plus you get to spend some quality time with your kids.
mwwardle
2006-10-16 04:44:37 UTC
I am a firm believer that you need to find a sport that interests the individual. I have played squash for 23 years purely because I enjoy the sport, the exercise and fitness it brings is a bonus. If we can encourage our children to try as many different sports as possible at 'sports open days' it may help them take an active interest in a sport they actually enjoy instead of restricting their choice to the more popular sports.

By the way if you find yourself in South Manchester with time on your hands, drop me a line and I'll take you out for a knock!
2006-10-16 04:18:50 UTC
We need to take the Jamie Oliver approach - it starts with educating the public about health and fitness - a general understanding of how fitness and nutrition benefits children - getting the buy-in of the nation - then tackling the government to get better programme of activities in the schools and taking the stigma out of physical exercise. We are fast approaching critical levels of obesity in children ; why - fast food, technology, laziness. Giving children the visual images of the effects of overeating and underexercising can be powerful.



Basically, we need to create a culture where sports is part of everyday life - not something that is a chore and only for the buff and beautiful....
Ahpook
2006-10-16 03:56:57 UTC
All children need to be involved. When I was at school there were two classes of pupil - the sporty ones who were taller, stronger and the less sporty ones such as myself. I hated all team sports because it was so boring to play. The sporty ones used to play by theirselves, and would only pass to other sporty people ignoring the other people on the field. People who were less sporty used to have to play the game for an hour and not even get to touch the ball. There was just no point.

Variety is important too. At school we were only allowed to play football and rugby. If there was more variety I might have found something I enjoyed more. Now I've left school I've discovered I quite enjoy running, walking, and playing Badmington and tennis. But when I was at school there I found it unthinkable that any sport could be fun.
edison
2006-10-16 03:49:20 UTC
When I was at school we were encouraged to take up certain sports & my boarding school was next to a golf course so although I wasn`t allowed to take up golf the interest was always there.Today`s society is different & I believe there is too much emphasis on computers instead of using the grey matter school curriculum should encourage more of our youngsters to engage in sports despite what this particular government says this is not happening & with the olympics just around the corner we need fresh new blood in most sports & hang the cost.
virginia o
2006-10-15 21:38:52 UTC
children these days need to be prised off the computer and dragged away from the TV. BUT_____ I found that bribery still works!!!!. its no good telling them what is good for them they do not listen but if you promised them a treat at t he other end of a bike ride I know that works. Also promising them something they really want if they will come out and play in a park for an hour. You notice that I say you have to do it with them???? Well thats the way it works

No matter how often you tell them to go outside and play cricket they will not go unless you go too

I have actually played miniature golf with kids and I enjoyed it

But they would not have done it without me. So you must be prepared to lead the way and join in or the little beasts will not move their lazy bums.
matt b
2006-10-22 08:59:59 UTC
Dear Ernie,



Sports are designed for cooperation among children and adults (team sports anyways). Far too often we emphasize the importance of the competition. At a young age we should encourage children to become involved in as many activities as possible. We are all different. There is no way of knowing which sport will "stick" with a child.



As parents, we need to make sure that we lead by example. We need to limit the amount of screen time that our youth are getting. By "screen time", I mean watching television, playing video games, and text messaging.



Take your children outside and throw a ball with them, play tennis, or kick a soccer ball. Praise them for their accomplishments! In doing this at a young age we will help develop their self-esteem and self-worth. They will then want to play with siblings, friends, and neighbourhood children. Perhaps joining a local team?



As a coach for the Special Olympics, I see my athletes play the game for the love of the sport. They play for fun, exercise and socialization. Their slogan, "Let me win, but if I cannot, let me be brave in the attempt", emphasizes the importance of character building. Sport is not always about the end result. It is about giving children the opportunity to find out more about themselves, be it through victory or defeat.



As a physical education and health teacher, I see everyday the lack of effort and commitment to sport. The reason is the competitiveness of sport. If we make the sport more fun, and less competitive, we are heading in the right direction.



I am not saying that there should not be competitive sports. I am saying that children need more than competition to become the leaders of tomorrow.



Thank you for taking the time to read this. I wish you well with your upcoming events.



Take Care, Matt
Harry Tay
2006-10-20 10:40:11 UTC
I feel that the first most important thing is to help someone develop a long-term and lasting love of the game.



The best way to encourage a child in sports is not by grilling them about the rules and scrutinising their "technique". It's about telling them about the game not the rules. Tell them the history of the game and interesting stories about past heroes and leaders. Guide the child and show support but you must let the child explore his or her own technique and approach.



Above all, in the case of a sport where you play the sport yourself, lead by example. Say in golf, display proper etiquette and behaviour instead of being bad tempered and a sore loser. A child learns best by example and many children grow up to be poor sportspersons because they witnessed their parents being that way.



Talk to your child ABOUT the sport and not DOWN to the child. Children will feel encouraged and want to continue playing sports instead of feeling patronised in sports.



Finally, when the child, at some point, gets sick of the game - "drops out" - and stops playing, it is tempting to insist he or she gets back on the saddle. No child is successfully encouraged by force. I would either show my own committment to the game even when i am playing badly OR i would simply give the child his or her own space untile he or she feels ready again.
lelly
2006-10-19 15:43:46 UTC
Well they your own kids so you would know if they showed interest in any particular sport so your halfway there. Support them as much as you can always make sure they have the correct kit or safety equipment.

Arrange outings at the weekend and introduce new sports making them exciting and fun and afterwards have a treat in store to wind down. Never force them into anything because you want them to be good at a particular sport for your own reasons. One of the best exercising i think is walking and there are some lovely places to see that would make it exciting
wynand v
2006-10-19 03:10:00 UTC
Enjoyment is key as its always the first reason for someone to try sport,competition,health, money and fame come later. Show children that losing and winning is part of the game and that the beauty of sport is that there can be enjoyment and dignity in winning and losing.The same way a child will want to eat something he/she likes more often, that same way a child that sees the fun part of sport will want to continue, the rest is just a bi- product of going out and having some fun.
miz Destiny
2006-10-16 04:54:29 UTC
*let them wear comfortable sports wear - some hate being seen in tight fitting, revealing sport attire It sounds trivial, but I know so many girls affected by this. ie jog trousers instead of short skirts or teeny shorts.



*make it fun -a treasure hunt is more interesting that a run or walk outdoors



*make it accessible - sports centres have limited space and over priced. what about communuty centres and school (a great way for them to make a small income too) Make the council give more back



*make it available to all income brackets - keep it reasonable. uniforms and regular gradings cos ta fortune as it is without hiking up class fees



*play with them

*give them a challenge - or a prize to the winner

*give everyone a go - not just the sports stars of the group
2006-10-15 21:43:57 UTC
Ernie,



I think that a perfect way for parents to get there kids interested in taking up a sport after school or at weekends is for the parents (especially if they're young) to get OUTSIDE and play footy, cricket or rugby in the backyard or at the local park with your kid, then hopefully they will slowly gain an intrest in sports and then its upto the parents to give the child the option of what sport they wish to take up at a later age, this is what I'll do with any child of mine in the future-it makes sense because as a world population we're getting fatter and we exercise less, its a fact of life but if we can start now by introducing them to sport young we may beable to stop the obesity apodemic before it get ANY WORSE.



cheers Ernie and nice to see famous people on here.



Note for Ernie: are you going to come to aus and play the Australian Open next year??



Mitch

Launceston, Tas

Australia
2006-10-21 15:17:39 UTC
If a child has to be encouraged to take up sports in this day and age it probably means that sport is not one of his/her interests. If a child doesn't like something whether it's maths, vegetables or sport then you're at nothing trying to make him/her like it. In this case there is no best way to encourage a child because s/he'll see it as nagging and will feel pressurised or even inadequate. The child's feelings must always come first. Let him/her be him/herself and if s/he develops an interest in sport let it be in his/her own time, let it be the child's own decision, then s/he 'll derive more enjoyment from it and everybody's happy.
Fiona S
2006-10-21 03:47:20 UTC
When they are young, find a club or activity that you can all join as a family. Let them try a number of different activities not only sports and don't let them be selective about the sport they like too early. If they have a selection of activities, when they get bored of one they still have a number of others to choose from. Also, make sure they know it is their choice to participate and that they can have a break from going at any time as long as they do some activity during the week. My son (who is 12 and has special needs) used to do karate, swimming, football and horse riding but now only goes swimming on a regular basis. However, as we joined karate as a family and my husband and I still go on separate nights of the week we take him with us and give him the choice as to whether or not he wants to participate - more often than not he takes part. As he had to give up riding due to lack of facilities for him, we are now looking for something else for him to do.
JuanB
2006-10-20 22:47:03 UTC
You have to make it fun!



I remember in Elementary School the government said kids were lazier and more over weight than ever! Sound familiar? This was a long time ago. The politicians threw a lot of money at it and had a big plan and made a bunch of propaganda and speeches. They put an athletic skills competition into the schools with awards and metals. I was over weight; this was aimed at motivating me. My opinion is those politicians were idiots. How am I as a fat kid going to have fun trying to do more sit ups next to the school jocks? Sit-ups, chin-ups and the 100-yard dash were not fun. They were less so when people are poking fun at you. I learned to hate these jocks. I learned I was not good at sports, and that sports were not fun. The complete opposite of the message they wanted to sell.



I think one of the biggest deterrents is kids today can’t get out and play with the neighborhood. My parents signed me up for baseball, soccer, basketball and swimming. These things cost quite a bit of money. Generally, I didn’t enjoy them much, wasn’t in the top half of the skilled players, didn’t have much fun and quit after a year. But when we got together on our own, and played when and how WE wanted it was a lot more enjoyable. With fewer skills, I still fit in better than a competitive league or at school. With little costs, and tones of enjoyment, the value is immeasurable.



As a Canadian, I would play hockey – floor hockey, street hockey and ball hockey. It is what I chose to do with my friends and at my own time and pace, and not what was suggested to me. I remember in grade 7. I signed up for floor hockey. Lots of people signed up. The coaches ran a week of practices. Then they sat us down and said they had made the list of cuts. But we could keep the whole team; we just would get about half as much playing time. They left us to a secret ballot vote to decide. Oddly enough, I knew I had made the team, yet was one of the few that voted to keep the whole. All the jocks were cut. A few troubled youth that could use the structure was the closest to the jocks that were kept. The rest of us were told we were kept because we had more of a team attitude. We had fun that year. We didn’t win any championship, but it was fun. I remember we played a school that had twice as many players as we had. I smiled. I wonder if they put it to a vote? I had voted for the right thing, and was still enjoying more floor time. By about a year later I had lost a lot of weight.
Bren
2006-10-20 10:08:01 UTC
Don't make sport so much about winning and losing. It can still be a part, but if you want kids to engage with sport, some won't be so good to begin with. You can't encourage them by telling them if they don't win they're no good. You need to let them enjoy the sport, have a laugh. Then the ones that do have a talent can go into more specialised areas (like football/rugby leagues, gymnastic competitions, etc.)
2006-10-18 05:21:09 UTC
Do what I did: take the TV away & tell them that it's broken & will be at least 2 weeks getting repaired. This got them off their backsides & into the garden where I'd left the football, tennis swing game (already set up) & put a rope ladder up one of our trees. Now the TV has returned, 'mended', I find that they're a lot easier to pursude to get out doors & do some sort of recreation, be it sport or just plain climbing trees & generally fooling around.

I figure that any exercise is better than none, be it sport, or mental exercise (reading).
darkhorse
2006-10-17 09:17:44 UTC
take up sport with them either at weekends or early evening, if parents were to work together organising mixed teams for IE football, rounders hockey etc the kids would love it - but parents often sit back and don't want to make the first move - when my boys were younger my husband sister in law and myself used to go onto our large local play area and start a game of rounders within half an hour there were at least another dozen children joined in and a few of their parents we did this every weekend until the winter - we all felt fitter and had a great time. I don't think that its parents not wanting to take part, I think it just needs a bit of temptation to get them out there.
spartan74uk
2006-10-16 04:12:13 UTC
Make it affordable, in the area that I live we have many good sporting facilities, the only problem is the price.



I believe to encourage children to improve at sport they need to play often.



A round of golf at my local pay and play course is £18, for a parent to afford this and maybe have the child play twice a week is only available for the more well-to-do, swimming is £2.30, Badminton £7.50 for an hours court hire, all these need more practice time.



The only free to use facility is the local park to play football, and with the number of children wishing to use the ground it becomes a free for all.
Frankie
2006-10-15 19:32:01 UTC
Don't try and coerce quiet children into participating in rough team sports; offer a variety of sports suitable to different personalities eg athletics, swimming as well as rugby, soccer, golf. A good golfer is not necessarily going to be a good soccer player.Many girls who don't want to compete would love the chance to do Aerobics or some sort of fitness training. Meet people where they are. Don't expect or require all children to be fiercely competitive - some are, but many are put off by pressure to be good or be sidelined. Two words - choice and encouragement instead of pressure and coercion.
?
2006-10-22 01:00:59 UTC
I am aware of one medical study showing that activity levels in children are laid down at around the age of three or four years old, and these levels are maintained in teenage. I infer from that that it is learned behaviour at a formative age.



You therefore have to engage the child at the age of 3 or 4 and I expect the previous suggestions of playing with them rather than sending them away from under your feet is the way forward.



Sorry, I can't find the paper, but I am sure it was in the BMJ in the last 12 months.
Harry
2006-10-20 08:52:36 UTC
I think the best way to encourage children to take up sport is to let them watch sport first and then decide whether or not they would like to get involved in same. It's a good idea to let them try out different sports and let them choose the one (or more) which they would like to pursue.



Parents, guardians or otherwise, should never push or force children to pursue a particular sport if they don't want to do same. We should never live our own dreams through our children, better to let them decide themselves.



Once a child has decided to pursue a particular sport, we should offer and provide them all the support and encouragement necessary. This means going along to watch them play or train, and not just drop them off at a gate and treat the sports club etc., as a creche facility. It's important to take an active interest in a child's pursuits, even if its not our own particular favourite. Also, encouragement in the form of praise, regardless of a child's ability or standard of sporting prowess is crucial to their own self-belief and enjoyment of their sporting choice.



We should always highlight the positive aspects of sporting pursuits,in the form of healthy exercise, interacting with other children and becoming independent, rather than any negatives of same, e.g. you could get hurt playing football, it takes upa lot of time etc. Spending time and taking part in their sport/sports of choice is further encouragement, be it kicking a football in the park or on a beach, or hitting tennis balls with them, walking around a golf course or whatever it is. Taking up the sport yourself lends further encouragement. Above all else, spending time with children is the most important thing you can give them, time and interest is what they need and deserve the most.



Watching their siblings, other family or friends have fun playing sport, can also add encouragement and a desire to get involved. After all, what child doesn't like running around doing something !!



Finally, I believe you should always tell children to go out and enjoy themselves, and to have fun when pursuing their game of choice. Putting pressure on them to do this or that,

can work for some, but not for others, and can be an unnecessary and unwanted burden for most. Enjoyment and fun should always be the message they hear above all else.
reaper420
2006-10-19 01:40:10 UTC
Well i think if you show all the good points to the sport your kids show some intrest in they mite take it up , Most kids boys and girls all enjoy football or some other type of sport and i think the parent should try there best to get there childern more intrested in the sport maybe take it up for a team or as a hobby depending on what the sport is and always encourage them to take part.
John Wong
2006-10-18 05:15:32 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is ensure the following:



1. The Environment: ensure that children are surrounded with sporting facilities (public, private and school) and programs (training and tournaments)



2. Influence:

- Human influence: ensure that parents, peers, teachers and heros (like Tiger and yourself in golf) are all guided in the same direction to encourage



- Media influence: exposure to TV programs, Books, Magazines, Cartoon characters, Video games, Movies . . . etc.



3. Fun: generate fun in sports, not undue pressure.



4. Funding: public (governments and schools) or private (sport associations, corporate and individual)



If these elements are in place, it's pretty hard not to have healthy children wanting to do sports.
sammy_j_andrew
2006-10-17 19:19:22 UTC
I think that offerring a wider range of sports in the schools could get the children interested earlier on. I know when i was in primary school it was basically rounders, hockey, football or gymnastics. In secondary school it branched out slightly more to include netball, basketball, badminton, tennis, athletics and table tennis.

I think that if sports such as various martial arts, volleyball, kickboxing, achery, lacrosse and trampolines were offered along-side the more traditional P.E. sports that it would appeal to a wider range of students.

Basically the focus in P.E. at schools shouldn't be on the kids who are good at and enjoy sport - they're going to enjoy it whether focused on or not. It's the kids that shy away in the corner, that get picked last for teams or 'forget' their kit often that need the help.

I think if children are given a choice of sports to take in their compulsary classes then as they have chosen they would be more happy to take part in something they would feel slightly more confident in.

With younger children, the best way to encourage them would be to offer more lessons of P.E through the school week but also to get parents to get involved with the childs sporting education.

With secondary pupils, again more P.E. is needed but I think if the kids feel like they have more of a choice rather than being forced to do a sport they would never take up outside of school then they may feel more motivated to exercise.

I know if my school had offered Judo or something similar (which I have recently taken up and am thoroughly enjoying) then I wouldn't be fighting with fitness problems, and indeed I wouldn't be as overweight as I became through the lack of exercise at school.
Wendall
2006-10-17 05:05:08 UTC
The parents have to be 100% commited to the children doing sport, and should join in.

It doesnt take much to get a family out on a bike ride, lswimming, long walk in the country or by the beach, to start off with, to get the children used to exercise....build it up and join in, find a sport that all the family can do
2006-10-17 00:29:14 UTC
Get their parents to be interested in sport.

My son plays golf with me because he wants to be like Dad.



He is 5, when we go to the driving range, I Iet him do whatever he wants so he is happy. If he hits 5 balls out of 90, then lines the rest up and kicks them, then great! He'll want to keep coming back. Eventually, he'll be good enough to realise he can do it well and keep his interest and participation up.



This applies to any sport, kids look for praise and encouragement at home before anywhere else, and the younger they start, the more habitual it will become.



As a kid, my Dad made me go play rugby, then left me to walk their and back, showed no interest when I played a game etc and guess what, I didn't stick at it.



In brief, kids are guided. Parents have the biggest input. Get parents interested and the kids will follow.
rosbif
2006-10-16 12:54:42 UTC
Give them the facilities to do so.In the UK,school playing fields were closed and in sports have been frowned upon as it "encourages the mentality of winners and losers".Sorry but that is what life is about.

Children SHOULD be encouraged to play sports.It can give them a sense of camaraderie and who knows,for a few, a possible career.

Perhaps more lottery money should be allocated to building and running sports facilities aimed at children.They can't play sport if the facilities are not there
b_yekim
2006-10-16 04:33:55 UTC
The best way has to be to provide facilities where kids can go and play - lots of courses offer children's tee's but perhaps more courses could look at their pricing which can be too high for the average wage earner, let alone their kids who may want to come along too!

I personally have just started playing over a month ago and am hooked - its just about getting the opportunity and having the accessability of a local course and the funds to get started!
tmctagga
2006-10-16 04:03:44 UTC
I was a fat kid at school and I would be filled with dread at the thought of sport due to the need to be the best and be a winner. I thought it brought out the worst in people's natures. There's nothing worse than being the last kid picked for the team because you're rubbish. Eventually I got a really great teacher who let me know there was more to sport than competetion. He got me into dancing. I lost loads of weight and had fun. Its all about matching the activity to the person and not heaping on great expectations. You don't have to be a champion, just have fun.
Safety First
2006-10-16 00:27:10 UTC
At our school children have the PE requirements of the National Curriculum; in addition they have the opportunity to experience a wide range of sports via the introduction of visiting coaches. They also visit a variety of sporting venues and, whenever possible, we try to .involve the parents and community. As you can imagine all this entails a lot of extra work for the staff. However we take the health and welfare of our children seriously and believe this is an area where we can positively impact on not only the children's lives now but, by laying the foundation for a healthy lifestyle can improve their quality of life for years to come.
peta g
2006-10-15 22:25:05 UTC
I think you have to make it a way of life and fun! I think a child should be taught to kick a ball, through a ball, or hit a golf ball at a very young age! This way they are playing but also learning very important co-ordination skills! But at the same time they are having fun and starting a passion about something! I also think its very important for parent's to join in and make it a family thing!

This way a child would not have to be encouraged or bribed to play sport as is often the case these day! I also think its very important for a parent's to take time to show an interest in a child's sporting ability's, attend games and match's, by doing this the child would see the parents interest and continue to carry on as they will be aware of the support that they are receiving. Saying all this maybe its not the children that need to be encouraged to play sports but a case of encouraging parents to take an interest.
Mashakasha
2006-10-20 03:05:26 UTC
Well having done competitive sport as a child for altogether 10 years, my mom just took me to classes with no questions asked. First, I did gymnastics for which I was a bit chubby and then swimming. I loved swimming. Most kids I know, do. Before I knew I was sucked in, went to a special swimmers school class to have morning trainings etc.



That did not answer the question did it?



Basically sports facilities need to be affordable and easily available.
anton
2006-10-19 02:16:28 UTC
I honestly think that PARENTS are the key. Modern day parents are too involved in their work and don't actively do enough to encourage their kids.



Kids should be exposed to sport more. Encourage them to participate by taking them to sports events. Seeing people playing and having fun will encourage them to participate and emulate the pro's.



Also, encourage them to read about sport. I remember getting a Jack Nicklaus book of golf as a youngster and wishing that it was the next day after school so that I could practice what he suggested.



The bottom line is to encourage youngsters by taking them to events - not just main stream but alternative events (like triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the UK). Encourage them to read about sport, it will not just improve their sport technically but get them back into books. It also means that families spend more time together staying healthy and interacting.
2006-10-17 12:47:04 UTC
Get them with a good coach, who will gain their respect, and who will respect them. They must be treated as equals, and given the facts of the sport straight. Those who are keen stay keen, the borderline ones can be easily won over with a little success

If the two click, the youngsters will do well, the more they succeed, the more they will want to do. Give them the help they need, but don't mollycoddle them.

Biggest problem is finding the coaches to trigger the children.
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Victoria M
2006-10-22 11:01:50 UTC
I would say to get them outdoors when they are young and make it fun, fun, fun. If the parents take time to join the kids in the sport and make it fun then the children will look forward to it and enjoy it. I was always outside when I was young on our horses. Confiscate the play stations and dvd's etc as that's what seems to keep the kids inside on the sofa!
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jammy.greeny@talk21.com
2006-10-21 17:15:29 UTC
This is what I learnt but I have not stuck to it and have become lazy so it must be the wrong answer:



My dad is not very sporty but as I have always been into football I started playing it anyway. I think the best way to encourage them is to tell them what sport you like and talk about the good old days of the sport, the sport today and the sport in the future. You can possibly play with them (might be embarrasing) but don't pressure them into playing it, as pressurising them can back fire. In a democracy the best way is to make them choose, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind and to show them that if they did not play sport then bad things will happen, this in itself can show them encouragement to play sport.

If they say they have no friends to play sport with, them encourage them to go to a club, youth group where they have the opportunity to play sport.

Peer pressure, if the child feels that the sport he is playing does not fit into social norms, tell them that if it is good for them and they enjoy it then not to listen to other children teasing them about it and it might be them being teased in the future.
mark r
2006-10-21 08:58:16 UTC
Children need a role model to follow, so its important for parents to set an example. Also, the fun aspect of sport must be emphasized rather than a win at all costs attitude. If this is done, they will naturally play and enjoy sport no matter what their ability.
EERules
2006-10-19 20:20:12 UTC
This is a question close to my heart as I have recently become a new father. Our 2 yr. old son has a health complication- Cystic Fibrosis, and his overall fitness can have a positive or negative impact on his long term health. My goal is to encourage his involvement in sport as this is a great way for him to improve his fitness and minimize the impact of the disease.



I think the following three ideas will encourage my son to get involved and I believe these will help parents around the world. First, I must be a role model which means I need to be actively involved in my own favourite sport, e.g. playing, or coaching, or cheering. Second, explaining to my son that sport is a fun and a social activity, e.g. a way to spend time with friends or meet new friends, is important as it encourages him to relax instead of focusing on winning which can be very stressful and/or discouraging. Finally, I think it is important for me to explain that being involved in sport will help him to grow up healthy and strong. I think it is fair to say that all children want to grow up to be healthy and strong!



I hope this helps to answer your question. Keep up the good work!



Regards,

Andrew
fressc_consulting
2006-10-19 15:02:25 UTC
It all depends on what age they are being introduced to the sport but the most important thing is to make sure it is their choice and not something they are forced to do. Educate them and where possible partcipate or find older/younger people to participate in the sport in an enjoyable and social manner regularly while such children are present (in summary, expose them to such sports where other people are participating in the sport and enjoying the sporting event). As they get interested, then they can be slowly introduced to the depthless benefits of sports participation wheather professionally or socially. Exposing them to various sporting activities and events also makes them feel you are giving them the choice to enjoy each game and where relevant, they can then make their own choice on what sport to choose to participate in more regularly. Needless to say, make sure they are well rewared with a BIG CLAP of the hands and loud Saying of WELL DONE when they perform well.
sarkyastic31
2006-10-18 10:16:28 UTC
Infant and Primary schools should encourage more sport. They don't do enough. I've just paid for my 6 year old to have one hour a week of football at his school for 5 weeks. He really enjoyed it and wants to do more, the only after school activities he will have next term are drama and dance. The football course was over subscribed and many children didn't get to participate. I think schools should do more after school games and sports courses, as part of the school curriculum. PE is a joke! Sports should be part of the school curriculum. Its all up to parents to provide the oppportunities for their children and not all parents can afford private lessons.
2006-10-17 10:59:31 UTC
I believe that being a role model is the best way - I grew up with sports as a huge part of my life and encouraged my two sons to try both individual and team sports from a very early age. I took them to practices, sat on the sidelines or actually participated with them. I never made it about winning or being the best - it was about challenging yourself in the individual sports and helping the team to work together in the team sports. My sons are now 22 and 24 and we play golf together regularly. Both sons are goalies on their football teams, and have their black belts in karate.
Breeze
2006-10-16 12:43:13 UTC
Sport just brings back the horror of being the fat kid who nobody wanted on their team, but I loved playing pirates if the weather was bad we got to stay in the gym and someone was it and we were not allowed to touch the wooden floor, had to jump from mats and equipment.....now its banned as too dangerous. I enjoy horse riding, help out with riding for the disabled and carriage driving...but it's expensive, swimming too, but the adults only sessions are early morning...I have to see to my horse or late at night, I have to go to bed early!!!



Sport needs to be fun, and children need access to the whole range of sports to find their special ones.... then access and financial support is essential.... the Olympics being held in London and other venues across the UK should be the ideal opportunity to get children involved.... and maybe supporting sports stars or teams aiming for the olympics, with maybe some tickets to attend. Maybe the venue could be used shortly after by holding a childrens olympics, with children across the world coming to compete in a fun version of the olympics!
garrett b
2006-10-16 11:47:26 UTC
A big problem that can lead to children not playing sports is the use of video games. Now instead of going out and getting their hands dirty, children have the access to games on XBOX,PS2, and other sorts of gaming systems. Encourage children to go outside and play with their friends. I know as a kid, I learned many games by just playing with different friends and playing the games that they wanted to play. Ask them what sports they enjoy playing and maybe for a birthday buy them an item that is used in that sport. Play with them and be interactive. If they move on to a different sport or activity, its ok. Just let them feel free to try different things. :-)
doogle
2006-10-16 10:14:28 UTC
Having a seven year old this is what works for me.



It has to be fun. Do what ever you can to make it fun.. Forget about the results at this stage without the fun factor they aren't going stay involved to get any good at it. A parent showing interest in his kids sport goes a long way to keeping him interested.



Coaching needs to be structured in a way that there is a game within the game. For example when coaching soccer break them up into teams and let have soccer drill competitions. This raises the interest and competitiveness which by the way helps them to develop their skills without them realising. I love to play par three golf with my son. Golf is an extremely difficult sport for a seven year old. So to keep it interesting I play two balls and he plays one. At least he gets the feeling that the score is competitive and this keep him interested.



Also never forget to reward kids at the end of participating in a sport. A simple snack at the end goes a long way.
DWorst
2006-10-16 07:11:44 UTC
The problem with kids in the developed World these days is Mam & Dad have plenty of cash to buy game consoles and DVD players. Kids generally seek a comfortable environment, spending spare time in their own room playing video games is far easier than mixing with other kids. Sport, especially team sports, encourages social interaction and helps build a child’s confidence and character. I disagree with taking the competitive edge of children’s sports, this is not the problem. Team sports, far more than individual sports is what we want our kids to get involved with, competition makes sports fun. Each child, no matter how skilled, can learn to participate in a team environment.

Schools need to put far more energy & resources into sports activities, Mam & Dad need to spend more time with Junior kicking a ball in the park, and Mam & Dad should limit Junior’s time on the games console.
James F
2006-10-16 04:47:30 UTC
Recently I went to Aideen Rogers in Ireland to Improve my game and to aid in the writing of a book related to golf, and found the range was full of Middle aged and older people. To incentivise children in to sport I believe you must make it:



1) Cost effective and seem like fun with no pressure to enjoy

2) Make it part of an exercise routine for all the family

3) Instead of throwing out old clubs or footballs give them to charity shops or people that can help others

4) If they like computer games get them those associated with sports and make deals like if they use the computer they must also take part in the sport



Ireland is globally known for it's love of sport as a spectator driven event, but at local level amateur sports are very important. Maybe more focus should be spent on promoting sport as a healthy and enjoyable hobby and not just related to money driven large events and showpieces. Enjoying sport at an amateur level means your interested in enjoying yourself more so than just winning.
Rainman
2006-10-20 10:38:08 UTC
First and foremost provide the facilities. Where I live you have to book up three weeks in advance for a tennis court. Playing fields are being sold off to make way for houses. If there are no courts, pools or grounds to play then how can children be encouraged to take up sport?
2006-10-17 11:39:37 UTC
may be an idea to tell the children using yours and other proffesional sport stars voices on the xbox etc that children who play sport actively will be fitter and more active when i comes to playing computer games??????????????i also think that extremely wealthy sports stars should be offerd to donate funds from each pay cheque of their choices to create local sport clubs and facilities,after all their are sport stars out their who are so wealthy they could easily start a sport club!nice to see a pro doing something about it! Well done ernie els
phlip
2006-10-16 05:25:17 UTC
Get em a plastic golf club and ball as soon as they can stand up then put em in front o the telly and get them to watch a video of someone with a classy swing (Ernie aint bad of course). When they've watched it for a while send em out into the garden and get em knock the ball around. We are told kids absorb things quickest when they are very young so start em off as early as poss.

One of the UK's most promising youngsters is a girl of ten who first held a club at TWO. She won a national competition for ladies last year (off 26 hcp) and now playing in the pro-ams of the Ladies European pro-tour off 9hcp. If she carries on progressing at her present rate you can forget the present crop of pro's this kid could be very very good indeed.
2006-10-20 12:36:25 UTC
What encouraged you? When I was young we were encouraged to try all types of sports during and after school. As a parent I feel that TV,games consols and perverts are all barriers put up to prevent our kids from enjoying sports outside. Make the world a safer place and let our kids enjoy more freedom to enjoy the outdoors.
2006-10-20 11:36:16 UTC
I think the best way is to encourage it from a young age and for the councils to provide good reasonable facilites for any child or adult for that matter to either continue a sport they enjoy or to try a new one especially in smaller communities like where i live.



Also to take away the cliches that form around sport and let anyone regardless of sex try any sport if they have an interest in it - if you don't like it you try something else.
andybrucemac
2006-10-19 04:25:13 UTC
I believe the best way way to encourage children to take up sport is to ensure that sport is offered at schools starting at the youngest age possible, for example in primary school.



The school therefore needs to be able to support this initiative and so assistance from government/ local authorities to provide schools with sufficient funds to have the facilities and the equipment to allow sport is vital. It is also essential to have suitable coaches in place to ensure that children are taught the correct way to play a sport and so can appreciate it fully as well as having enthusiastic coaches to keep the children interested and motivated to continue. I also believe it is essential to provide a wide variety of sporting activities at school from which a child can then choose and that these activities are all funded equally.



All of the above provide the best environment for which a child can be encouraged to participate and play soprt, but I think role models within a particular sport are also essential to attracting children to participate. Having a successful national team in any sport breeds success as childern then have role models which inspire them and they look up to. It is therefore imperative that the governing bodies of all the sports ensure that they promote a culture of professional athletes with high morals, fair play and good attitudes and that where necessay they take the necessary actions to enforce these rules and regulations.



Everyone wants to be the best and the winner, but I believe that childern should be encouraged not only to win but also to participate. This will allow them to enjoy the buzz of competing along with the social aspect of interacting with other children as well as benefiting from the fact of being healthier and fitter.
Tabbyfur aka patchy puss
2006-10-17 11:54:43 UTC
From a young age scare them in to it. Show them pictures of fat people with their clothes stretching to fit them. Tell them that unless they do sport and become active then that will happen to them too. The kids of today are allowed to become obese by their parents and they don't encourage them to do any sporting activities. Most are over weight and the parents call it puppy fat. Yeah right. More like Playstation & Chrisp fat. The more a child fears becoming that way the more they will want to do sport as they know it will be healthy and active for them.
2006-10-16 22:20:34 UTC
My suggestion is two fold.



First, sport needs to be accessible to all communities and income groups. This means alot of focus must be given to providing facilities where communities don't have the means to provide it themselves. I think children will more readily pursue a sport where they can see an opportunity to excel without the problems of not having kit or not being able to get to the facilities.



Secondly, our great sports men and women who have made a name for themselves in their respective sports should invest some of their time to promote their sports at grass roots level by doing clinics, making appearances, etc. I remember as a child, being in absolute awe of the Andre Agassi's and Steffi Graf's of the tennis world.
2006-10-16 17:57:25 UTC
Keep them away from computers and games consoles. Also encourage your children at an early age to enjoy outdoor activities... take them to the park , kick a ball around, paddle in the sea, and climb trees. Children learn by example, so do sporting activities together, visit the pool, go watch a football game, take them to the golf driving range. My 10year old plays football, golf, rugby, and tennis, and can swim 1000m. I'm so proud of him.
riku45100
2006-10-16 17:01:13 UTC
Join in with them and stop giving them stupid electronic toy to keep them busy. Think of what was done before we had electroinc toy and the internet. Instead of buying the a xbox, playstation, gamecube buy the a football, golf set, tennis racket. Get kid something that require them to use all the muscles and also brain power. We can take the electronic toy away. Why do kid nead these the only muscles that they are using is there thumb and very little brain power.
2006-10-16 12:49:06 UTC
Nilikuonyesha nyota (mwezi) na uliangalia kidole tu. (Swahili)

I pointed out to you the stars (the moon) and all you saw was the tip of my finger.



This African proverb goes along way in explaining how NOT to introduce children to sport, and problems I have experienced as a teacher and a coach. Too often children are led in the wrong direction when introduced to sport in it’s various forms. Sometimes it is overzealous parents, outcomes oriented coaches, or overexposure to a media that glorifies sport too often for the wrong reasons that can ruin a lifelong meaningful connection for all kids to sport.



What is more important is that they “see the stars”, in a figurative sense, and that they are shown that sport is quite simply a microcosm of life. They need to learn there are rules to games(and to life), that you should always give it your best, that you will not always win, and that losing, not just winning, builds character.



Additionally, they need to have access and they need positive models. Disadvantaged kids need places to play: parks, equipment and programs to teach them to “see the stars”. All children need the right person (a parent, coach, teammate, or mentor) to “point” the way in a positive manner.



Hope this helps Ernie. Thanks.



Mark Barry
Delora Gloria
2006-10-16 10:35:14 UTC
At least one parent must truly love some sort of activity. If "sport" includes non-team pursuits, such as hiking, running, mountain climbing, etc., then there is a much greater chance that children will grow up being active. Lots of kids can't cope with competition, and always being chosen last for your classroom PE games is very disheartening. I've seen a great deal of good being done by bypassing the competition aspect, and praising people who take up yoga, hiking, rock climbing, etc.
Magsav
2006-10-16 08:47:59 UTC
Join in with them. We regularly take our 4 kids swimming (aged 8, 5, 4 and 18 months) and they all love it. It's also an opportunity to spend some quality time together.



Another suggestion is buy a dog. We've had some excellent long walks in the country, the kids love being able to run around without fear of traffic, they also enjoy throwing sticks in the water for the dog to chase. Gets fresh air into their lungs too. Again, quality family time.



Encourage them to join a group. My 8 year old is a cub scout & they play all sorts of games. Both he & I have made friends through cubs. My 5 year old has started Morris Dancing. She practices once a week & competes once a fortnight. Again we've both made friends through this.



Sport not only improves your health, it also improves your social life!
2006-10-16 08:17:59 UTC
At an early age bring the child along on your own sporting activity. Whether it be in a buggy or in a high chair as Tiger's pop did, the young ones love to spend time with and mimic their parents. As a child gets older, involve their friends. Some kids are social animals, and it won't be long before they won't want to be seen with you! Finally, make it fun. Laugh at the bad shots sing high praises for the good shots and you'll have a sportsmen for life.
pablo26uk
2006-10-16 03:53:50 UTC
We need to bring competition back into sport with younger children. These days we are becoming more and more like the USA where the worst thing you can do is have a winner / loser. The human race is extremely competitive, something which has helped us to survive and prosper; if we take the competitive element out of sport for youngsters, it's hardly surprising if they don't really see the point in competing.
2006-10-15 15:14:03 UTC
Taking up a sport isn't the problem, it's getting them to continue once the novelty worn off, when friends aren't doing it anymore. Offer more choices at school even if that means sports lessons outside school premises. Encourage local clubs to offer free taster sessions especially in sports not currently offered at school. Find a good local club in their chosen sport with qualified coaches who will encourage them and not pressure kids into performing great. If your kids want you to join in or attend each session do so, but remember some kids won't want you to, it's their time so go with the flow. There's nothing more embarassing to a youngster than a pushy parent. You can show your support at matches or events or when you pick them up from training sessions, when they will be eager to tell you how well or badly they did.
answers_anyone
2006-10-15 14:57:15 UTC
Not everyone is an athelete. Therefore, it is important to make sure that despite poor performance that kids have fun playing sport. This may be easier to do if the child is competing against him/herself. For example, do a social but solitary sport. that is rather than a team sport where a child can become frustrated if they are seen to bring down a team, encourage them to take up an individual sport e.g. golf, skiing, swimming, skating etc. All of these are fun to participate in but it doesn't matter if they are not great at it. They just need to have fun.
2014-09-24 17:56:40 UTC
The easiest way to learn golf like a pro is by following "The Simple Golf Swing" program. It's primarily a 31 page eBook that teaches golfers how to make solid contact with the ball, how to avoid hitting fat, how to avoid slicing, how get more power, accuracy, and consistency in your swing. Consistency being the number 1 golf skill.



You not only get the eBook though, you also receive a ton of extra material including video, lessons on putting, driving, chipping, sand play etc. Here is their official site: http://www.golfswingguru.net
?
2014-10-11 08:06:08 UTC
I don't think we need to get the kids into sport as much as encourage parents to allow and encourage their kids to go out and see what it is like to really kick a ball, really ride a bike and really skateboard down at the park. Go with them if you are that worried.
2006-10-22 09:06:10 UTC
encourage kids into sport as soon as they can but try and keep the competative aspect away till they are older and can understand it, so they can see that its fun to.its not just all about winninig but taking part and interacting with others and if they enjoy the sport that they choose excelling at it should be easier because they have an intrest in it not just pushy parents try to win trophies for themselves
Big Wullie (Hairy Scotsman!)
2006-10-18 06:10:20 UTC
The best way by far is to get them to go along to an event, and watch or take part.



Realise that is fun and is better than sitting in the house.



Or even better is to watch a professional event and get near the action. If some of the players can take time to speak to kids even better,



I was privileged to watch Big Earnie win the Scottish Open a few years back.. On one hole i watched him hole birdie putt, and as he walked past me i said "nice shot" to which he acknowledged with head nod and a "thanks."



The kids behind me were so jealous, but if that was them he spoke to i'm sure they'd have followed him all day and pestered their parents for a set of clubs.
2006-10-17 04:55:38 UTC
I believe the best way to encourage children is to bring the sport to them, especially in South Africa where there are allot of kids that never get the opportunity to participate in sport at their schools.

Schools should be the first target to promote participation in sport to children. With a passionate coach and role models the children will themselves create a passion for whichever sport they choose to participate in. And then, obviously through clinics etc. held by their heroes, the popularity of sport will grow among children.

The most important aspect is the promotion of sport at schools, making it fun, and creating a love for sport!
insane2mad
2006-10-16 00:32:15 UTC
Involvement of key people and encouragement are the answer. We need to make sport glamouraous agian and to promoted the fun. The thing about playstation is that it has glaour assoiciated with it. I remember a time when it was the in thing to be aprt of a team(winning or not) at that time the vedio games were gaining speed. We do not have great sponsors of these activities to make them viable to the provider and beneficial to the recipient. We need to get the corporate world in vloved and also to get parents and gaurdians invloved and then maybe we can get more children palyaing sport.
Swiss Vrystaat!
2006-10-21 23:56:28 UTC
Work on the the things that kids like, their emotions and the huge range of sensations that sport produces. For instance, kids like pocket money, mine used to get theirs by getting x for every chip into a basket out on the lawn, y for every putt into a box on the carpet. We used to run family sweepstakes for guessing the winners of big events on TV, giving an edge to viewing. They began the live the heartbreak and elation that winning and losing produces. Kids like adventure and special treats, we used to go to places far away from home (requiring an overnight stay, say) and watch some big events. The enthusiasm of fans is infectious, that pizza evening very memorable too. Kids like pleasing their parents and doing things with them, so spend time playing sport with them. Can you get anything of value without putting in time?! Finally, don't talk benefits & fitness, rhyme & reason. These are consequences and rather abstract for children. Most kids are naturally energetic and keen. Most of all they want fun and excitement, high emotion, yes man, sport has it all!
2006-10-21 00:53:18 UTC
I'm a teacher at a primary school and my school is great in the fact that there is always sports equipment available for the kids to play with during their breaks - the football pitch is constantly in use, as well as the basketballs and other things such as hoops, skipping ropes and this chinese racquet game. I've also found that the kids love it when my colleagues or I join in their games with them at play times when we're on duty. Its a great way to encourage them to play with the sports facilities and equipment - more teachers and parents should try it. We as adults don't realise how much children look up to us and follow our example.
2006-10-20 14:35:57 UTC
Growing Up in South Africa my life was always about sports, and to be honest the reason for that was because of my dad who loved sports. But the best thing my dad did was not to tell me to play sport but rather to show me. Therefore my answer as to the best way to encourage kids to take up sport is simply to do it with them, whatever the sport is, any kid will take up that sport if the parent or significant adult influence in his or her life does the sport with them. As a father now I invest time teaching my kids the sports that I love and living in the United States, exposing them to new sports that I am learning to love. I see first hand that my kids Friends who have parents that are not into sport, have little to no interest in sport. My son is 6 years old and his sports hero's are Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, and he goes with me to the driving range to hit balls. The other day he stopped me and asked me to watch his swing....Dad, does my swing look like Ernie's or Tigers he said. My answer was simple, no Nathan it looks like yours, and always remember that your swing will always be the best swing for you!
Mat T
2006-10-20 04:55:01 UTC
Do what the swedish do.. nuture them For Example they send 4-10 year olds out on the course for 9 holes with a full bag of sweets and walk round with them advising, helping and tutoring them but keeping the fun involved, which is the main thing Ernie.. you legend you!!!

xxx
2006-10-20 03:34:43 UTC
Teach your children from a young age about the mental and physical health benefits of moderate physical exercise.

INTRODUCE and EXPOSE them to a variety of sports, allowing them to choose which they enjoy and prefer most.

Play with them as much as possible and turn any "teaching session" into a fun game - kids respond best that way.

Natural genetic talent will determine competitiveness and success to a large degree - so don't force kids to win at all costs.

Do not expect your child to be the sporting hero you never were.
2006-10-19 17:06:38 UTC
find a sport that they like and encourage them to do it get a group together with other parents so that they have other kids to have fun with as well dont push them to hard because it will discourage them just keep at a steady pace and have rewards on the way like days out if they win at the sport if they join a team for there sport then if they win a match let them bask in the glory and celebrate in some way
abdul s
2006-10-19 03:12:38 UTC
The parents should become role models for their children and take some time out to play with their children and adapt life styles that could encourage sports activities at home. Take your children to sport's grounds, bring for them sports stuff when you shop.

Avoid or reduce toys which promote sedenta life styles.



I took my sons 4 years and 2 years on walk every evening and they enjoy playing football, cycling and swiming.



Parents need to some spare time and sacrifice their choices in daily life.
2006-10-17 18:37:25 UTC
find one they like - and that can be afforded, my son likes golf - but its £15 per game, a good way to do this would be to provide free sports memberships for those who want it, kinda as a government incentive, grants towards a particular sport, free swimmng lessons (schools no longer provide this) making sport fun. free skatboard parks, (not the useless ramps some councils put up) sports buddies would also be a good idea, no point talking about it unless someones gonna put their hand ion their pocket, I could come up with ideas non stop - but no one listens or when they do, they make take a survery and consider what being said - so what, action is whats needed, talk til the cows come home - but who's going to pay?? only the privilleged can afford it
gregor
2006-10-17 14:04:59 UTC
I think to encourage kids into sport you need to make it as much fun as possible - get them outside if possible and let them enjoy the fresh air and exercise that sport can give you when your young.



Schools should try to make more sports available so that kids can choose which sports they enjoy more.



Starting at an early age is key I think because if you play sports when your very young you soon take a shine to a sport and you generally enjoy it more if your good at something.
Dazz
2006-10-17 04:52:28 UTC
By showing them through example and showing them that sport is fun. I find it best to make regular plans with my children to spend certain days playing sport. Usually a Sarurday morning while there Mother is out shopping, they can invite as many of there friends to join in and we will any different sport the group fancies trying. In todays age of technology it is best to get them out doors and doing some physical exercise rather than sitting in front of the TV all day and night. Any one on the Shropshire area fancy joining in feel free !!
2006-10-16 20:25:04 UTC
Encourage them by playing sport with them or introducing them to social activites in your local area. You are the best teacher and the person they trust the most.



When I was younger, kids were in the street and out the front with other kids, went to the park and rode there bikes and be kids in general, but nowadays kids aren't encouraged to socialise or play outdoors cos of the risk of being harmed. Society has turned sour beacuse of what has happened in the past to other children. Basically encourage children to be children. They will grow up and be adults one day but it will be the memories of being a playful child that can stop them from being lazy when they grow up and become parents.
AmandaSuffolk
2006-10-16 13:02:13 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to let them play. Pure and simple, let them run, jump, skip, hop and get the physical fitness and enjoyment at that level and then they have the basic tools to start enjoying sport. The key is enjoyment. As soon as they get pleasure from their physical activity they will then want to progress to some sort of formal level of sport. Little steps, small progressions, big results!
Wesley B
2006-10-16 12:00:35 UTC
Always make it as fun as possible. Encourage them. Every winner was once a bigginer.



But also:

Sport opens up a lot of opportunitys and gives you the power to beat your best. Its never too late. Look at Paul McGinely, he took up golf at the age of 20 after he had a soccer injury. now one of the best irish players ever. Ashwin Willemse is now a proffesional rugby player. he admitted that if it wasnt for rugby he woulg have been a ganster. Look what supersport achieves with lets play. Its amaizing!



I was at a springbok training day a week ago. hosted by sasol. there were hundreds of younsters competing in diffrent events for diffrent prizes. one younster walked away with seven prizes. who knows he might be the next Danie Gerber or Schalk burger.



I at the age of 20 was just as chuffed to meet my heros Schalk and Jean.



Days like these will encourage younsters. it did encourage me.
issy007
2006-10-16 07:04:38 UTC
I think lots of sporting activities are too expensive, I have 3 small children and me and my husband are into many sports but to send all three to coaching in different activities, i.e swimming , golf, horse riding tennis, etc etc is so expensive and out of our price range, even after school activities are asking high prices fr children to attend. I believe more government funded activites to ordinary people would be a better way to get kids involved, I know football doesnt cost anything to knock a ball around but when they start joining clubs and you have to pay and then the kit has to be bought and boots and fees. it becomes too expensive for the normal families.
a cottage by the sea
2006-10-16 05:20:32 UTC
I've always thought that a day off from school to go and learn the chosen sport would be a great Idea.

Kids could then learn the nutrition and diet side of sport, and how to look after there bodies.

This would definately discourage children from taking drugs and smoking, as they would be able to learn the benefits of staying fit and healthy.
slybaconalec
2006-10-22 09:40:11 UTC
I'm a kid and if your kid doesn't want to do a sport don't force him. This is what my parents did to me. The let me go to this summer club and they said it was going to be really fun and it was if you keep doing it with simple things like that and saying it'll be fun try it with sports. I'm playing loads of sports now. It also depends on the kid cause I'm not exactly interested in sport. I like acting more. What ever you do don't force them to do it or u might end up in a fight cause that's what happened to me and my dad but we are friends now of course well good luck. :)
clonebytes
2006-10-18 16:31:49 UTC
encourage your child and set an example yourself, though, chances are a few sports will spark his or her interest. Fan the flame by taking your child to local sporting events and explaining how different games are played. Then, when the time is right, provide opportunities for your child to try out equipment and play informally with other children.
2006-10-17 11:09:24 UTC
Being the teenager that i am, i got involved with sports at an early age, Swimming and Tennis. I stopped swimming as the pool closed and the tennis i still play. I also go running and cycling at my own choice but tennis i don't mind. Swimming i go at my school as i go to a sports college it helps. exercise relaxes you afterwards, makes you tired but you feel less stress. Maybe pointing out the healthy points about it will encourage other people. It works.
arindam80
2006-10-16 22:29:20 UTC
Children must be encouraged to have friends.They should be allowed to spend time with them on a regular basis. Sports is the ultimate form of camaraderie. Health & fitness mantra is OK for grown ups. Children may not be convinced with such a hype.



Parent/s need to take interest in such activities of their children. A child is eagerness personified wanting to tell/confide in his/her closet mentor about his activities. In the pace of life that we lead today , many a times the parent/s is forgetful or less interested.
Chris G
2006-10-16 05:02:52 UTC
Sport should play a bigger part in school ciricular as it teaches so many important skills to a child's development such as discipline, listening and team-working.



Outside of formal education, the government need to do more in investing in academies and providing local sports facilities that do not cost the earth. Kids are generally active and if facilities were easily accessible then I am sure they would use them.
Paul L
2006-10-21 12:41:35 UTC
Give a child Your Time and you give him/her your Life.

Be a Good Example: show him Your Passion for playing the sport, and he will become passionate as well, show him Your Honor in how you play the sport, and he will become honorable as well, show him Your Respect for the History and Traditions of the sport and he will become respectful .



“Some Dream and Never Do…, Some Do and Never Dream…, A Very Few Dream and do What They Dream”



Encourage His Dreams, and ignite his imagination and His Possibilities Become Limitless.

Teach him to Accept Each Challenge with Vigor and Enthusiasm.

Teach him to Accept Failure, Pain and Setbacks Not as Insurmountable Obstacles But as Part of the Process of Moving Forward Toward the Realization of His Dreams.

Teach him to Respect his Competitors, for Only In Their Level of Accomplishment Do His Victories Become Truly Remarkable.

Teach him to Accept Defeat With Grace and Victory With Humility.

Teach him to Give Something Back to those that follow his path.

But most important of all Show Him that Each Moment that You Share with Him Is the Most Precious Moment In Your Life….



See you at the Chrysler Championship, ( I’ll be the fan with the Blue Ball cap ! :)
2006-10-21 01:41:06 UTC
How about the goverments of countries all over the world put more money into promoting sport, well they are always banging on about how the increasing population is fat, well this is the perfect way to stop this. Sport is a wonderful thing in life and children need much much more involvement, so more money is needed, instead of giving it to criminals for playing scrabble!
2006-10-19 02:20:51 UTC
Let them watch Ernie Els hit golfballs

Let them watch Michael Schumacher drive a car

Let them watch Valentino Rossi ride a motorbike

Let them watch Michael Jordan play basketball

Let them watch Roger Federer play tennis

Let them watch Lance Armstrong ride a bike



And tell them how much you enjoy it and about

the values you can learn from a sport and use

in life.
Ullers
2006-10-17 09:21:44 UTC
You have to make sport encouraging for youngsters - make it a game rather than something physical only by tapping in to what kids want to do are they going to get more involved with sport.



Sure there are some out there who naturally get involved but there are also other issues to do with open spaces and equipment. Maybe some of the big sports brands/sports stars need to get more involved with sponsorshoip and development of areas where kids have nowhere to go and access sport? make equipment and coaching more readily available and they'll come flocking! ;)
TC
2006-10-17 06:25:05 UTC
Instill sporting values in them from a young age. For example, parents could take the children to different sporting events as well as get them to participate in sporting clubs. I think this development can be started anywhere from ages 2-3 and hopefully children will want to continue as they get older. It may also be worth considering providing rewards for participation as these should serve as encouragement.
Iron Man
2006-10-16 11:05:02 UTC
Involve them in the sport. EG Football if you take them to a football match and they enjoy it they are likely to join in with the crowd and feel involved. You could also do this by playing football with them if they start to enjoy the sport then they are likely to tell their family and friends about it which if so the parent(s) should sign them up to a football practise sessions where they can develop their knowledge , fitness and understanding of the game. It doesn't have to be just football as well.
2006-10-16 09:36:24 UTC
Depends on what you both want to achieve.



If it is just for fun, then certainly don't take it too seriously - join them in whatever sport fancies them at the time and encourage them to try and 'give it a go'.



If you are 'serious' about a sport, then it is much more difficult. Either you as a parent is seen as 'pushy' in which case nothing is going to happen. If you just let them be, then nothing is going to happen either! Once you spot some talent, then it is probably best to get some professional advice and coaching.
enigma_variation
2006-10-21 10:11:48 UTC
Make it about having fun rather than striving to win all the time. Kids have enough competition in their lives with meeting parents expectations etc, sport should be a release the same as computer games are now
ELIZABETH KING
2006-10-21 09:28:26 UTC
HEY:

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN IS KNOW THE CATEGORY OF CHILDREN OR A CHILD INVOLVED RANGING FROM THE AGE VARIATION TO THE LIKES AND DISLIKE OF EACH CHILD. IF THE CHILD IS HIS/HER TENDER AGE 2-8 I THINK ONE COULD ENCOURAGE SUCH CHILD USING LITTLE TOYS OF INTREST DEPENDING TOO ON THE PARTICULATAR SPORT YOU HAVE IN MIND, AS A PLEASURE OR LIESURE. IF ABOVE THE TODDLER AGE 8-16. YOU COULD FOR OUT-DOORS AND MAKE THE SPORT MOST INTRESTING,

ALSO ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH SPORT IN MIND WITH THE CHILD, THAT WILL BUILD INTEREST BECAUSE IF THE INTEREST OF CHILDREN ARE NOT BUILT TOWARDS A PARTICULAR THING THEIR DO IT MORE OR LESS TO PLEASE GROWN-UPS BUT ALWAYS REMEBER THAT CHILDREN LEARN BY OBSERVATION SO DO EXACKLY WHAT YOU WANT THE CHILD TO DO NOT JUST VERBAL

THANKS,

LIZZY KING
2006-10-20 16:40:43 UTC
Its a fact if the child finds the game fun they will stick with it and eventually create a love for it, so you must firstly just allow the kid to have fun, enjoy themselves after all at a child's early age competitiveness is not the value to be given to the them......Its about Participation and Enjoyment!!!! This involves encouragement .



Its starts with the parent or coach being able to encourage the child without intimidating them!! Praise should always be given to the child for their achievements, maybe rewarded. Sure, coaching is important in the child grasping the right-technique but this must not be forced on them, just gently encouraged.



In the golf for example bring along your child to your local driving range let them hit as many balls as they can, continue this weekly and you will notice an improvement in their overall skill of the game. Eventually they will begin to ask to play on a 'real golf course' to them, if your local club will allow your child out onto their course jump at it, the child will never forget the experience!! Open children's opportunities to them and broaden their mind, Instead of your child sitting in front of the TV watching brainless cartoons. I stress to you not to allow your child to become a couch potato. Best of luck



Brian
rivonia n
2006-10-20 08:32:09 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to lead by example.Children are very impressionable and will follow what daddy do's.Its important that daddy then leads the correct way by being calm and proffesional.When you lay good solid foundations in sport the kids will grow up to respect the sport and also their fellow competitors.
ian_hewett
2006-10-20 07:08:23 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up any sport is to make it fun and free. For golf we should make free memberships at all golf clubs with heavily discounted golf equipment available for juniors (under 16s). The annual subs that most adult men golf club members pay should cover it. Heavily discounted golf lessons and more golf academies should improve youth development as well. We need to drop the snobbiness and stigma that goes with private members golf clubs. Above all, we need to make it more appealing to junior players by holding more "junior days" at golf clubs, giving them course priority at quiet periods. We should not lose sight though that prizegiving is necessary to encourage competitiveness and a will-to-win attitude if we are to 'grow' better sportspeople.
vito stefano
2006-10-17 11:47:04 UTC
I say a choice of variety of sports. We must all be good at one sport. As parents we join in with the children and pass on our experience. My girlfriend two boys love football and I pass on what I know. They also take up trampolining, cricket, basketball. I was not great at all sports but some i liked. Being non competitive can help children sometimes in sport if they are not great at them.
C. Yester
2006-10-16 21:05:40 UTC
Sport is not about x-box or I pod's.Sport can be team or extreme, and sports give kids a chance to dream.The best way to encourage kids to get into sport is,Take your kid's to sports that kids do well. Junior ( kid's) surfing contests, snowboarding, sk8boarding, gymnastics junior comp's, junior golf.When the lighties see kids there age doing well at a sport , they get amped to get right in there.Expose them to as many different sports early, so they can try many before they zero in on they're personal favourite. ( for that season.) You know the rules , give em all Love win and lose always.Weather it's team or an individual sport, it doesn't get any purer than kid sports.Not to mention cake and ice cream in the defeats. Aloha
2006-10-16 14:26:00 UTC
I agree with much said on here, eg team sport can be daunting, perhaps golf, skiing instead.



I'd just like to add that, like me, my daughter hates all sport and is useless at it. We both love dance, though.

A recent initiative at her school was aimed at helping children like her by teaching them basics like how to catch a ball etc, to give them confidence when they do play; the trouble is, she refused to go because she 'hates sport'! The answer? Make it DANCE-based, in a studio rather than a gym, then they won't even know it's sport.
-j4n3-
2006-10-16 12:01:38 UTC
it starts at home, while they are young , notice their potential--- the game they like doing most, just let kids do what they enjoy doing, then help them develop it. Parents must inspire and encourage their children that engaging in sports is fun and healthy. Next is school, its where everything develops coz there they encounter challenges and there they will be introduced to different type of sports and actually practice them there. In school they develop their skills. And when not in school, like during holidays, parents can enroll them to a sports school where they will take training/lessons of /about the kind of sports they like to do (sports of their choice).
emmalp75
2006-10-16 09:56:57 UTC
More sport needs to be played in schools to get kids active. Also parents should encourage children to play/watch sport at home.



The prices of sporting events also need to be made more reasonable so that children/parents can go to the events and see how sport is played.



More sport should be shown on terrestrial TV so that people who cannot afford to have sky can watch it.
unit2509
2006-10-16 09:44:51 UTC
The best way that I have found is to make it fun. So many times people push kids into doing sports and the kids don't want to do it but they are pushed none the less. That is just a recipe for failure. If you let them choose a sport they are interested in and help them along the way they are much more likely to stay with it. It's great to expose kids to all sports but don't push them toward your favourite. Let them tell you which one they like and then support them in it.
jeeps
2006-10-16 06:00:35 UTC
Train p.e teachers to encourage the children even when it's a sport they aren't particularly good at instead of shouting and making them feel useless. Hatred of taking part in sport starts at school. That's where it needs to be turned around. My eight year old daughter goes to school on p.e day with as much dread in her heart as I did thirty years ago! Why has nothing changed in all this time?
Rachel
2006-10-16 03:29:52 UTC
start them early in a non competitive way. Competition early leads to burn out. If they start early it is a part of their lives, they are then fit so they don't get puffed or uncomfortable when doing sport which can lead to them stopping. Make it fun. Mine do a thing called mini raiders. It is basketball skills which are taught in the way of both fun games (Ship shark Shore for example teaches them how to stop quickly) as well as dividing them up into 4 groups and teaching them passing skills, shooting skills etc. So by the time they get to play in a team then they are confident in their skills and have learnt them in a fun way. so they find they are very compitant and don't want to drop out.

You need to find the sport that your child likes not that you like. Don't live your past through them. This will put too much pressure on them and they will enjoy sport less and less. Teach them how to be a good loser so they don't "spit the dummy" every time and grow to hate the game. Don't be on the sidelines screaming abuse at the other teams, what child wants to see their parent act like this, talk about embarrassing as well as possibly getting kicked off the team for the parents behaviour, not the way to encourage a child at sport.

Most of all make it fun!!
2006-10-16 08:49:02 UTC
All of the human elements come into play in sport. Fairness, challenges, successes, failures, love, hate, passion, etc. The molding of a good adult comes directly into play when competing in sport at a young age. Adult role-models, the coaches, play an integral part in the development of good adults. Their behavior, their guidance, their caring about the young people they affect, all play a role. It is vital that sportsmanship be uppermost in all levels of competition, in any sport, and no better way, than to teach that at an early age. It is wonderful to win, but far better to compete with a sense of honor, and fair play. In today's world of win at all costs, it is a much greater purse that is won when children understand the true meaning of competing with honor.

Golf is probably the last true bastion of that sense of honor. Players routinely call penalties on themselves when no one would ever have noticed nor cared. It is that sense of honor that should be spread throughout all competitive sport. Teaching our children that honor is self-monitored. You can do a lot of things but you cannot escape yourself. Golf teaches you that quality, and the youth programs around the globe should incorporate more of that philosophy into their programs.
2006-10-15 23:29:34 UTC
By providing them with credible role models first within their own family, and then within their own communities.



Their is little point in helping to encourage children to be interested in sport, (and thereby making an investment in their own health, well-being and happiness,) if the families with whom they spend significant amounts of time do not share and support that interest. Parents are, of course, the biggest influence on children during their early years and that is the time during which children's opinions, expectations and values begin to take form. Later on in their development, it is the wider community, their friends, schools and clubs that further shape and refine who those children will become.



If families and communities are to be encouraged, then sport, (and that's a huge category,) has to be accessible, inclusive and affordable, and that implies investment both in providing sporting opportunities and facilities, but also in education and investigating, maybe even beginning to re-form attitudes to sport, and that will mean addressing real and perceived "barriers" within and across cultutes and classes. People won't choose to do things if they don't understand what they're for - what's in it for them. And they certainly won't choose to go where they believe they may expect to be treated as "outsiders" in some sense. And there is always the question of cost. If your family has enough money on a Wednesday evening only to either feed itself or to send you to your Tai Kwon Do session, it's not hard to guess which option appears more of a priority.



It's a huge agenda, in my opinion. We have to start somewhere. Let's begin by showing kids how much fun they can have - it's a pretty powerful motivator.
swapitmaster
2006-10-21 19:58:11 UTC
hi ernie .

i have 2 children.

chelsea 10 yrs and ewan 7 yrs.

they are both active kids as you would expect.

they both have chosen a sport by doing one strange thing. they asked me what sports i did at school and what was i good at.

so i showed them my old trophy collection and pictures certificates and they were absolutly amazed that i won all this stuff.

they then wanted to know how to get into the things i done so i let them try each sport i tried. they loved it. so now chelsea is a keen swimmer and winning certificates and badges and ewan is desperate to be the next david beckham!!

my secret on encouraging them? i showed them incentives on what they could acheive them selves. so in answer to your question ernie. set them a good incentive once they have decided themselves which sport they want to uptake.

my kids are living proof and now they want to sell thier playstation 2 for sports wear and equipment!!!!! there is a god!!

good luck ernie and thanks for a spot on question!!
Miss Emily
2006-10-21 16:56:18 UTC
I really think you have to tap into what is going to motivate the child on a personal level. I HATED phys.ed as a child because we were never given a reason why! If they had talked to us about metabolism and preventing illness in later life at the same time as teaching us sex education, I would have been so much happier. I do more exercise now than I ever did as a child!
Niranjan
2006-10-19 00:15:19 UTC
From the day one, give them toys related to sports,keep the posters of sports persons like urs on their room walls.Sit with them while watching games in television,help them to understand the game well,if U get a time take them to show a live sports and main thing which I feel really works is,take them to visit a sports personality which ur kids like them a lot and get the blessings.
Neal J
2006-10-18 06:55:18 UTC
I WORK WITH CHILDREN DAY IN DAY OUT, I BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SPORT AS ENJOYABLE AND FUN AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. KIDS WONT PLAY IF IT AINT FUN. "ALL WORK N PLAY IS NO GOOD AT ALL". SCHOOLS NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF OBIESITY AND THE NEED TO GET CHILDREN MORE ACTIVE, AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN. I THINK THAT ALOT OF SCHOOLS ARE FAR TOO ACADEMIC TO EVEN CARE ABOUT SPORT. SCHOOL IS THE PLACE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED THE MOST AS CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY. I EVEN GET THE CHILDREN AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT "THIS IS WHAT THE PROS DO AND THE PROS DO THAT" CHILDREN ADMIRE THE PEOPLE THEY SEE ON TV AND LOOK UP TO THEM. WHAT THEY DO IS THE RIGHT THING IN THEIR EYES. I THINK THAT IT IS EVEN VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT SPORT STARS GET ENVOLVED WITH THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT IT IS A DISGRACE THAT SPORTS PERSONALITIES EARN ALL THE MONEY THEY DO FOR THE TRAINING THAT DO, AND YET CHILDREN LOOK UP TO THEM SO MUCH AND THE SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN JUST DONT CARE. WE COMPLAIN THAT KIDS PLAY ON THEIR PS2 TOO MUCH, BUT THEY WANT TO BE THE WAYNE ROONEY ON THE PS2, WELL WHY CANT WAYNE OR ANY OTHER SPORT STARS GO INTO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND HAVE A FEW HOURS WITH THE KIDS. WHATS THE HARM. THEY ARE GOING TO DO MORE WHAT THE SAY THEN WHAT THERE PARENTS OR TEACHERS ARE. SPORTS PEOPLE ARE THE ROLE MODELS. YOU LOOK AT TIGER WOODS, HE EARNS WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. WHERE THE HELL IS THAT MONEY FROM. AND YET YOU SEE SCHOOLS STRUGLE TO EVEN BUY EQUIPMENT FOR SPORTS. DISGRACEFUL!!!! THERE ARE CHILDREN OUT THERE WHO COULD MAKE THE MARK BUT I THINK MORE SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE.
marty.mongo
2006-10-18 05:16:11 UTC
The best way is to keep them active - if they are running around the garden introduce a ball or some other sports equipment. They then want to explore those items and start playing around, eventually they will stick with one or two and then lots of encouragement will set them on their way!
Dragon Empress
2006-10-18 01:07:14 UTC
My son (aged 9) started playing badminton but soon gave it up as it became boring. He then went to football training at the local club but wasn't good enough. After that he joined karate - this he liked and was progressing well from yellow to orange belt then to green and was training for his blue belt - I say liked and was because he has now got bored with this sport. When he first started karate, he received several certificates for achievement, attendance and won 1st place at his first karate tournament for Continuous and 3rd for Points. He has a total of 20 certificates received from going to karate which I think boosted his confidence in going. Since receiving his orange belt, he has only received 2 certificates for attendance as the club have not given out certificates as much as they used to and so he doesn't feel that he is good enough anymore. He has started going to football practise again and currently enjoys it, especially when the coach cheers him on and supports him.



I think children need that extra encouragement to get them into any sport as it does boost their moral and as long as the parent is their to support them too, then they should be able to achieve any goal.
Useless
2006-10-17 08:17:41 UTC
The best way is to give children areas to play sport in, schools are selling their fields off, councils are forever putting signs up saying "No ball games" around streets and in gardens. Gyms have no under sixteens permitted due to health and safety regulations. These things have to change to give children the chance without being persecuted.
Sue O
2006-10-17 07:02:12 UTC
Make it accessible. I think that lots of kids hang back from joining in with sports (I was one myself) because they lack the confidence to compete with many of their peers. Not every child is fit, strong and healthy. Perhaps in a perfect world they should be, but the fact is, they are not. Organised sports tend to continually highlight the gulf between a naturally gifted child sportswise, and what is often viewed as clumsiness and ineptitude of the not so gifted. The talented child is encouraged and helped to develop, thus widening the gap still further, whilst the not so talented child is often left at the wayside, neglected and, intentionally or not, often made to feel inadequate and embarassed. Because sports is a very obvious and physical thing, your lack of competence is also obvious too, to anyone who cares to watch.

I think it is important to keep the competitive element in, but not to the extent that it's win at all costs! Sports is a good way to teach kids to share, to interact with others, to learn both how to win and how to lose. All important lessons that can be applied to their wider life. Many adults get so caught up in encouraging their kids to win that they lose sight of the fun element in sports. We can't all win all the time! Make it fun, make it open to all, don't make it too serious, be ready to praise and prepared to accept that we are not all natural sportstars, and above all, remember, they are kids! Praise them when they win, praise them when they lose, support them regardless.
DARREN B
2006-10-16 04:50:14 UTC
Not only children, but people need to be inspired to want to do something. If you look at the biggest bands around, you will find that they all started with a desire to be like a particular role model. INSPIRE! An example of this is evident in the total number of Wayne Rooney Football shirts sold. Desire to inspire, admire then retire.



Peace x x
2006-10-16 04:33:14 UTC
I would suggest that less competetive sports be introduced. Most children in my opinion lose interest in sport because some people are naturally better at it, meaning that some children are considered "losers". I say remove the whole winner, loser result and encourage co operative games that solve a common task to acheive a common goal. This will then leave all involved happy and remove childrens fear of losing.
maria bartoninfrance
2006-10-16 03:42:19 UTC
When they are little, take them to an open space and run around with them, you don't need any equipment and it's loads of fun. Everybody is in a better frame of mind after as the endorphins are busy doing their thing. Do this regularly and the children get used to the idea excercise is fun and are more likely to choose active sports than growing up sedentry. It worked with mine and still is My daughter goes to gymnastics, swam 2miles at seven, and loves to dance,Ballet, tap and modern. Okay so she is pants at rugby, but that's why I've got three boys!!

Oh and I also have the advantage of knowing(as far as we can know) that my husband and I wil live to a ripe old age because of all the excercise ( unless we collapse of exhaustion first Ha ha!!)
2014-09-18 04:01:11 UTC
Well

As parents, you're the most important first step in your children's journey into the wonderful world of reading. It is up to you to create the most supportive environment that turns your child on to reading - such as reading aloud to them often during the day and before bedtime, and placing age appropriate books for children around the house, so that the child will have access to plenty of books. Reading often to your child will help develop their interest in books and stories, and soon they will want to read stories on their own.



For a simple, step-by-step program that can help your child learn to read visit this site: http://readingprogram.toptips.org





Best
Andrew G
2006-10-19 07:15:34 UTC
By providing them with the opportunity to try different sports whilst at school and not allowing the teachers to dictate that they must play football, do athletics etc etc. This sort of mentality by our teachers is what puts many children off playing sport until they become adults.
Bruce d
2006-10-18 01:17:31 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport, is to be pro active with the children. Start out with games that you play together, let the children build up confidence and take it from there.
Yahoo user
2006-10-17 22:55:02 UTC
Love the game.



To gravitate towards sport – you have to experience the satisfaction – and love – of the game itself (and not just the external glory of it).



I was totally inactive in my childhood.



My mind and body somehow were not ready to appreciate things like the gym.



Thankfully, in my adult years, I got inspired by my uncle, who has always been a keen bodybuilder.



Similarly, my late grandfathers, who were field athletes and football goalkeepers, respectively, inspired me with their passion for their sport.



My late Grandpa would faithfully catch every international soccer match on TV that he could, even at the most unearthly hours. We’d both watch.



Of course, seeing old photos of my uncle and late grandpas with their fine physiques helped.



I was also fortunate enough to have known my late grand uncle, who was an avid golf player – right up to the last of his 90-plus years. It was an honour for me to be able to spend time on the fairways with this honorary senior member of a certain golf club in Sri Lanka.
feebee
2006-10-17 04:49:49 UTC
I think children are more likely to take part in sport if their family are sporty so family activities are good. Also it has to be fun and allow them to feel good about themselves. If you make it too competitive at a young age the not so good kids will give up. Ian Wrights new TV programme has been brilliant.
cutebeantree
2006-10-16 08:40:33 UTC
I would have to say that the best way to encourage a child to take up any sport is to:

1.find out what they are most interested in.

2.Help them to find clubs running the sport in their local area, so they can join.

3.Be interested and stay interested in your child's development of the sport.

4.Do not be overly pushy as this will only make the child resent what ever sport he/she is pursuing, later on.

5.Make sport fun!!!
a1ways_de1_lorri_2004
2006-10-15 18:28:16 UTC
ideally the obvious answer is to join in with them and actively take part in their chosen sport if at all possible, it is also helpful when the child's school encourages sporting activities, our youngest son (9) has recently taken up judo through an after school club and enjoys swimming with the school also, fortunately our older kids (13, 15, 17 ) go to a dedicated sports college ( Tong sports college) where they have a great range of sports for the kids to enjoy, they also have their own pool and fitness suite, which fortunately is also open to the public twice a week, which means parents can join in for free. A lot more could be done in poorer communities though, many parents simply cannot afford to give their children a good healthy active life simply because of the cost involved, now that the small municipal swimming pools have made way for huge private leisure centres many people on benefits can't afford the membership or entry fees, for our kids to go swimming for one session alone it costs £18.80 just to get in, if they want to go on the flumes it.s extra, so a few consessions by the leisure centre's wouldn;t go amiss, A lot more could also be done by local teams, for instance, here in bradford, the bradford bulls, and bradford city fc have opened thier stadiums to schools for various outside school activities such as the "Bradford Bulls Stampede" club our daughter attends, this leads to the kids wanting to join in more by giving them the encouragement to do so and not leaving them to roam the streets aimlessly, with nothing interesting to do. So to sum up, involvement in our kids education and sporting ambition along with community involvement would help immensely to get the children more interested in sports.
lance a
2006-10-21 07:32:43 UTC
Good on you Ernie. I agree get children involved in sport even if its kids playing netball. Healthy body healthy mind. The worst thing that happended in the UK was to stop competitive sport. Lets not let the politicaly correct hijack our kids health.
Scott B
2006-10-18 14:44:28 UTC
i think the best way to encourage young people to take up sport is to show the young children the passion and enjoyment that is generated from sports like golf and football e.g show them the elation of a competitor scoring a goal or making a birdie to spur interest in the youngsters and develop a hunger and desire to play sports
paul c
2006-10-17 11:46:18 UTC
It's hard to establish which sports your child may be interested in as I think it's best to introduce them to sport at a young age.

I am a keen footballer and started teaching my son how to play when he was 2 years old. He's now 5 and pretty keen on the sport himself.

One story that inspired me was that of striker John Barnes, whose parents put a ball int his cot when he was just a baby...

never did him any harm!!!.
R3
2006-10-16 10:42:26 UTC
A child's participation in sports can be a real difference maker in his or her life. Through sports, a child can learn skills that will lead to his success in many areas: the ideas of competition, teamwork, and patient progress may best be learned through participation in organized sports. Obviously, the health benefits are tremendous-children will lead longer, healthier and happier lives. It is awesome when an international sports figure like Ernie Els takes the lead on an important topic such as this.



How should sports be encouraged?



I recommend a three pronged initiative led by Parents, Schools, and Communities



Of course, parents are a major influence. My parents registered me and my brother for little league soccer, baseball and basketball. Living close to the ocean, we were also encouraged to surf. While my mother didn't encourage football, we joined in many pick up games in our neighborhood. My dad was a patient coach, who only gave positive feedback, focusing on the things we did well. This way, we never felt like we shouldn't take a chance. We didn't have a fear of failure like many kids today have. Many will not try sports because they are afraid to make mistakes. We were very fortunate to have supportive parents. One concern that parents should be wary of is burnout. Care must be taken not to overschedule kids with too many activities at once.



I believe that sports should be encouraged in schools with many team and individual sport opportunities. While facilities and equipment are sometimes hard to secure in these financially tight times, school administrators should consider the value that sports have in student lives. As kids get positive recognition, they gain school spirit and pride in their athletic achievements. In addition, a successful sports program is one of the best advertisements for a school.



Communities should also recognize the benefits of sports facilities and parks. While the tempation is to court business growth at the expense of park land, communities should carefully consider the quality of life of their youngest citizens. City youth leagues are sometimes the only outlet for children from broken homes or those who might look for more mischevious ways to pass their time. After school programs, like those offered by the YMCA, give kids a venue to burn off some of their youthful exuberance. These programs are especially valued by working parents.



With the support of parents, schools and communities, any child could have the opportunity to play in a variety of sports. While children naturally gravitate towards participation if fields and gymnasiums are available to them, adults are responsible for making these arenas a reality. By bringing attention to this topic, Ernie Els encourages us to accept this responsibility to give to our future generations.
Helen M
2006-10-16 07:46:34 UTC
Make it fun and entertaining, don't force a child to participate, let them watch the other kids taking part. Oh and bring along some of your sporting pals, let the kids ask the questions.



I am sure at one stage in your life you hated sports as a kid, I know I did wearing a P.E. kit that consisted of baggy underpants and short tee-shirt, going for an eight mile run before starting rounders, not my idea of fun, more like torture.
bill g
2006-10-16 06:03:00 UTC
from the classroom and the teachers who often spend more time with children than the parents , who are to busy , to tired and can't be bothered . when i was a kid we did every conceivable sport that the sports master could muster . it did , if nothing else , give us a wealth of information about all the different sports --- and no one was exempt . it was great and every kid got something out of it . by the way our sport started at primary school and went through to the finish of high school . i was brought up in Scotland from '54 v 68 . there wasn't any computers much then , or indeed , distractions --- how things have lost their value --- sadly !!!
kieranpoolstar
2006-10-16 04:43:27 UTC
Encourage children to take up sport? If they have been brought up correctly sport should be seen as a fun activity anyway. No encouragement needed!



For those that see it as anything else, reeducation camps are the order of the day!
lisa468_uk
2006-10-16 03:49:08 UTC
My husband and I are very active and have a lot of fun at the weekends with tennis etc. plus stuff everyone can do ie: park. Make it fun and join in. Thats the only way they will do it! Having a whole week at school being in a confined classroom they will welcome the chance to go out and do something fun!! It's great for the parents to!!Good excuse to be a kid again lol
2006-10-15 14:22:18 UTC
get them playing from an early age, make sport more interesting than the TV. Encourage them to walk or cycle.

Choose family activities that get everyone involved in some way.

Centre PARCs is a good family holiday based around sporting activities.



If they don't like a sport you can't force them to play otherwise it would put them off, just try and find something that they do enjoy.



I have two boys who love any kind of sport, but they have always been encouraged to play and we have always been positive about it, we never force them or criticise them when they don't do so well.
valery
2006-10-22 10:12:53 UTC
Play sports with your own children. Always make it fun but also make it competitive. The joy of winning needs to be experienced and dealing with failure also needs to be learnt. Make sure all the children get a chance to win sometimes and always appreciate their efforts.
2006-10-21 08:52:59 UTC
taking the obvious of play with them, have fun and encourage for granted, find a way to not do what parents and teachers generally do. being too serious, coaching with jargon, wanting them to get it right, showing or expressing disappointment, wanting to create the next superstar, rather as they become more able and enthusiastic to play, encourage 'freedom of expression' through praising exploration of new or different things in the sports of choice, rather then focus only on the result or outcome.
kwesiga A
2006-10-17 13:33:17 UTC
Inform them that sport is vital in upholding their health status physically and psychologically and thus you as the elder should be exemplary in emphasising the validity of this view.Also should inform them that sport can as well be a career and a source of fame and prestige giving illustrations of the present superstars a case in point, Rooney,ronaldinho,thiery,zidane to mention but a few.
2006-10-17 12:52:28 UTC
I think parents have a great influence here. If you are a keen fan of a sport and/or play it at amateur level, its a great way to get your child involved.



My fiance is a great cricket fan (incidentaly, Nosferatu, hes not in the least bit a "Public School Boy" he's about as working class as you can get!!!) and we hope our baby boy will enjoy cricket too when he grows up. He already has his nursery decorated with posters of famous cricketers and my fiance looks forward to taking him to cricket games when he's a little older. He will definitely be encouraged to join a local under 10s cricket team (not all state schools in our part of the UK have cricket facilities - its played more in the public schools - so he'll have to do it out of school).



I'm hoping as a result he will grow up active and healthy.



In school I think the important thing to remember is that confidence is key to a child's interest. Not all children are talented at sport - some are but are late developers - their talents don't become apparent until they're a bit older.



When I was at school there was a great tendency for children who weren't good at sport at school to be mocked and made fun of in PE lessons - not just by the other children but by the sports teachers as well!!! This is horrible. Especially as many of the children who aren't so good at sport are the overweight ones who NEED the physical exercise. But when they've been told "I don't want you on the team, you're rubbish" it knocks their confidence and they see sports as something that doesn't involve them - just a humiliating experience where they have to make a fool of themselves in front of the other kids and get mocked and ridiculed. No wonder they don't get involved in sports and don't get the exercise benefits!!



This is really really sad. Unfortunately many schools are like this and children who do well at sports or at least are involved and enjoy them are often involved in out-of-school sports clubs and activiites where there is more encouragement, from both parents and coaches.



For those children whose parents areb't interested enough or don't have the time/money etc to take them to out of school clubs, the school facilities are often the only chance they have to play sport and if they are faced with attitudes like the ones decribed above they will not get involved or enjoy sport.



Thats why schools need to look carefully at the sports provisions They don't need to encourage a hyper-competitive atmosphere in PE lessons and constantly concentrate on producing the new "Big Discovery" of the sports world (something schools and coaches sometimes do to bolster up their egos at the detriment of the children) - just encourage each child to do his or her personal best and work on their talents however small. They should also provide a wide range of sports so those kids who aren't interested in one sport still have another couple of options.
2006-10-17 09:21:48 UTC
Easy,let them watch Super Size Me and show them a variety of sports afterwards to engage to which sports interest them the most!Usually football(soccer) or boxing is the favourites for males in the UK!I don't know about females though!
babylove
2006-10-17 07:37:26 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to let them go through daily sport newspapers and give them chance to go on daily practical exercise in any area of their choice, reading sport books and watching sport exercise in the television.
auntynoall
2006-10-16 22:13:36 UTC
I had really bad sports teachers in primary school that favoured the athletically supreme and abused the others for letting the teams down. I will never play team sports....ever. Sports and games should always be fun - kids should be allowed to goof around and enjoy themselves. Pushy p.e. teachers need to get the axe.
Rosie
2006-10-16 19:31:13 UTC
Don't put sexist barriers up..here in Canada we encourage our girls as much as our boys to stay fit and take part in any sport that they like.My daughter plays soccer,ice-hockey,wrestles and will be playing women's rugby in the Spring(and no she is not built like a 'line-backer!).We lived in the U.K for 3 years and I loved it although there are definitely girls and boys' sports.Netball and rounders and fieldhockey for the girls and you know the rest.Giving kids encouragement and the confidence to try new sports.Seeing sports as 'fun' activities.Scheduling in family sports time.We went canoeing on the St.John River with our 3 kids on Thanksgiving Day(oct.9th)It was glorious-beautiful weather,fit and fun.Make sports a natural part of your life.Lead by example.The rewards for mental and physical health are endless.
adwoa
2006-10-16 02:47:43 UTC
To get our children involved and interested in sporting activities we have to get involved ourselves.

1. if we make it a habit or a family schedule to engage in some form of sporting activity every weekend for instance, gradually they will get used to it and even want to rather compete with other families.

2. We have to get easy and fun sports that will be attractive . Learning to swim is a good idea they could also form dancing

clubs or aerobic clubs.

3. Let the kids also have sports`men as heroes and watch interesting sports`programmes on the TV
fadly j
2006-10-15 21:32:33 UTC
Simple and fun competitions start at school eg. running while biting the stalk of the apple race, children love competitions, so that when they get older they are more keen and open to different types of sports such as basketball,netball etc.also,aerobics with music is not only fun but enhance children's flexibility and coordination and combines dancing and sports and is suitable for both sexes so i would recommend aerobics at primary school level.probably a good idea to have sports and games once a month conducted by the class teacher.
luvlifeshell
2006-10-15 15:19:16 UTC
i think encouraging children to get into sports should come from the home and the school i feel that the schools here in britain dont do enough for the kids when it comes to sports and is really important that we as parents encourage them to play sports for example i have a little 2 year old boy and i play ball games like football with him because i want him to be active and to stay fit and encourage him to take up other sports when he gets olders.

The schools should have more sports and after school sports clubs available available for children thats the big problem children get bored and that is why they are sitting in the house playing computer games and getting up to mischief because there is not many after school clubs it would answer all our problems to childhood obsesity. for girls though it would be very hard to get them into sports such as football , rugby the schools should set up after school dance and aerobics classes.

There is also not enough p.e classes during school either and this is very sad because p.e can be enjoyable so there should be more p.e classes and also gives the kids a break from studying and exercise will help their brains too.
reliablewayne
2006-10-16 13:04:01 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to show them how much you enjoy it and if they trust you and you give them the sport bug, then maybe they will enjoy that sport all of their life, as we all know sport teaches so many disciplines without a child realising it.
Alan G
2006-10-16 06:12:40 UTC
Let them have a look at Ernie Els bank account
Grant G
2006-10-21 12:35:52 UTC
Children love seeing other children having fun! Show a child an activity that enduces laughter and chasing/hitting/throwing a ball, and you will have a budding enthusiast in no time! A key for any child to play, is to PLAY and have fun! Encourage them by showing them that sport is fun - let them see it in action - then let them have a go!!!
andrey & ko.
2006-10-19 16:40:32 UTC
By giving them a lot of support and have more sports introduced and not just football or basketball they should put hockey volleyball golf swimming bike riding and other sports that are not commonly spread and they should get rewards at the same time.
AMANDA G
2006-10-19 09:33:53 UTC
I would start them off maybe once a week when you have family time why dont u all go swimming and then for lunch each week choose a different sport, football, crazy golf, horse riding and eventually they will become to enjoy it and will take interest in a particular sport!
slk
2006-10-18 06:44:45 UTC
Show the kids how much fun playing sport can be. Let the kids try all kinds until they find the one that they enjoy the most so that they will be encouraged to continue.
2006-10-16 19:56:14 UTC
"Let them dream ..."



Cooperate with schools, government and parents in developing school/community programs where kids can select which sports they want to learn about (sport of the month), then teach them the nature of the game, show them how it is done (by professional athletes, or videos of top-pro's, olympics, etc), let them participate, and show them just how much fun sports can be, and show all the 'good' sports can give you: health, fun, friendship, values, and most of all: big, huge dreams of maybe becoming just a little like Ernie, Tiger, Jordan, Beckham, etc...



Cheers, Mark Petit.
steve k
2006-10-16 17:24:02 UTC
We run a unique kids sports and life-skills development program called PLAYBALL, which funnily enough, was created in South Africa about 25 years ago. By offering a developmentally sound & genuinely non-competitive skill oriented program that is pure fun for the kids, they are able to overcome their fears and enjoy different sports.
Old Man of Coniston!.
2006-10-16 14:07:46 UTC
Build better facilities and make it free for the under 18's. Also, take an active role-if you can-and support school fun, race days by being a volunteer. It costs nothing to enjoy sport, let alone show the kids enthusiasm...go on-make their day!!!
2006-10-16 12:16:39 UTC
Children need to see sport as a fun activity not something that has to be endured. Ensure that they enjoy what they are doing and don't force them into any activity that they don't want to do. this does not mean to say not to give them any encouragement in sport at all but support their decisions in which ever sport they pick.
dora
2006-10-16 05:19:22 UTC
Encourage them when they are at some sporting activity, and tell them they are looking or playing like some big sport star. Children love to be cheered by parents.
xeny2345
2006-10-16 03:43:48 UTC
Give them a Hero!!! Players who achieve the pinnacle of sporting greatness combined with youth and a great personality will set a great example for kids to look up to. I think Tiger has influenced many kids into playing golf. However the main thing is to find a sport they enjoy, there's no point in forcing kids to do a sport they hate.
2006-10-22 03:33:35 UTC
get them to take up more extra curriculum activities, not just join in physical education but persuade them to become more active and make them realise how regular exercise, as well as a healthy diet which can combat obesity and prevent early death. watching sport on TV is one thing, but taking part is a whole new experience altogether, not to mention it is a fun and enjoyable past time that everyone, not just kids, can take in and appreciate. we need to get the kids off the PlayStation, TV and computer and teach them the fundamental basics and advantages of leading a healthier lifestyle. and its a lifestyle which has its benefits and rewards, not just health conscious-wise but its one we all prefer to do, as well as love
Francois
2006-10-17 22:58:20 UTC
Our children and their activities in life should be our biggest interest. We need to take responsibility to see that they are brought up in the best possible way. There should be a good balance between their acedemic achievements and the rest of their life. Sports activities should be used to give them more opportunities in life as well as a good way to improve our relationship with them.

Show them we care about them, expose them to as many different aspects of life as possible and have fun doing it with them. If you are a sporting parent yourself take them along to your activities. Find out what sports they like (even if different to yours) and let them try it or whatch it with them on the TV.

Find out which sports are available in their school and your local community. Let them use the Internet, TV, newspapers and magazines to do some research on these sports, then make it a challenge for them to try out some of these sports. Remind them that sports should be done as a FUN activity, whilst they are getting good exercise and being outdoors (most kids these days spend far to much time indoors, watching TV, playstations, internet etc.).

There is no shortcut to good parenting! It takes 18 years of love and care to bring up your child properly. Make use of the abundance of sports and their respective superstars to set an example of achievement and a sense of professionalism, after all for them to survive well in life one day they will need to have a very good upbringing. Too many kids just cruise through life and never really achieve much, simply because their parents were to busy to care about them.

Not all our kids will be good at sports, but that is no reason not to expose them. Some of our kids just need more nudging than others. Encourage them to try out different sports and to add some outdoor activity to their life. This will keep them extroverted and teach them a sense of competition, it is also a good way of teaching them that a few failures here and there is not the end of the world. Taking them to live games or matches is also a very good way of spending quality time with your kids.

You might have the next Ernie Els, Roger Federer, David Beckham or Micheal Schumacher in your house and never give them a chance to find it out.

My dad took me Golfing from the age of six and at 44 I still play off a 5 handicap and enjoy being outdoors a lot, it adds a good balance to my life.
Nedster
2006-10-17 17:28:44 UTC
Get out there and have fun with them! it doesn't have to be structured. The best way is just to take them out with a ball or a frisby and have fun when they are young. That way they learn to enjoy being out and about rather than being stuck in front of a tv or pc.



Get muddy, wet and have a laugh that's what being a kid is all about isn't it?
mistygirl_au2000
2006-10-17 15:41:12 UTC
Make it fun! Many kids wont play sport because it is so competitive and they are afraid to let the team down. Let them know that winning is just an extra, sportsmanship and participation are the real achievements
tim_m_everitt
2006-10-17 10:58:11 UTC
It is difficult because they all seem to be motivated by television. Greater emphasis in schools and more outer school activities. They need more encouragement and availability to sport. This can only done with greater government spending and help from parents and endorsement with sports stars.
Rachel F
2006-10-16 03:59:26 UTC
I think family activities (swimming, ice-skating, horse riding etc) are the best way to start up sport if they are currently not doing anything. Even starting smaller if needs be, walking, bowling, crazy golfing!!! Just something to get them outside and away from tv, computers, video games etc.



Once they have a taste for it, they should hopefully be motivated themselves enough to take up solo activities that interest them.
Dunrobin
2006-10-16 01:48:38 UTC
Stop local authorities from selling off playing fields. Spend some of the millions spent by governments on professional sports and big events on infrastructure, like maintaining public pools. Ensure they get an hour of gym a day like they did when I was a kid. I resented it at the time but now realise it was good for me, and today's kids with their worse diets need it even more.
Ricky
2006-10-15 15:27:51 UTC
When the kids are very young but can walk and keep balance,

the father should practise sport with them as a fun game. I had 5

kids, and one became a senior National Record holder and champ

when he was 15, and qualified for the Olympics at 16. The others

also did well but not competitively.
harry_the_monk
2006-10-20 11:02:45 UTC
Check out the things that THEY enjoy and not what you like.



Start them off with thinking it's cool to do the sport and actually make it fun, not a chore.



OR.... Grow a big fat hairy beer belly and rub it in a slobbish way telling them that if they don't do sport they can end up looking like that!!!
2006-10-20 09:45:10 UTC
Children should be allowed to try different sports activities to enable them to find one that they really enjoy and excel at. In particular, more sporting activities should be offered in schools and in after school clubs, with more sports facilities being created in the UK. Once they show promise, they should be encouraged as much as possible to progress in their chosen sport.
AhTee
2006-10-19 21:53:34 UTC
The best way is NOT to force any sports on them.

Begin by involving them in the sports that you yourself play. Kids are after all kids. They will tell you things that they don't like, and you can easily tell if they are interested or not.

For example, when i go to the driving range, i bring my 5 year-old son along. I did not ask him to hit any ball. He just sat there and watched me and after some time, he decided that he wanted to play as well.

Also swimming. We started off playing in the fun pool, and after some time, when he saw how I was able to swim, decided to learn as well.

These are just 2 examples. The key is to get them involved and not force anything on them.
Wessel S
2006-10-18 05:05:46 UTC
Get buy-in of kids AND their parents. How? Get sports stars or ex-sports stars to address kids at schools and varsities, along with their parents. If parents understand WHY they must invest in their child's sporting aspirations and when they see the benefits in their child's life, and the child sees the benefits of improved family relationships, it is a win-win situation. Kids and parents then hear firsthand of the benefits, reduced chances of getting heart disease, diabetes or becoming obese and how this unifies family units. Address family units and kids and their parents will be involved with sports.
dianafpacker
2006-10-17 09:43:56 UTC
parents to do it too, any level can join in, selection at school is by enthusiasm not just those who are already skilled, low cost sports centres within easy access to high populated areas not just wealthy ones.. stop building on all green space and notices such as no ball games here in the only open spaces some estates still have.
2006-10-17 09:43:39 UTC
I think that there may be two perspectives to this question, as a parent, and as a coach or mentor.



Young children are a sponge soaking up all the information they can get from all the resources available to them I.E. TV, Books, Parental Example. I think the best way for a parent to encourage sport is by example. Our children want to be with us (during the early years) and they gravitate towards our interests just to spend time with us. I know that Ernie Els is a parent of two, and I believe that he would agree with this. Ask your children if they want to play ball with you!! children always want to play!!, and I find that it is the kids that are asking the parents to play. Showing them that we are interested in their interests is a big encouragement boost. Even my 3 year old son has figured out quickly that I am a golf nut (he has also figured out quickly that I am not very good at it), children can see what our interest is. Spending time with children and figuring out what their interest is is encouraging to them. In this world of technology we can spend time with our children even when we are not home. Email, Cell Phones, Text Messages. . .my Dad went out of town, and we wouldn't hear from him for weeks. Keeping in touch with the children when we are away shows them our interest in them. I think for parents it all boils down to spending time actively with your children, and supporting them in whatever sport they choose.



Now there is the coaching/mentor aspect of this. Again I think it is all about the attention we give to the children. If you are playing with your friends children in the back yard, give em the ol' atta boy!! (or girl). Ask them questions about which sport they like best. Taking interest in them and positively reinforcing their abilities in sport is a good encourager. Coaching is probably the toughest, yet so important in encouragnig children to stay in sport. At a young age I think that children need to know the value of sport, it is a game, and a great opportunity to be with friends and family. Sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in the competitive nature of sport and loose focus on the kids. If coaching, let em all play, find the strengths in each one of your kids and let them know it!! It's OK to be critical, but do it in an uplifting way, find the positives in the negatives and encourage the kids to work through the tough times.



A good friend of mine has developed a fitness plan for the whole family. It is a great way for the Family to dedicate time to FItness (Sport) and be together as a family. It is appropriately called the Family Fit Plan ( http://www.familyfitplan.com/ ). This is just one of many tools available to us to help encourage sport and fitness with Children.





Jim
luigi_carstens
2006-10-16 22:00:55 UTC
The best method that I have seen working on my child is 'by example', you need to show that sport is fun by doing it yourself and giving your child the opportunity to try a variety of different options. You need to support them in their successes and their failures and never let your emotions override or drive theirs. Most of all you have to be patient and let them develop curiosity and a willingness to try.



You also need to make sure that your child has a choice, you should never force a child into sport (or a specific sport) as this will probably come back to haunt you.
pimpa1949
2006-10-16 12:21:44 UTC
When my son was very young...I used to took him to watch the Rugby Match with me just to let him see how people can work as a team. At the beginning he doesn't understand about the game but later after I explained to him, it's seem like he was starting to understand more and more as i noticed that he kept on asking. When he was 8 years old...again I start to took him to the golf driving range and watched me practising my swing while he ate ice cream..and later he started to get to know people who went there. I let him touch my golf clubs...gave me the right number....and so on. One day I asked him to go to the golf course with me, he was enjoying riding a golf cart and to talked with my caddy. Now he is 18 years old and he can play golf better than me after he took some golf lesson.



To my opinion we can encourage children to take up sport indirect way. Show to them and at the same time slowly develop them. It is not good to force children to take up any kind of sports if they are not interested. We should supporting them for what kind of game they like and not because of what we like.
tim_abbotcole
2006-10-16 08:39:58 UTC
Introduce them more to their sporting heroes, today figures like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney for football, Tiger Woods for Golf, Tim Henman for Tennis, all these sporting figures are hidden away and rarely come out, I suggest that these untouchable "Gods of Sport" come to Earth to visit these kids and provide emotional support and motivation for those who want to follow in their footsteps. plus some of their model wives could also dissuade the kids from dieting til their limbs fall off while the goings strong...
2006-10-16 07:09:06 UTC
Ernie,



I am developing a Roller Skating Rink in West Midlands this will encourage participation. I am looking for sponsors if you have any suggestions also.
Mas
2006-10-15 14:02:27 UTC
Take them to a variety of events, ie tennis march, football game, golfing tournament. Then if they seem interested find out if there are any local groups where they can learn to do which ever sport they are interested in, I would also find out if their school has any after school clubs like football team, basket ball etc. Let them try out anything they want, eventually they will find something they enjoy and stick to it. My son used to caddy for his dad, now he plays it, my daughter wasnt into sports at all, but instead she took up Highland Dancing, and excelled at it, winning several competitions when she was dancing, unforunatley school work came before dancing when she hit her fourth year and exams were deemed more important.

Schools should also give them different sports to try rather than the usual, hockey, football, badminton etc, give the children a choice of what they want to do.
1iron
2006-10-18 02:22:41 UTC
Parents must lead from example and make time, effort and create an environment, which allows the child to be exposed to various sports from a young age.



Sport affects children in many different ways. A child needs to be given the opportunity and choice to experience both team and individual sports. These two have fundamental differences and can go a long way in helping a child build his/her character and platform for the rest of his life.



My advice as a parent is to make an effort to expose your child to as many sports as you can afford or you deem suitable. From here, let the child develop him/herself aided with your support throughout the process. Make sure he/she has a balance between team and individual sport's exposure and where possible, contribute or participate yourself the odd weekend to show the child that you share a common interest and enjoyment from that sport or activity. If it’s the weekend and the team is playing or competition is on, make an effort to support them at the event. Show them you’re interested.



Independence and responsibility result in a child learning to take ownership of his or her position on that racetrack, golf course, tennis court or real life situation. They cannot look or blame others as any result is purely down to their own actions. Encourage them to practice or take part as often as possible.



Whilst being on or part of a team highlight the key areas of being able to contribute in some form, learn from others, work alongside others and help build success and be a part of something whether you win or lose.



Lastly, you may not necessarily be good at the sport yourself. That is immaterial. The fact that you are either bowling to him in the cricket nets, playing golf or tennis or running with him/her gives the child confidence, self-belief and the parent contribution factor which can never be under-estimated during a child’s prime years of growth mentally and physically.
John S
2006-10-18 01:28:34 UTC
Introduce them to different sports and offer a lot of encouragement if they show a interest but never pressurise them.Offer them support and help with there choosen sport help them all you can by taking them there if its far away and cheering them on if you can watch and offer comfort when it does not go to well but praise them for trying.But most of all be there when they need you when ever and what ever it may be.
Tammy I
2006-10-17 08:31:07 UTC
I think its important to encourage them and to be positive about their peformance, even if sport is not their main talent. Children will not continue to particpate in sport if they are told that aren't very good or uncoordinated etc. Its also important to encourage them to try different things so that they can find something that they feel comfortable doing, even if it isn't a glamorous sport.
darcie
2006-10-16 19:13:23 UTC
Have FUN whatever the sport be it surfing, running, ball games etc. First have fun by just doing it yourself and have them come along. If you formalize it "children to take up sport" well they will loose interest. DOn't just go for the well known sports first make it play whatever the sport then Just DO IT and HAVE FUN
Francis7
2006-10-16 14:03:31 UTC
To much health and safety regulations a little perceived danger is essential in growing up,Children these days seem to be wrapped in cotton wool and as a consequence are not as resilient,also lack of outdoor pursuits as no one seems to want to take responsibility like schools,youth leaders etc.Lack of proper access and training for the instructors of above.
2006-10-16 09:21:17 UTC
The best way would be to have a huge range of activities for them to choose from. If the kids don't get to do what they want in sports, they won't take part. I have noticed this in my experience. I was very addicted to not doing sports. Now i can't get enough of it. I love using the weights in my school so as we had loads of activities to choose from, i used our school Gym.
Emma
2006-10-16 04:47:38 UTC
We currently live in Spain and here the kids are actively encouraged to participate in sports such as golf, tennis and yachting. Courses are made accessible to the children by way of council run courses at affordable prices sometimes even free sessions. Kids are welcome on golf courses here and most golf clubs have academies run by the professionals there. I have four children and between them they play golf, tennis and yachting. It is important to encourage children in every way but most important to make these activities affordable to already over stretched parents.

,
Neil
2006-10-16 03:38:09 UTC
Facilities, facilities, facilities....



There just isn't anywhere to play! I have a group of 30 highly committed 11 year old footballers, but now its dark in the evenings we have no where to train.



If we had facilities I could double or treble that number of kids. Instead, now on Monday and Thursday nights they will be sitting at home watching TV instead... and we wonder why we don't develop the best sports stars?!
Olderwiser
2006-10-15 14:23:05 UTC
Getting sporting icons like Ernie Els to encourage parents to get their kids to take up sport.
Andrew D
2006-10-19 02:37:02 UTC
In the same way that Jamie Oliver is encouraging school kids to eat properly, sport should be introduced more enthusiastically and more professionally at school level.
LiL_mZ_Sa
2006-10-16 04:17:47 UTC
as i am a child and i am only 13 when i was younger i enjoyed sports and i still do but i was not forced in to it and did it because of the fun not to win the best way to encourage children to take up sport is to get their friends to do it , sign them up for a starter sports lesson,a sports lesson which teaches you how to play a certain sport it will be a way of socialising and learning something new.
SR13
2006-10-15 23:44:20 UTC
There's too many kids already giving up a proper education in the hope of one day being a pro football player. Kids spend too much time on sports and not enough on their English homework. Check out the spelling on this site if you don't believe me.



Lets face it. What do we need more a person who can run really fast or a new neurosurgeon?
iain c
2006-10-22 06:46:15 UTC
Get up and do it yourself,they will probably follow suit,and try to show an interest if any sport comes on tv,or visit sporting events,for example,the Dunhill!
nightwoman
2006-10-20 08:58:57 UTC
Play with your children, when they are young, take them out kick a ball around, play tennis, enjoy yourselves When they are older encourage them, praise them, make them feel succesful, children don't mind sporty children always winning, they just don't want to be humiliated in front of their peers, so keep it fun and push the more talented or dedicated ones further
charlie
2006-10-19 08:06:02 UTC
This is down to encouraging the parents into a healthy and active life. The kids will naturally follow the parent's routine.
2006-10-17 09:26:17 UTC
Pay them as Much as Ernie Els.
gwendolynpearce
2006-10-17 09:25:27 UTC
explain the benefits of sport

have a family sports tournament - perhaps invite childrens' friends and parents for cricket/frisbee in a park

look on internet for interesting sports people and talk about what they do

lead by example and bring the kids along every now and then to see how you do it and how much fun it it.
Yvonne B
2006-10-17 07:33:04 UTC
Make sure every town and city has enough sporting facilities and encourage parents/guardians to take up sport first. They can enjoy sport as a family.
t11omo
2006-10-16 14:46:29 UTC
The whole family working together, making it fun, walks in the park, bike rides, leaving the car at home when you go shopping helps them to recognise that we can't be lazy. Don't let them sit in front of the TV, limit it to an hour a day, that's plenty of time to get their fix and then off, out in to the garden!
Bandit
2006-10-16 13:41:23 UTC
Involve yourself, either with knowledge of the activity or sport, or participate. Don't be a nagging parent or hypocryt and don't live your life through your children.



From a parent of 2 children working in the fitness industry.
linda_and_alan
2006-10-16 08:14:56 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sport is to do it youself, and then involve them in it as well. When they see you are having fun and enjoying it they will want to join in, or even try and beat their parents at what ever sport it is!
2006-10-16 07:51:20 UTC
I feel that the best way is for the parents to join in and give as much encouragement as possible to there children as parents have the biggest effect on the children's life.
rileys_lad
2006-10-16 07:32:54 UTC
the best way for us to encourage our children to take part in more sporting activities is to pay an active interest in what they are doing and interested in. My son was playing computer games 24 -7 : fifa soccer , ea rugby , tiger woods golf , so i took him out of his room and took him out to play the sports for real .

He know plays for a sunday league rugby team and trains twice a week and he regulary plays football for his school and i take him to play golf with me once a month !
rami #1
2006-10-16 06:25:03 UTC
By getting rid of all those sadistic sports teachers that seem to lurk in every school. By respecting children's' rights not to have to shower naked with classmates. By understanding that some children just don't like sport. By reducing all the nonsense competition that goes with school sports. By introducing a sport or activity which children actually enjoy, not cross country, or hockey on a freezing cold field. By making it seem fun and not torture.
specs appeal
2006-10-16 06:11:18 UTC
Make it less competitive and more fun.



No kid wants to be yelled at in the middle of a fairway, pitch, swimming pool, court etc. by their coach for doing something wrong.

The want to go out and have some fun and make some new friends.



The competitive streak will kick in naturally later on
andy w
2006-10-16 03:42:39 UTC
two ideas,

1.give discounts to parents if they bring a child to a live event as a spectator

2. cut all the red tape around using school playing fields. Growing up in Oz as a kid, all school playing fields had cricket nets and football fields which were open for kids to use after school and on the weekends, here in the UK, they are lucky to have goalposts, let alone cricket nets and they are mostly closed to the public outside school hours, which means kids end up on the pavement not on playing fields.
Wayne H
2006-10-16 18:03:35 UTC
As a parent, lead by example.

Participate in sport yourself and involve your children.

Encourage them to combine school work with sport, its a wonderful balance.

Spark their interest by attending live or TV coverage of major events.

Share your sport experiences as a youngster with them.

Forget pressure and nagging, the talent will emerge naturally.
Collin
2006-10-16 04:00:22 UTC
Get rid of Snobby Golf Clubs that do not let children play golf and let the kids in for free with a Parent
Gary H
2006-10-15 23:28:20 UTC
By making time to be with your kids. Take them to sport events, explain to them what is going on, play with your children yourself, encourage them to feel the excitement and the fun of sport. The rest does itself, if they like it and see they are getting better at it, then this is as much motivation as they can get!

Explain why sport is so good for their health, physically and mentally.

And, be a good example for the kids. Let them go to watch Dad playing Handball or Football etc. etc.

Television: let them watch sport, but only at certain times!



Ensure that your kids eat healthly foods and drink plenty of water!
eve h
2006-10-20 11:02:04 UTC
Encourage the parents to take up sport
Andre J
2006-10-20 01:14:38 UTC
Ernie, i doubt if it is you, but a valid question none the less. Answer is role models, access to facilities, an attitude of being able to be competitive, to be the best.
Chrissie M
2006-10-17 13:13:50 UTC
The best way to encourage children to take up sports is to motivate them by augmenting scholarship for further education to sports.
jimmyfish
2006-10-17 08:07:45 UTC
Pay them lots of money, preferably folding stuff.It is a shame what heinous crimes the Tory Goverment committed making schools sell off thier sportsfields in order to raise cash for schoolbooks. The majority of them are golfers -I say no more.
?
2006-10-16 08:57:20 UTC
My sport is archery about five years ago i was asked by a local school to teach children the sport. i devised a small reward system in the form of acient schrolls when they had attained one level there was always a further and higher level , Scouts use a similar method exept they use badges .it works
2006-10-16 06:45:57 UTC
The Question actually should be whats the best way to get your child in front of the right people to expose there talents?





It is an impossible task,trust me.

get them interested then waste there talents by ignoring them seems to be the order of the day.

Any suggestions?
?
2014-09-20 13:29:26 UTC
Plus I think the chance to participate in a team at your school is important, regardless of ability. Rather than a single elite team, there should be several tiers in which different abilities are catered for.
?
2014-06-09 03:15:49 UTC
cut all the red tape around using school playing fields. Growing up in Oz as a kid, all school playing fields had cricket nets and football fields which were open for kids to use after school and on the weekends, here in the UK, they are lucky to have goalposts, let alone cricket nets and they are mostly closed to the public outside school hours, which means kids end up on the pavement not on playing fields.
Pedro
2006-10-20 11:17:26 UTC
Hi Ernie



I believe the best method is to choose a wide range of " easy to try and get fun out of " sports, see what natural talents they have, such as hand and eye co-ordination, see which they get most fun out of and then ENCOURAGE ( not push ) them, maybe learning with them if its one you dont know. This is great because they can beat you !!!



My experience in coaching Squash over the years shows me that the biggest turn-off is over zealous parents trying to make up for their own lack of success ( not in your case obviously )



Best wishes for the coming year, and thanks for years of entertainment. Green jacket this year ? Hope so



Pedro
Lilu
2006-10-20 00:53:00 UTC
Let them try every sport that available in the area, perhaps they can find one or two that they like. It is not good forcing them if they do not enjoy it. But do not just try once need to be several times before they know they like it or not.
2006-10-19 09:55:43 UTC
We need to provide more facilities. All schools should have playing fields and some compulsary sports. Stop selling all the playing fields- both my previous schools have sold off a proportion of their playing fields to build houses
danie_ros
2006-10-18 00:08:32 UTC
Hi Ernie



Coming from South Africa myself it's not very difficuilt to encourage my children to do sport. My son is a very big fan of you. My viewpoint however is to nurture it to your children and also play sport with them. My son is 11 and he does very well in rugby, cricket and judo. We also go to the driving range together a lot and we play cricket in the garden. He enjoys watching sport when ever he watches tv. He also goes to golf with me when ever I play and I'm soon going to send him for golf lessons. I think the bigest thing is to lead by example and to create the interest from a very young age.



Regards,

Danie Rossouw
2006-10-17 16:55:46 UTC
Get rid of the computer, and the T.V. become an active parent, get them a ball, bat, anything to do with the outdoors, they will have nothing else but to take up sport. Gottit.
Santee
2006-10-17 15:41:09 UTC
Do not make team games too competitive at too early an age. Let the competitive spirit develop naturally, and a desire to participate and a need to improve will hopefully follow.
Glenn M
2006-10-17 14:59:46 UTC
Stop the schools in Britain from selling off their sports fields. Also here is the radical one, introduce lots of different sports. I got introduced to ice skating, horse riding, weight training, judo etc. at my state school. Unfortunately not golf.
steolav
2006-10-17 14:30:14 UTC
well the best way is to give them a choice of what sport they would like to do i hated pe lessons cause the sports they provided were so boring i only enjoyed rugby the best way is a wider choice of sport and letting the young people have a say not the pen pushers.!!
Steve
2006-10-17 13:54:53 UTC
Make sure you let them know how much fun you have playing sport and never miss an opportunity to play it with them making sure you support them in any sport that they express an interest in - even if its not a sport you enjoy!
Klick
2006-10-17 10:22:18 UTC
there isn't a best way, different children like different sports! some don't like sports, i think some kids think PE in school is enough. although i play many sports like cricket, football, basketball and the list goes on. kids just need to find a sport that they enjoy!
PvteFrazer
2006-10-16 06:31:09 UTC
Lead by example, play or show interest in sport and I believe that this gives a good chance a child will learn to understand the enthusiasm and become enthusiastic itself...
?
2006-10-15 15:25:13 UTC
Encouragement from adults - teachers can play a big role. Get the media idols of children - pop 'musicians' to extol the fun of sport. Encourage MacDonalds to give away free footballs with their "happy meals" instead of Furbys and the like.



Allow more adults to play sport, especially us older ones - if kids see us older ones enjoying sport then they will be encouraged to do it. The British Sports Council should be setting up, and encouraging over-forties football and cricket leagues. Perhaps a levy on fast foods could pay for this.



I have a personal example of older people encouraging youngsters. I work as a Security Officer at a UK Criminal Courthouse. A couple of youngsters who had been at my Court for a trial on a minor issue happened to see my wife and myself playing single-wicket cricket, for fun, on a local artificial pitch provided by our local authority, and they saw me hit a "six" of my wife's bowling. One of them said "I like you - that was a good shot, you two have got b*lls". They are now both signed up as playing members with the local cricket club. I'm fifty, and the wife is forty-five.
ben_loomax
2006-10-20 08:49:41 UTC
IN THE FIRST PLACE I THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO TAKE UP SPORTS IS THE ACTIVE PARTECIPATION BY POLITICS, PARENTS AND SPORTS STARS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN’T YET UNDERSTOOD THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE A STRONG YOUTH UNDER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS IS SPORT. AND WE KNOW STRONG YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BECOME STRONG MEN IN THE FUTURE. OFTEN WE SEE A LOT OF MONEY, EARNED FROM OUR TAXES, SPENT IN USELESS WAYS; POLITICS SHOULD INVEST IN BUILDING MORE SPORT STRUCTURES FOR KIDS SUCH AS PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS, GOLF COURSES AND SO ON…THIS WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT METHOD TO REDUCE CRIMINAL RATE ESPACIALLY IN THE POOR AREAS OF THE WORLD. A PACT BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND SPORT STARS TO CREATE MEETINGS WHERE KIDS CAN WATCH AND BE MOTIVATED BY THEY FAVOURITE SPORT STARS AND MAYBE CATCH THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THEM WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO INVOLVE CHIDREN TO SPORT. ON THE OTHER HAND PARENTS MUST MAKE THE SPORT FUNNY. FOR KIDS SPORT MUST ONLY BE FUN IN THE FIRST YEARS. WHEN I GO TO THE DRIVING RANGE WITH MY SON I TELL HIM THAT HE WILL BECOME A CHAMPION LIKE HIS FAVOURITE PLAYERS OR CARTOON HEROES. IN HIS IMAGINATION HE FEELS TO BE IMPORTANT AND THIS MAKES HIM HAPPY AND MOTIVATED.

MOREOVER IS ESSENTIAL TO SUPPORT HIM OR HER IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SPORT FOR CHILDREN IS SOCIALIZATION. TAKE UP SPORTS IS ALSO A WAY TO STAY WITH OTHER KIDS AND FEEL A TEAM SPIRIT, THEREFORE IS IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY LOCAL GROUPS WHERE HE OR SHE CAN PRACTICE AND PLAY HIS/HER FAVOURITE SPORT….BUT THE FONDAMENTAL THING WE HAVE TO DO AS PARENTS IS TO STAY WITH OUR SONS WHEN THEY PLAY SPORTS, I THINK THAT IT IS THE BEST MOMENT TO TEACH THEM WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT IN ALL OUR LIFE.
afam o
2006-10-19 02:39:45 UTC
well the best way to encourage children to take up sports is by tell them that those cartoon charcters the like watching are very atletic thats why road runner cartoon runs very fast, and power puff girls can fly, and scooby and shaggy run almost at the same pace...
da
2006-10-17 13:07:31 UTC
Take them along to a sporting event or listen to a child

who has taken an interest in an activity , be there for

them whether it be for transport or to celebrate a good

day , or be there for a bad day ..
2006-10-17 10:57:31 UTC
Through Schools - there is not nearly enough sport taught in primary schools and all this non competitive stuff is nonsense! Children need to be taught that sport is FUN!!
gruffalo
2006-10-17 09:55:04 UTC
It has GOT to be made to be perceived as 'fun' in schools, rather than being perceived as 'torturous', 'evil' and 'a complete waste of space'. (genuine comments from the school I am training at at the moment!)



By forcing children to wear clothes that may reveal them in a way they are uncomfortable with, to force them to do odious activities such as cross-country running and the dreaded 'bleep test'... these are not the methods to win over the hearts and minds of the younger generation.



Sport needs to be 'marketed' in a studetn-friendly way, as something that is cool to do , and fun, rather than just a complete drag.
razawar
2006-10-17 06:26:01 UTC
Children love a sport if they can passion in it. I was inspired by same towards football. Yes don't force them to take any particular sport but let them choose.
Janet P
2006-10-16 09:41:58 UTC
Just encourage children to play. Watch and participate, then encourage them further to continue playing the one they excel at. You may continue your encouragement through rewarding them. Make sure to point out possible gains (emotional, material, social)which can be achieved through playing the sport.
Robin
2006-10-16 08:38:41 UTC
Lay a trail of full-fat milkshakes and burgers out onto the sports field - throw in some doughnuts for good measure. The fat like toads are bound to waddle out there looking for cholesterol and might get caught up in a game.
clare_knt
2006-10-16 07:05:11 UTC
the best way to do it is to involve schools ,to take children as a day out to see a golf course and encourage amateurs to come to schools and pass on their experience ,children just dont know enough about golf which keeps you fit and is highly challenging and is also very entertaining ,so basically more publicity ,thats why youngsters love football so much and it is from our very own country scotland
LadyRoisin
2006-10-16 05:04:39 UTC
make it a community action, I have a plan which I will share with you if you email me directly..I am a mother of 4 and a wholistic practitioner, so this is a carefully considered scheme which I hope to launch with sponsorship backing next year. Please get in touch, this would work and will bring children back into sport, for fitness and long-term health,

thank you,

LadyRoisin invincibleradio dot com
Dorian in the Land of smiles
2006-10-16 04:13:45 UTC
Firstly find out what interests them. Then show them how it can be fun only if children enjoy something will they commit to it, if they do not commit fully then try another sport. Keep trying everybody enjoys a sport you just need to find the right one.
Jayne 2 (LMHJJ)
2006-10-16 03:36:45 UTC
Don't shove football down their throats at every opportunity.



I have two son's who hate sport because it's always 'football' they never get to do any fun sport.



They could even add ballroom dancing to the sport curriculum. My eldest son has shown great interest in 'strictly come dancing' and even the fittest sport stars they have on have said how it has made them fitter with the training they have to do.



Make sport enjoyable for the kid's then they will love to participate.
trader11292001
2006-10-15 21:06:31 UTC
Even before Children Idolizes Tiger, Els, Jordan and Alonzo - their main idols are their parents - Its easy to bring them to the driving range or to the Golf Course, once they see their Dads and Moms whack the golf balls like Ernie - they sure to be influenced by that immensely.
StephE
2006-10-15 15:10:45 UTC
Leading by example - I got my daughters into Yoga bugs after I started a pilates class to help with a back injury sustained as a teenager when I rowed for my school. They also go to swimming lessons and we walk everywhere we can regardless of the weather. My son has just started to pedal his trike (he's just tuned 2) because we have encouraged him and he sees both his sisters and his dad cycling for fun so wants to join in.

We have also taken them to sporting events to let them see a wide range of activities. Our local primary school actively promotes sports and often brings in specialist coaches to give the pupils a taster in different disciplines - they have tried hockey already this term and all classes have PE twice a week.
Jaimie H
2006-10-21 03:24:43 UTC
have a good selection of sports in school and make children aware of clubs and teams in the local area to join. make it a family thing, e.g parent support by encouragement, joining in if poss or just turning up to watch
2006-10-20 06:04:42 UTC
the best way to encourage children to take up sport is to take them to diffirent sporting events and find out which one they best loved and buy them that sport game kits. Tell them they look like the hero in that sport they loved and buy them a gift whenever their loved team wins.
kevin f
2006-10-16 11:28:56 UTC
The best way is to participate in the sport with them at all times offering encouragement all the time and it won't hurt to offer some kind of incentive..but for me its all about having fun make them have fun and they will want to play again and again.if those things won't work hope your kid is really intelligent.
2006-10-16 06:11:59 UTC
make it fun ! ( well yes )



i found hours in the rain dull



but basket ball etc or do it inside if its wet



could you fill out what you would write for a satalite that will retern from space in 5000 years ?

a long an windy imagination required !

the explanation is at : main page : http://www.keo.org/uk/pages/default.html



to just write is at : http://www.keo.org/uk/pages/message.php

eny details would work like trivia with bluff



i have an explanation at my yahoo blog :





http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-KAjGw0g1bq2P18ZB9JKMjynO8KOX?p=

http://www.flickr.com/photos/quality-photos/



Alien stuff : http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-KAjGw0g1bq2P18ZB9JKMjynO8KOX?p=111

for a funny star : http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-KAjGw0g1bq2P18ZB9JKMjynO8KOX?p=5



answer worth 10 points ans some reading of questions !
Darrell K
2006-10-16 04:16:40 UTC
Ernie you should know better,you should have been a pro tennis player,you ended up a pro golfer,let them decide which path to take,i remember you as a junior,so i`m sure that your kids will be be happy to follow in your footsteps,either it be tennis or golf,they will exceed.
HB
2006-10-16 02:13:38 UTC
Encouraging them from a young age, keep it as part of their lives as they grow up and make it fun. I think it helps if the bigs stars of sport are accessible. If footballers, cricketers, golfers, rugby players etc took time to visit local schools and clubs it would help to encourage the kids to take up that sport.
thebigtombs
2006-10-16 01:32:46 UTC
Schools, Out of School Clubs and other groups should promote sport more than they do.



Parents need to spend more time playing sports with their children and taking them to football, dancing, rugby, etc.



League sports clubs should be required to spend a certain amount of their income on providing community based activies for children.
cat woman
2006-10-20 12:06:38 UTC
Start by taking them when they are young so they can watch. Things like cricket rugby football training sessions usually hve minis etc and they can start by feeling what the ball is like then when old enough they can start throwing catching then playing. If it is running swimming same principal applies.
2006-10-20 09:31:50 UTC
I THINK THE BEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO TAKE UP SPORT IS TO START THEM AT A YOUNGER AGE.

BUT IF THERE ARE OLDER , GET THEM IN A LOT OF CLUBS BECAUSE MANY CLUBS DO ALOT OF SPORT'S AND IF THERE SEE OTHER KID'S DONG IT THEY WILL JOIN IN THEM SELF. PLUS THEY WILL MAKE ALOT OF NEW FRIENDS. I THINK AS WELL THAT MUM & DAD NEEDS TO DO SOME SPORT'S WITH THEM OR BY THEM SELF SO THE KID'S CAN SEE THERE MORE TO LIFE INSTEAD PLAYING PLAYSTATION OR OTHER GAMES.
Tourist
2006-10-18 04:37:18 UTC
hello ernie , i am a big fan of u . nice meeting u .





well the best ways are :---------------





1 make your children watch more and more sports so they know that what is the importance of sports , they will also get attracted by it .



2 well you make them understand that what is the importance of sports . they must play sports and learn how to because nowadays sports really have a huge role in one succesful man"s like .





3 be frank with them .







4 dont force them .





5 make them, active by being strict about exercise then onlu\y they will think about sports and thwn onbly they will wish to learn sports.





6 if your child want to learn sports , dont think twice just fill the form .







---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



well see what a base ball player says .

thanks to bccsports .





interview by joe macmillan .

camer man paul hardy

compilled by - jacob smith









What's the best way of encouraging your children to take part in sport?



If you show your own enthusiasm it tends to rub off on the youngsters.



I've always found that if I'm excited about participating in sport then the children I'm in contact with catch the bug pretty quickly.





Get slam dunking with the Bullets!

What do you think is the main benefit of children getting involved in sport?



There are the obvious health benefits, but my favourite is that they instantly improve their communication and social skills, especially with team sports.



What's the best encouragement your parents ever gave you about sport?



I can always remember my parents constantly encouraging me to become involved in sport.



The best advice was to try as many different sports as possible. In junior school I played football, cricket, rounders, chess, tennis; you name it, I tried it.



How much of an issue is cost?



Despite the prohibitive cost of equipment, money doesn't seem to be the barrier to kids participation.



In basketball there is a lot of money spent on shoes and kit but the biggest expense is travel.



The children seem to either have the latest gear or not and it doesn't affect participation.



Which sports do you play with your children?





Take the free throw challenge

My kids are both very young, so at the moment I'm just active with them.



Lots of kicking a ball about or playing catch, anything they fancy really.



Walking and running, bike rides, swimming and playgrounds are popular at the moment.



How do you feel about your children's involvement in sport?





Basketball contacts and websites

I think it is of critical importance. I will certainly continue encouraging my children to get involved but without any pressure.



I intend to keep regular sport an integral part of my family lifestyle.



If they don't show an aptitude for a particular sport I will still encourage them to stay active and healthy.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------





well i hope this was a help for you .





bye



with lots of regards,

anmol sood
2006-10-18 04:03:58 UTC
Make it fun! Many kids wont play sport because it is so competitive and they are afraid to let the team down. Let them know that winning is just an extra, sportsmanship and participation are the real achievements
cocoshitnick
2006-10-18 00:22:33 UTC
By educating them about the many benefits. Is golf really a sport though, some of your colleagues are a bit chubby?
Himanshu M
2006-10-17 09:53:30 UTC
Work with them, relate the game of golf with their personal decision making process. When my daughter and my son go to the driving range with their respective school team mates, I make it a point to be with them at the range, and help them to get to where "they can do no wrong" with their swing. Usually people go to the range to get the swing to the point where they get it right.



Now I am seeing that they are using the same "way" and "discipline" that they learnt on the range and on the course, to make their personal life decisions.
2006-10-17 05:06:29 UTC
Make a better range of sports available to them, I remember school was rugby, cross country, cricket, athletics, tennis and swimming. Boring.

No golf, sailing, motorsport, darts, clay pigeon, or similar which might have more interest value
2006-10-16 18:55:28 UTC
Get involved in the sport actively with them
sparky
2006-10-16 13:07:28 UTC
What makes you think hitting a ball with a bat is so noble a human endeavour that we need to encourage more people to do it?



How I despise "sport" and the elevated platform people like you seek to give it.
Day
2006-10-16 01:05:23 UTC
I think the best way to encourage sport involvement is to be interested and play sport yourself. You can not expect children to take up physical activities if the parents are couch potatoes.
Ama
2006-10-21 20:11:29 UTC
well it depends the sport and how your kid feels. If he/she truly hates it they wont succeed and it would be worthless but if they might consider it try to. Try to show how much fun the sport is and what it has to offer. Maybe give a reward if they try it. Don't force them to do something they truly hate for it will end bad.
wannymilaine_santos
2006-10-21 20:00:48 UTC
there are so very few ways to make children interested in sport. because it's difficult to make them sporty. how unusual for a kid to take up sport because an infant always wants to play, eat, drink, have fun, play, play and play. they want to play all day. but if you want them to take up sport you have to make them interested to sports. you can go watch a game of basketball, hockey, football /soccer, etc., if they find it very nice, then they will be encourage to take that sport.
osai b
2006-10-20 18:08:06 UTC
Hey Im osai and the best way to encourage kids is to encourage there parents to encourage them to help them to get into better activities during school or after school maybe even winter breaks but really is to ask them what they like to do and try to go for it or persuade them for the good .If you know what I mean? hope I help you!
2006-10-19 16:21:42 UTC
Encouragement and example as in everything else.

Take part with them and praise their efforts. Don't critisize but encourage and help them to improve.Don't push too hard as it may have the opposite effect and they sometimes give up but with gentle persuasion and continued encouragement they usually respond well.
Koos S
2006-10-19 07:13:47 UTC
Lead by example, if they see that you enjoy sport and find it as a bonding experience, they will also repeat that.

Sport must be offered to them as relaxation, competition, enjoyment and excercise. By doing all this they will see the benefits and positives from sport.
GwanGGe
2006-10-18 07:54:08 UTC
Make TV programme that can make the watcher Jump and Run around the room, or do 'hand-sport' with the remote control.
Lara K
2006-10-16 15:26:00 UTC
Probally by telling them that they could get in good shape, meet new people, and find the happiness in being successful. Overall, sports are a way to feel good about yourself in trying something new and maybe, challenging.
liongirl_40
2006-10-16 05:50:10 UTC
Take away the TV, computer, mobile phone, video games. When I was growing up we never had all that stuff and we had some of the best sport's people.
P felix
2006-10-16 05:14:10 UTC
take away all there xbox games and TV and computers and that will make them go back to the playing fields that's all we ever did when we where kids football cricket bike riding all sorts then came the modern era that's why kids don't play sports any more
darren v
2006-10-17 05:21:44 UTC
the best way to encourage young children to take up sport is to start them of in school. make the sports fun. this will make them do more sports in school.also out of school sports clubs.join all different spots clubs.
Jackie
2006-10-15 14:00:30 UTC
The best way to get children to join a sport, is to, let them see how much fun it can be. Like by taking them to see other people play it. Or just going with them your self to give it a try. Also, Somtimes if they have a friend with them to enjoy it, they will want to do it again. If they really have fun with it, ask them if they would like to join it.
Hilly
2006-10-20 10:47:21 UTC
The best way is through positive encouragement from an early age......that way thay will either enjoy it and become pro or actively carry on for the rest of their lives promoting a healthier society...............
pedroverdi
2006-10-19 12:50:19 UTC
If parent are active in a sport I find that helps the child get interested. Take your child golfing with you.
Brian H
2006-10-19 07:59:37 UTC
Show them all varieties of sport. Take them to live sporting events as well as show them sport on TV. Encourage them to play team sports with their friends. Play sport with them. Don't force them to do things they don't want to they will just start hating it. Encourage but don't push.
stuio
2006-10-17 23:17:23 UTC
stop charging extortionate prices! lowest i have found for golf lessons is £20 for 45 mins,,, when you consider how many lessons kids need and for how long. All these X pga tourers are in it for the money, not to perhaps train the next up and coming star..
snorlaxjen
2006-10-17 08:21:18 UTC
make it more fun and enjoyable, and don't single out some kids just because they aren't as "good" as others... discourage the needy competition side of things between them



also, saw in a documentary in the USA where the gym teacher brought in arcade style cycling video games, where they could have fun while exercising.
A R
2006-10-16 22:05:28 UTC
find out if your local sports centre provides taster sessions , take the kids along, try out as many different activities together as you can. make it fun and enjoyable without putting pressure on your child to do well. it is important that children know sport can be for fun as well as for competitive reasons.
pamisandhu
2006-10-16 10:05:55 UTC
Lead by example. Encourage them to participate in any sport they like, even if it is a sport you are not interested in. You never know what hidden talent you might have in your kids.
nippauk2001
2006-10-16 09:39:00 UTC
whos ernie els? try taking away their playstations! too many kids get an easy life and fun is found for them, make them have to make their own fun, they will soon turn to sport!
Crystal
2006-10-16 03:27:21 UTC
Make it fun, don't force them, let them enjoy themselves doing the best they can with praise and encouragement. If they don't like team work or being picked for teams then give them the opportunity to try all different types of sport.
2006-10-15 22:36:15 UTC
It weren't that long ago when local government with central government support sold off their sports grounds and open spaces to developers.

It is also a bloody cheek for cricketers (Old men standing about in a circle.) to call their game a sport!
twixlicker
2006-10-15 14:34:36 UTC
Lead by example! Be willing to make sacrifices in the name of their chosen sport. Sunday mornings on the sidelines ~ Thursday night pick up at the swimming baths Encourage and support all the way!
2014-07-14 07:06:00 UTC
There's nothing more embarassing to a youngster than a pushy parent. You can show your support at matches or events or when you pick them up from training sessions, when they will be eager to tell you how well or badly they did.
Vig
2006-10-22 01:34:51 UTC
Initially you should give up the space of lands to the kids that you and few of your friends waste on regular basis to fly and drop a little white ball.
trish uk
2006-10-21 13:30:23 UTC
free sports facilities in each local area of towns and cities together with the choice to learn from experienced players would encourage and democratise sporting opportunities
G JI
2006-10-20 04:23:39 UTC
the best way would be for you to make it fun and join in with it, dont make it challenging to start with, (that comes later), once they have the momentum going long may it continue. have them do stuff but not call it sports. Like leap frogging, instead of hurdles.
dixon056
2006-10-16 09:59:44 UTC
the best way to get kids into sport is to get there parents to do things with them, i have 2 brothers and my dad and uncles always had us in the garden playing football and cricket as soon as we could walk, parents need to take responsability for there kids been unhealthy and not been active enough, also have more pe at school,
royboy03
2006-10-16 08:55:19 UTC
Play with the children
2006-10-15 22:17:34 UTC
I think you should let them see it on tv and show them how excited you are while watching, then they will discover how fun it really is.Throwing them into a sport too quickly can make them hate it later on. Buy them different types of sporting equipment (not too expensive) and show them when when a particular sport comes on tv. I would start them very early, like two or three years of age.
2006-10-21 09:47:50 UTC
ever heard of the saying do as i say not what i do? change it around, do as i do not what i say and get involved with abit of sport, join a gym as a family, go for a walk, kick a ball around, get the kids to join some after school sports classes there is lots for kids to do you just have to look around.
2006-10-19 03:24:24 UTC
Instead of buying computer/console games as gifts, take the TV out of their room and start buying them balls. Any kind of balls, golf, tennis, football, rugby ball, netball - get them outside and show them what to do and get involved with them. If you watch Supernanny - nearly all of the kids relish get some quality time with their parents.
2006-10-17 12:34:43 UTC
Make sport more accessible at schools and stop selling off playing fields
minerva
2006-10-17 12:08:06 UTC
make it fun and offer a variety of sports from individual to team events. not all people are naturally sporty so good teachers and coaches need to communicate their own enthusiasm to inspire such kids to try things. after all we want people to continue sports after school. perhaps we need to value our sportsmen and women more than we do pop stars and druggies. keeping drugs out of sports and mentoring projects would be a good way to give kids support to continue.
?
2006-10-17 11:23:38 UTC
Turn off the video game and get out in the yard with them to toss the ball around.
ian l
2006-10-16 17:01:39 UTC
You could show them how sports can be a hobby and a career. There are many great personalities who have done very well in any area that one can think of.
2006-10-16 06:39:04 UTC
Watch sports on TV, and have them watch with you. View a variety of different sports, and see which ones they're most interested in. Sooner or later, they're going to ask if they can play.
lota1
2006-10-15 15:11:30 UTC
i remember when i was at school the PE teachers used to stand there and laugh out loud at my best friend and I trying to play tennis, and when they took us swimming i was told to practice a rescue manoeuvre on my best friend, trouble was i couldnt swim and nearly drowned my buddy!! The PE teachers should actually be teaching the students and not just ignoring people without natural ability, i still couldnt swim when i left school and started to swim at 30 years old when i went for lessons. by the end of my first lesson i was swimming!!!!



It would be nice if the kids could be rewarded for taking extra sports by gaining points which can be swapped for trainers and other sports gear
hjb410
2006-10-20 03:25:32 UTC
Get a real sports personnality in to schools! It inspires the kids big time!
Miss Perfect
2006-10-18 07:43:10 UTC
Buy a dog and take it for walks up a large hill. Kids arent prone to liking excercise but they will run around after a dog and ball.
2006-10-17 20:09:09 UTC
Play it with the child. encourage him or her to like it. Or watch the sport. Tell them the history behind it.
Manie O
2006-10-17 17:34:09 UTC
I coached kids in rugby and cricket and the most effective way I found is to let them do something THEY enjoy,not their parents. This doesn't mean they don't need to do sport,it just means that if Pieter chooses rugby over cricket,thats his choice,not his dads...
stealm
2006-10-17 12:30:53 UTC
Bribery.

(Once they start though, most love it !) If you engage in the sport with your child , this makes it a regular, special time.

One must encourage and educate about all aspects of the neccessity and joy of sport.
apore
2006-10-16 12:34:03 UTC
Let them choose the sport they want and then set them goals and targets.If they meet the targets encourage/reward them with small gifts e.g. a small sum money
Kerry A
2006-10-16 12:06:33 UTC
you can encourage children to participate in sport by taking up sports yourself, showing them how fun it is to be part of a team & how many friends they will meet will make them want to join you. they wont even think of it as being a healthy activity, they will see it as fun with lots of running around!!
Crazy Diamond
2006-10-16 06:39:40 UTC
Make it more fun. Seriousness can come later when in a proper team or good enough to compete in a sport.
hawkstone park!
2006-10-16 04:50:39 UTC
Try offering cheap or free lessons for children at clubs. The ones I've tried are far too expensive for my two sons so they play footy instead now. - What a shame.
sdavies8
2006-10-15 21:21:40 UTC
Support your school and local education authority. It's incumbent on them to propel and help guild the physical development of every child in their catchment area. If they need more money to do so, don't gripe when council tax is raised to give schools more money. Local playing fields were sold off to companies like Sainsbury's/Tesco/Asda to fund local councils when local councils were given the power to run schools budgets and local education authorities were scraped as they were funded from central government. Also at this point, local councils refused to pay teachers overtime to take children out to play matches at the weekend, who's going to give their weekend time for free?



There is no short cut to this, it will come out of your pocket and to foster growth you'll have to be ready and willing to pay for it.
Iain
2006-10-17 05:42:39 UTC
Make Competition -- of all kinds -- an acceptable idea within the schools.



That means abndoning all forms of Political Correctness.
stefan s
2006-10-16 09:39:11 UTC
From my experience children of all ages are always on the look out for the next form of entertainment. Usually the form of entertainment results from the child's surrounding environment (i.e. what is available to them and what they are encouraged to do). It seems to me that both factors of availablity and encouragement are influenced by economic factors.



The financial situation of a child's parents will significantly influence the type of activity/sport that the child is encouraged to get involved in. It is therefore, important for local government and local organisations to improve the availablility of sporting facilities for children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. If a parent can send their child to a safe and sociable sporting environment without having to worry about financial restrictions then they are more likely to encourage their child to become involved in sporting activities.



As a child I grew up with one foot in England and the other in Iceland and I witnessed a great difference in the attitude towards sport between the countries. In Iceland each district has its own sporting club that is open to all ages, costing nothing/relatively little to be a member of the club. Each club provides facilities and training for a great variety of sports, forming a significant part of the local communities. Iceland also has fantastic swimming facilities that are subsidised by the government to ensure free/reduced rates for juniors and seniors alike.



Very little of what I experienced in Iceland existed in England when I was growing up and this was reflected in the differing attitude towards sport between the kids in Iceland and England.



In summary, children need to be encouraged to get involved in sport as early as possible. The biggest influence over children are their parents and so they should be encouraging their children to get involved in sport. To ensure parents actively encourage their children to get involved in sport it is up to local and national government to take steps to make sure a comprehensive range of facilities are available and accessible to all of society. Once this infrastructure is in place the variety of sporting choice available to kids will surely act to keep them interested and invloved in sport.
2017-02-17 15:38:26 UTC
1
2006-10-19 12:45:59 UTC
My guess is to let them see how much fun they can have. Allow them to choose the sport they like after allowing them plenty of time to get a feel for it.
emmiemoo
2006-10-18 01:31:49 UTC
make it fun make it not a chore and i think most importantly make it so the slowest child has as much fun as the fastest child.



as having experience as being the slowest child, i know that as long as i dont feel pressure to be the best and see everyone around me being the best then i will enjoy my self i felt very discouraged by being shouted at
GEOFF S
2006-10-16 10:37:43 UTC
Play the sport with them and show encoragement regardless of their skill. Allow them to win from time to time and go and watch them play as a family.
Mike10613
2006-10-16 10:16:11 UTC
In a word BRIBERY. Financial, emotional, or offer some kind of psychological reward. force just makes them hate sport and hate the person trying to force it on them.
?
2006-10-16 04:46:57 UTC
Make it cheaper and more accesable. There are some great clubs out there with fatastic kids schemes which introduce golf to youngsters. They are unfortunately the minority though. There is ALOT of money in golf, why not share the wealth (PGA) and introduce schemes which actively encourage golf clubs to welcome children.
cuz3bebb
2006-10-16 01:34:55 UTC
Get them into a club / activity. Let them try a few clubs [there are free ones available too] untill they find something they enjoy. I took my son & his friend to a TKD event at our local community centre, he's been going to the classes ever since. Also i'v made saturday mornings a routine of swimming. It gives us both the excersize & fun quality time, all rolled into one!
debbie d
2006-10-22 03:02:20 UTC
change the game to their advantage!!!





eg.if a child likes running , develope the game to a large scale with lots of movement encouraged
2006-10-21 21:01:46 UTC
The parents need to be role models and play sports with their children and/or support their children's sport activities such as hockey, basketball, dancing etc...
2006-10-20 04:27:23 UTC
Have their dolls away; My brother used to play with toy cars till he was 31 years old, he never drove a real car in his life, he loved so much watching football but not playing it! AS: If everybody happy with the way they are, they need incentives to go for the real thing in life. Thanks.
badass-mofu
2006-10-20 04:05:54 UTC
Sport needs to be made something school kids cant get out of so easy i remember at school loads of mainly out of shape kids skipping sport etc . I think parents need to encurage it and schools need more of it .
2006-10-20 03:57:14 UTC
start it in schools and have after school activities for anyone to join in and then eventually out of school the kids will go and play sports with there mates and join teams or clubs
Oli
2006-10-18 13:00:33 UTC
Make all sports available to them. Everybody is good at something. My school would only offer rugby, cricket and football at first and i hated them all. Then i discovered Rowing and i have loved it ever since.
ben s
2006-10-18 09:57:29 UTC
more local facilities in the city's. backed by the gov and private sector



a lot of kids dint do any sport because there unaware of any facilities , nearby

either there arnt any

or there is no advertising or marketing to them about activities
Tyler L
2006-10-18 07:26:26 UTC
i think the best way to encourage kids is to let ppl like yourself mix in with kids and show them the fun side of the sport.
mariolla oneill
2006-10-16 07:37:15 UTC
you got to start from when they are in junior school,like when i was 11 i started to train and used to play basket ball then wally ball,hockey and athelitics.could'nt afford to play golf,scared all my school windows would be missing.i can imagen me self taking a swing at the golf ball and the ball going through the glass window.

strat at 10 and see from there where the kids head for.
J C
2006-10-16 06:56:46 UTC
Lead by example -get involved with your kids and do sport together - this could possibly go some way towards solving this country's obesity crisis....
2006-10-16 05:39:09 UTC
tear down all the "no ball games" signs.

open up school playing fields in the summer holidays.

stop closing down playing field for car parks or developments. subsidise childrens use of sports facilities (swimming pools etc.)
untanuta
2006-10-15 14:44:15 UTC
Take them along, join in with them and buy the equipment (There first golf club each cost £5 each) that goes with it (they had a set for chistmas, but i had to draw line at them swinging them in the living room). My two sons love golf and my eldest sons school now take them along during PE lessons...it's a gentlemans sport, it teaches them etiquette, manners and is good for business, schmooz a client on the golf course. My youngest son always has a football attached to his foot, and loves cars, especially formula one sadly i don't have formula one money but i encourage him, and if thats the profession he wants to go into, it'll be tough but perseverance is the answer. Life is what you make it and you have to work HARD at what you want to be.
2014-09-07 23:06:02 UTC
So..

Here you can find an ebook with more than 400 pages of paleo recipes http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=562

Good Bye
2006-10-20 05:30:25 UTC
tell them, go on just try, if you dont like it you dont have to do it again. i did this with my daughter evenyually after dancing ice skating football she discovered the tennis ( which she won an award for her school ) and now netball are her favorate and she joined the scool clubs. after much protest in the begining i feel it was worth the push.
_mark_
2006-10-20 02:54:45 UTC
If the dad plays golf then that'll get the kids into it. I play golf and i had to work really hard to get tot the level that my friends are at because their dads got them playing at a young age. I just about throttled my dad when he said he gave up playing golf when he was my age! i could be really good by now................
BJ
2006-10-18 05:05:40 UTC
The best way is to do it with them, weather by participating or by attending there matches and encouraging them. Also do not take it to seriously, remember sport should be fun. If they see you stressing up and swearing or putting undue pressure on them it won't be fun for them.
ladygrl06
2006-10-16 13:09:46 UTC
you could make it look more cool by getting pop stares and kids t.v presenters to represent it you could also get private companies to sponsor competition in schools and local youth clubs also children look at there teachers as being the most clever people there is they also look at them and take advice from them all day if you could get more teachers in the gym them I'm sure more young kids would follow by example
2006-10-16 08:34:37 UTC
Make it fun and enjoyable. I hated sport when I was at school because everyone used to pick on me (including the teacher)! If you don't enjoy it back then, then you'll never enjoy it.
2014-07-10 19:25:36 UTC
loves cars, especially formula one sadly i don't have formula one money but i encourage him, and if thats the profession he wants to go into, it'll be tough but perseverance is the answer. Life is what you make it and you have to work HARD at what you want to be.
Nellie T
2006-10-18 01:09:36 UTC
at first, you need to let them understand how good and fun when they take up at the same time can also let them know what joy they will miss if they don't try it.

the most important part is parents not only said to let the children to know it, they have to show them too. so why don't you just take up together with them and proved it.....^^

Good luck
Sob Sob
2006-10-18 00:08:46 UTC
Bring them along and let them enjoy..don't tell them this is wrong , that is wrong. Let them explore which sports they like and encourge them. But don't be surprise that some people are really not meant to play sports.
?
2006-10-16 05:13:14 UTC
take away all their PC's, Video Consuls, TV's, Mobile Phones & make it a legal requirement that they have to participate in sport for at least 2 hours a week
Edith
2016-05-17 15:18:59 UTC
Do you desire to understand one of the factors common Law of attractionproduct does not work for lots of people?Believe of it like a diet plan. If you wish to reduce weight and you work hard to lose it
billy b
2006-10-19 03:43:45 UTC
get them to see how much fun it can be encourge them to join in and also let them win at there game whatever it may be children like to win if they dont they will just give up and ignore the sport
Lady Sheee
2006-10-18 05:56:20 UTC
Buy sports equipment for them and teach them how to use it



Or



make an association for them and form keeping fit club
Herbert
2006-10-17 15:03:46 UTC
1.-First at all you have to motivate the kid, what dos he like to have fun? Make the sport attractive to him.

2.-Explanation, tell him what is all about, briefly.

3.-Let he does it.

4. - Listen what he thinks about in

5.- Tell him what do you think



And you’ll have a champion.
JentaMenta
2006-10-17 11:46:08 UTC
More well-taught sport at school. At private schools, they often do an hour a day, with plenty of choices.
stuart g
2006-10-16 03:51:21 UTC
DEAR ERNIE, I'M A FELLOW GOLF TEACHING PRO .

I THINK CHILDREN SHOULD BE SHOWN OBESE LAZY ADULTS OR ILL PEOPLE SMAOKING AND DRINKING HEAVY WHO DO NO SPORT AND TURN OUT LOOKING LIKE WHAT THEY DO, THEN SHOW FIT ADULTS WHO PLAY SPORT EVERY TIME THE SUN SHINES BE OUTSIDE,

FROM,

STUART
Malcolm
2006-10-16 02:25:01 UTC
I guess you need to show an interest in whatever. In my case it was "murder" watching my daughter playing tennis, but I went along to encourage her. Similarly, my 14-y-o grandson is a wizard soccer player, and I brave the elements on the touchline!
B N
2006-10-19 16:47:09 UTC
Generally it depends how much the parents are involved. Listening to the child helps as well.
2006-10-16 10:58:20 UTC
I would not preach to them about the health and fitness factors, i would try and get them involved by making it fun, competitive, and have rewards. If the kids enjoy it, they will want participate more.
Spencer D
2006-10-16 06:58:21 UTC
Encouragement ans support. If you want a youngster to be committed to a sport you have to commit yourself even if you have no interest personally.
Andy H
2006-10-15 16:42:47 UTC
I think from a very early age they should be joine din some sort of sport club, from Hockey, to football (soccer to our american friends) or whatever sport, and as they get older they will hopefully keep it up, unless they rebel, as kids do.
Kelvin
2006-10-18 23:53:40 UTC
Without doubt, methodically and with organisation and planning make it "FUN". This must be the prime objective and success with children will be much much easier to achieve.
Trizzy
2006-10-17 05:44:56 UTC
Do it with them, when they find what they like and get good at it you can take a back seat and let them get on with it. I love playing with my kids, it makes me feel 9 years old again. It's great fun.
Fu Manchu
2006-10-16 11:17:12 UTC
It's up to the kids if they want to do it or not... Just because parents failed to do things themselves when they were younger, they shouldn't encourage/force their kids to do anything that makes them feel better about their own failings in life...
ironing queen
2006-10-16 04:54:39 UTC
Take their televisions out of their rooms and stop being weak parents.

Send them out into the garden for some fresh air.

Show them who's boss. Children are ruling the roost these days...take control.
chadangelmanjaro
2006-10-18 05:18:22 UTC
take them to were a particular sport is on ,or buy them videos on particular sports they might be interested in ,to get then an insight as what the particular sport entails
Intellithug
2006-10-18 01:52:44 UTC
Make it a team game, let it be like a tournament, where they see trophies for winning and glamourising the whole experience.

Kids love that
niloc2006
2006-10-17 15:53:40 UTC
take them out and get them to enjoy sport im a football coach and my 8 year old plays and belive it or not so does my 6 year old daughter when they realise its fun they will want to do it more
Sean M
2006-10-17 12:30:55 UTC
Get thier friends to start the sport with them. usually kids dont start because they are too embarased to join a club with no one they know.
jelly
2006-10-17 07:35:17 UTC
Lead by example. Show them that you really enjoy participating in sport and they will want to copy you.
diane e
2006-10-16 08:27:16 UTC
the best way to get children to take up sport is to make it fun, and even in a way that they dont actually realise it is sport.
2006-10-16 03:51:53 UTC
I think if fags, beer, knifes and guns could be incorporated into sport then the new generation of chav kids would feel more at home in a sporting environment
2006-10-18 04:18:51 UTC
get their friends together and make it a GAME, not a sport. hopefully they will keep an interest as they grow up and carry it on. most children's problem is that they don't know they have access to facilities. take them when they are still young.
pop c
2006-10-17 16:58:58 UTC
firs of all parents should change the way they feed the kids

and then teach them the way 2 eat and what 2 eat.from my point of view parent are responsible 4 the way their kids r eating

the way u teach them the way u have them

and thats it
SuPeRsTaR
2006-10-17 11:04:43 UTC
Give them an incenative. If you give them something they enjoy doing then they arwe more likely to do it. Introduce rewards, reward them for something they have done right. Encourage them with praise. If you praise them for what they have done, they will feel good about themselves and want to do it again.
2006-10-17 09:23:29 UTC
By re-introducing Sport as a compulsory subject in schools for a start (UK).
Robert C
2006-10-17 05:07:55 UTC
By making it exciting, enjoyable fun for them; allowing them to learn at their own pace; and making more (or improving existing) sports facilities in our towns and cities.
2006-10-16 03:38:52 UTC
By making them to be watching sports and making them to be part in every sport that there performance is best in that field of sport
Graham K
2006-10-20 23:20:22 UTC
Play sports "with" them, make it fun, don't forget to fall over a few times and make them laugh.
2006-10-17 13:44:10 UTC
do a sport all the family can join in with it helped me get my lids into sport they all play football and swim now (not at the same time)hahahaha.
ilovecantering
2006-10-16 06:07:45 UTC
It depends what sport , i personally hate jogging, football or rugby. but i love horse-riding , swimming and really wanna try pole vaulting, dance is another good one. If kids dont like them, then im stumped.
fatherf.lotski
2006-10-20 07:02:29 UTC
A belated happy birthday Mr Els. By example, that's my answer.
bountyman
2006-10-16 04:46:52 UTC
Get their heros of the different sports to talk to them in shops and places where they go.
2006-10-16 01:14:14 UTC
using celebrites to promote it and having people going around schools to encourage sports.But the most important thing is having a reward at the end of participating such as a medal of achievement.
2006-10-20 08:04:36 UTC
Do one or more sports yourself and take your children with you, so it becomes "natural" to go and do a sport. Children are just like primates: they copy!
SKYHIGH
2006-10-18 10:18:20 UTC
Force them to read and study for 8 hours a day.
Al m
2006-10-18 06:16:23 UTC
Change physical education in schools so that students are encouraged not forced into it.
bramble
2006-10-18 03:42:26 UTC
By starting them at a very young age
englishbreakfastea
2006-10-17 07:09:02 UTC
you need to incorporate fun into the sport. joining groups with children of similar age, etc.
edwin v
2006-10-17 05:28:10 UTC
Lead by example. Have fun.

Kids want to have fun too, so much better to pull them in than push them.
2006-10-16 05:56:39 UTC
Treadmill queues at McDonald's, set at 6mph...



Seriously parents should encourage their kids by playing sports with them at a young age.
poli_b2001
2006-10-16 05:51:28 UTC
You could show em your pay cheque and encourage them that if they are any good then they could earn that sort of cash.



Or you could just encourage them and find out what they are good at and keep them interested in it
Lonnie P
2006-10-15 14:06:49 UTC
As adults we need to compete, or at least participate, ourselves. Nothing is better than a good example to encourage children. I know it has worked in my family.
mishnbong
2006-10-21 09:45:44 UTC
give them the equipment needed (golf club, football, hockey stick etc) leave them to it. If they like it then encourage more. If they dont then at least you have tried
2006-10-18 12:43:41 UTC
wrap there school lunch up in a copy of the sports argus. or you may want to buy them a javelin for xmas.
sw21uk2
2006-10-18 05:05:04 UTC
Martial Arts.



Actually teach the kids something useful.
2006-10-17 05:23:04 UTC
Simply participate in the sports with him. Money can't buy everything.
tricia61
2006-10-15 22:22:15 UTC
i think from an early age you have to first develope a love of being outdoors in children. encourage them and their friends to play games,even in the rain. keep a good supply of balls and bats at home. but most of all, limit their television watching and game console playing.
2006-10-15 14:17:27 UTC
Introduce them to as many different sports as possible, let them discover the ones they enjoy most, then give them every encouragement
2006-10-15 14:11:47 UTC
The best way to encourage a child to take up a sport is to do it with them. you can both have fun and stay fit.
matthew
2006-10-16 20:33:49 UTC
try to make the children evolved in the sport you want them to participate in and in a few hours they will love it
rab dickson
2006-10-19 08:28:20 UTC
Get your kit on and take the kids with you when you go to play. Then get your professional to take over. Simple.
TINAORLAND
2006-10-17 15:23:03 UTC
TO LIKE SPORTS.....WELL, TAKE THE BOY OR GIRL TO A GAME LET THEM SEE HOW FUN IT IS...TRY PLAYING BALL IN THE YARD....TALK ABOUT PAST GAMES...I AM SURE YOU CAN DO THAT...ITS NOT MAGIC OF COURSE.,YOU HAVE TO FEEL THE FUN OF IT.,SO DO YOUR BEST.KEEP YOUR CHIN UP., WON'T BE AS EASY AS I SAY,. IT TAKES ENCOURAGEMENT .
Extreme_Voice
2006-10-16 04:07:08 UTC
Tell them it's much better than playing sport games on the Playstation or X-box.



Also don't tell them it's healthy!
Pickles
2006-10-18 12:10:00 UTC
Get them on a treadmill then dangle the latest computer console in front of them!!
olive
2006-10-16 10:15:35 UTC
what is the best way to encourage kids into sports
little.lost
2006-10-16 02:51:22 UTC
You need to try and make it enjoyable for them, i don't know if anyone saw ian wrights program (can't remember what it was called) unfit kids or something- he struggled to get them interested at first but eventually achieved it!

We need more people like him getting kids fit with there unfit parents!
taz
2006-10-16 16:05:24 UTC
get them on a playing field with a bat or a ballplus make schools take more interest in them
hauxwelllee
2006-10-16 07:24:08 UTC
Join in with them, lead by example
john n
2006-10-16 04:04:01 UTC
Stop sport from being so elitist - stop overpaying sport stars - bring it down to earth
shiningstar2808
2006-10-15 15:42:37 UTC
Join them rather than they join you. You can encourage them to organise sports and meetings. Guide them what ever they wanted to do. In between you can put your own views.
cycloneweaver.com
2006-10-15 14:08:39 UTC
Turn OFF the TV - remember when we didn't even have TV back in the 60's hey Ernie ?

Ja that was lekker hey - go outside and just play.

Then get organized with real competitive games. Ja those were the days hey ? - Now I'm living in America. And loving every minute of it.
Hannah J
2006-10-21 10:16:53 UTC
i think that you should show them how fun sport can be, what you can acheive from it . They will join in once they know its fun and they actually enjoy what the are doing.
tambrahm
2006-10-18 23:55:24 UTC
Cue to children, that sports is "cool". Any child will try out things which are "cool".
2006-10-18 16:40:43 UTC
Get rid of the nanny state
mandg
2006-10-17 14:25:35 UTC
Get the lazy *** parents to do it first, my kids always copy what i do so if i kick a ball about they want to, if i walk everywhere they want to, if i go swimming i have to whippersnappers screaming to go too.
tui
2006-10-16 22:26:03 UTC
Take away their electronic games...

Kids these days seem to live their whole lives attached to a playstation or gameboy ect..
Geo C
2006-10-15 22:55:01 UTC
Lure them with:



a) Food

b) Money



Or, simply join in the fun with them. But I guess parents nowadays would hardly want to do that or "no time" to do that. Including my own parents.
nix
2006-10-18 03:48:05 UTC
Going with them to the field and doing sports with them they will love it because children love doing what grown ups are doing
LYNDSEY A
2006-10-17 21:45:27 UTC
Make it fun with lots of praise and encouragement.
2006-10-16 06:14:26 UTC
Take away the TV's, computers & Mobile phones!
kinglee28
2006-10-21 10:42:43 UTC
Beating Them With A Cricket Bat, Or is that how to get them to eat their greens? Or both?
Anissa B
2006-10-17 21:16:21 UTC
well tell/show how much fun it would be and tell them it would give time to meet other people and they wont have to hang with there parents as much(if there not relay close to you and what to get away for wile like teen) and its fun and they will feel grate:)
ffordcash
2006-10-17 13:30:12 UTC
Don't sell off their school playing fields to property developers - ooops! too late.
Amanda K
2006-10-17 11:46:42 UTC
With mine they play outside, ride their bikes to the park, kick and throw balls, draw, run, play bulldog, go swimming etc. I get tired, they do not.
oojamaflip
2006-10-17 11:29:31 UTC
Be an example to them if you are physically able. And encourage, encourage, encourage. And don't feed them junk.
suckaslug
2006-10-16 08:43:29 UTC
Burn anything they use that's electrical, stop their £100 weekly pocket money and tell them to get outside and play like you all did when you were their age.
2006-10-16 03:52:50 UTC
By showing them that there's more to sport than football, cricket, golf and snooker.
weng
2006-10-16 01:38:27 UTC
1st ask them what sport they like then buy them the equipment.let them try, if they will enjoy it thats the time you will keep on encouraging them and make sure you tell them the advantage of the sport
RUSSELL444
2006-10-22 01:06:37 UTC
THE BEST WAY FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN IS FOR SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN TO GO ROUND THE SCHOOLS.TALKING TO THEM AND SHOWING VIDEOS OF ALL THE SPORTS EVENTS.SHOW THEM WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE.
JULIE D
2006-10-17 23:13:45 UTC
By example
?
2006-10-17 14:59:29 UTC
Take em fishing, no other sport compares
wendy m
2006-10-17 13:47:24 UTC
i encourage my daughter who is 10 by going along joining in with her ,i give her lots of encouragment
Kirsty
2006-10-17 12:10:05 UTC
encouragement, a good diet so they feel fit and healthy and parental involvement. i also feel that too much presure to win can be detrimental so we should instead encourage sportsmanship.
2006-10-16 17:43:19 UTC
Show what good sports South Africa has...tell them they can get health problems if they don't get active!!
2006-10-16 05:39:30 UTC
Show them how much money a top pro golfer makes, win or lose.
Saffa London Lad
2006-10-16 04:27:49 UTC
I think just building it into their lives from an early age, making it recreation not hard work!
Powerpuffgeezer
2006-10-16 04:18:03 UTC
allow them to choose their own sport and start them young, also teach them the importance of taking part and that winning isn't everything
mark f
2006-10-16 01:29:09 UTC
by allowing kids to become actively involved in and have access to the facilities that provide for the sport that kids want to be involved in
neko
2006-10-17 17:47:11 UTC
get parents to join in with them. oh and the the plug off of the PlayStation.
tildypops
2006-10-16 07:12:35 UTC
Make things like swimming alot cheaper,
Macoto17
2006-10-16 06:13:41 UTC
First, get them good health. Then, try to tell them sport is fun.
budda m
2006-10-16 04:11:07 UTC
Dance mat evolution lol, parents need to take the lead, take them swimming, play tennis, do anything just something active!!!!!!!!
2006-10-17 05:15:53 UTC
Lead by example!
2006-10-16 11:18:54 UTC
To get them interested as young as possible, and be consitant with them all through their young life. they need encouragement, and motivated parents. show them how much fun it can be.
2006-10-16 08:21:20 UTC
set a good example by playing a sport yourself.



golf doesn't count
SARAH A
2006-10-15 14:46:06 UTC
To play with them, to cheer for them and to love and encourage them no matter how they perform. There is much that is learnt through sports
Jamie
2006-10-18 16:41:18 UTC
Let them pick the one they loves the most
lizzette m
2006-10-18 13:21:51 UTC
i like sport and i play with my children basketball, i go to the park with my children plat with them any sport.
Cool Dude
2006-10-21 13:47:52 UTC
Thats easy you have to have sports in school.
Tigeripoh4301
2006-10-18 08:03:35 UTC
We tend tp forget that from the time children know how to crawl and then to walk and stumble ,.are, soon after, running , hopping and jumping around like there was no tomorrow.



It is therefore evident that from a very young age , children are actively involved in in a variety of childrens sporting activities revolving around running,jumping , skipping, rolling climbing, sliding, splashing in water ...and the list goes on. They have so much energy. Most of them like a lot of activityand crave for more.



Another observation is that those kids who accompany one or both parents and other family members to ball games (like baseball or football) , shuttle games like badminton, hockey,gymnastics etc etc etc will invariably develop an interest in any one or more of these sports. Parental guidance and sports nurturing plays a great role in the childs early development , enjoyment and future participation in sports.



IThroughout school years , those schools with good sporting facilities that advocate school kids to actively participate in any one or a numbe of sports tend to have well rounded and high calibre students . They grow up to be active sports people often turning professional in later years.



We are talking about the good schools that have good financial backing with good direction and a balance between studies and sports.. For every good school there nust be dozens upon dozens or more of average to poor schools, needless to say with poor or no sporting facilities. Sports to these kids are just dreams.



What about those poor communities that cannot afford or simply do not have playing fields . Kids play in any place where they can throw a ball ( baseball, cricket , basketball) like it happens in many places in the world like America, India, Pakistan etc. Many very great sportsmen came from these backgrounds.

In a country like Brazil little boys play backyard football and learn all the skills of the game . They grow up to become the Pele's, Maradonna's and Ronaldo's of the future.

Where we are going with this dialogue is that wherever there is even a tiny little dirty plot of land there will be little boys and girls competing with other in some game.



You cannot say this about games like golf, squash ,tennis , archery and the like. These are elitist games and if your folks do not have the money you do not get to play. Ernie Els is one of the very, very few who takes the opportunity to support, train and coach young ,budding kids giving them a chance to learn and excell. We need hundreds of people like Ernie Els.



Leaving aside those kids whose parents can afford to support a an expensive and elitist game like golf , I think that schools throughout the world , in the developing, developed and poor countries should have a target to provide sporting facilities in their schools. There should be a simple programme to identify and help develop the budding ones who show talent. Those that have sports facilities should upgrade these and continue to upgrade over a20 year period. For a start.



Yet , there will be another school of thought that will advocate for schools to spend more on upgrading childrens nutrition in order for them to develop healthy bones and bodies.



In the long run I feel that we should go for both nutrition and sports development in every school in the world instead of spending billions of dollars on arms and WMD , creating terrorists then spending more billions trying to eradicate terrorism..



There is no doubt in my thinking that this vison can be realised.
Tuna-San
2006-10-18 00:13:23 UTC
Put spinach and broccoli in their homework. They'll be running outdoors faster than you can say "sandwedge".
Bernice B
2006-10-16 08:26:38 UTC
Go down to their level and join them!
2006-10-16 05:07:45 UTC
Tie it to their school work in someway...........kill 2 birds with one stone. Not only get and keep them fit, but keep them active and their minds on song!
Lick_My_Toad
2006-10-16 04:21:49 UTC
Sadly the answer is either pay, bribe them with MacDonalds' meals, pizzas, chips, or sweets. They won't get off their fat ar$es for anything else.
thefjk
2006-10-20 18:57:20 UTC
Make it fun... as long as the children enjoy what they are doing!
Clarky
2006-10-16 16:45:30 UTC
Put a grenade on their laps and tell them to run
mesun1408
2006-10-16 11:08:17 UTC
Counter the elitism and the gambling.
2006-10-16 10:42:55 UTC
get them invloved with activities and make sure you join in to make it 10 times funner and encourage them and its a perfect mix! :)
Aisha C
2006-10-16 04:45:39 UTC
a) Give them money or otherwise bribe them.



b) The little twunts run faster if you chase them with a big stick.
iusedtolooklikemyavatar
2006-10-15 13:59:40 UTC
Find one they enjoy.

When they are young tell them it'll make them strong, they love that and are then keen to participate.

We do the same thing to get our children to eat veg.
2006-10-16 11:42:26 UTC
Show them pictures of morbidly obese people, whilst telling them "that's what you'll look like if you don't exercise".
2006-10-16 10:44:14 UTC
Be sporting about it, instead of fame and money orientated!
?
2006-10-15 16:20:31 UTC
tell them there's no way they are allowed to do it and if they are caught doing it they will be in big trouble- it is just to expensive.



failing that i feel its the children's parents who need the encouragement not so much the children
Narayanan B
2006-10-15 15:33:54 UTC
By giving them ample time to play the games they like
pixie007
2006-10-20 16:51:29 UTC
show them your interested in what they are doing and go along and support them and encourage them every step of their way.
Maria
2006-10-17 06:54:06 UTC
best way to go with them, share sports with them, or you can reward them, encourage them , take them to sports events.
maslow5
2006-10-16 06:30:52 UTC
parents should involve themselves either participating in or attending that chosen activity. make it a fun/ chosen activity and not a forced one
William G
2006-10-15 18:03:21 UTC
Why would anyone want their children to take up sport?



I'd prefer if sports were abolished from mankind altogether!



Sports if for morons.
Ice Queen
2006-10-17 05:58:02 UTC
play with them

show them role models

failing that withold food

chase them with sharp things
The Mama
2006-10-17 05:28:48 UTC
join in with them, when they see how much fun it is the will soon put down the ps2/xbox controller
2006-10-20 11:54:47 UTC
To do it with them and enthuse about their skills from the start
Dodgey Jon
2006-10-18 09:52:18 UTC
Give a reward or something like that. Maybe a McDonalds if they win!!!
2006-10-17 16:15:54 UTC
make it lots of fun and not too competitive especially with younger kids
jools
2006-10-16 05:14:03 UTC
Participate yourselves
psych0ps
2006-10-16 04:03:31 UTC
Be the change you wish to see in others!
Iain C
2006-10-16 03:45:12 UTC
Time off school?? Pay them lots of money - just like the professionals???
2006-10-17 13:33:51 UTC
i don't drive good Inglis i am francaise

but i sure one children make sport he as good development
nonni xxxxxxx
2006-10-16 10:49:22 UTC
ummmm

gyms made specialy for kids

that would make me and my mates exercise



OPEN ME A GYM
shirley m
2006-10-16 01:14:13 UTC
Start them early in school,
neka d
2006-10-16 15:21:54 UTC
play with them! be a role model if they see you doing it and having fun they'll want to join in too!
2006-10-16 04:16:34 UTC
Scare tactics.. tell them horror stories about the effects of obeisity. it helped me to get off my ****!
sprigglybranch
2006-10-16 03:57:53 UTC
by making sports, coaching and facilities available and affordable for everyone.
2006-10-16 01:09:20 UTC
I have always done it by example and gave them lots of choices

to find out for themselves what suited them !
mr bullseye
2006-10-19 11:20:18 UTC
encourage them to play darts
Munster
2006-10-17 08:25:49 UTC
Show them a photocopy of one of your paychecks.
Bookworm
2006-10-16 01:50:12 UTC
Bring back school playing fields.
Jotun
2006-10-21 18:36:09 UTC
Hunt your children with dogs. that will promote both cunning and running skills. If they live.
Sean Monro
2006-10-21 03:28:27 UTC
You should really motivate them and reward treats when they do really well, and also say when they do well. If they don't do so well, then help them where you can.
Spsipath
2006-10-19 05:25:52 UTC
make it fun interesting,get them to get involved,to chose the rules
DJ R
2006-10-18 09:02:11 UTC
Make it really fun for them and be on their level.
2006-10-18 06:57:25 UTC
Play with them and make it fun!
rob
2006-10-17 13:58:45 UTC
i think the best way is to make it fun and always interesting
louis
2006-10-17 09:27:15 UTC
have more trophies if they earn it they and others can see what they have earned I'm sure they'd love the competition as well
jon2968
2006-10-15 23:41:09 UTC
by taking an interest in what they do and taking them to vatious sporting events.
2006-10-15 22:31:40 UTC
Join up and form a group. It can be fun that way.
sarch_uk
2006-10-15 15:35:56 UTC
By making it affordable for the masses and not just the elite.
Woody
2006-10-20 05:01:08 UTC
Participate with your kids.
KOOL
2006-10-18 02:29:32 UTC
playing with them & saying encouraging words as well
pAuLoRoSs
2006-10-17 17:04:15 UTC
just expose them outside and to see how great the physical games are...
suggarrice
2006-10-20 07:37:42 UTC
just tell them if they want to keep fit they need to start at an early age!!!!
LESLIE W
2006-10-16 04:21:10 UTC
CHILDREN DO NOT NEED ENCOURAGEMENT TO TAKE UP SPORT THEY NEED ENCOURAGEMENT TO TAKE UP A PEN
2006-10-17 11:47:34 UTC
kick them outside with a ball
2006-10-17 06:08:00 UTC
pay them the pro gets paid why not them
interested_party
2006-10-16 11:01:41 UTC
Let them try different ones and try and be enthusiastic yourself and join them!
2006-10-16 09:17:44 UTC
Tell them how much you love the game and then take them for a nine hole ride. Their response will tell you if they are interested. Thanks!
2006-10-15 23:41:10 UTC
Play it with them. Make it fun and not too competitive.
2006-10-20 00:44:42 UTC
Q: What’s the best way to encourage children to take up sport?



That's a hard question, because there is no one 'best way' to encourage children to take up sport, but there are many things which play a huge part in how to encourage a child to take up any given sport.



Some of which includes leading the way yourself to set a good example, making it fun, make it a challenge and showing them the rewards, but there are a few key factors that need to be taken into consideration when trying to help a child take up any given sport. I have tried to break it down into some key elements that I found helped me as a child enjoy sport, and continue to enjoy my sport at my current age of 26.



1) Children's minds are like sponges, so the key is to show them what's involved in a particular sport and show them the way.

Set a good example, show them how to do the particular sport, and help them if they are struggling. The more effort put in, the better the result.



2) By Setting a good example, you will help them progress, and once they achieve that slightest bit of success or joy, they will generally continue. If a child is having a hard time, and for one split second everything clicks, and they kick or hit the ball right, it will fill them with confidence and give them the urge to continue. If there chin drops and they become not interested, its very hard to get there confidence back. This is where you need to really encourage them and show them it CAN be done.



3) Once this example is set, there are also a few more points that need to be focussed on to maintain there interest. Positivity and support go a huge way in gaining and maintaining interest in anything in life, and sport is no difference. Once a child has chosen a sport, full support as a Parent, Teacher or Brother or Sister is needed for that sport to be kept up.



4) Once a sport is taken up, try and get them to use one of the stars of there chosen sport as a role model. Kids will generally do this anyway, but it gives them someone to follow and look up to for inspiration. By doing this, it also shows them that no matter what sport you compete in, you cannot win or perform at your best all the time. This is especially important as it will keep the motivation going and keep the interest up if they are having a bit of a difficult time. Just like in life, there are ups and downs, and by having a role model to follow they will see this. As a Parent its important to point out that if they are having a bad run, and discuss with them the reasons why it is happening.Be sure to assure them that they are doing everything they can to get back on track, and stay positive!



5) To keep a child keen on a sport, it really comes down to THEIR enjoyment! If they like it, they will continue, just like most people when it comes to anything in life.

You should talk to them about what you have seen develop within themselves. Things such as the skills they have learnt and how they help in everyday life, increased fitness that comes with participating in sport, and the thrill you see on there face when they are out there on the field.



6) Pressure from parents -

I have found pressure from Parents really hinders the enjoyment of sport, hence if a parent is pressuring a child to do a certain sport, the chances of that child wanting to continue that sport will be slim. The less pressure placed by parents on a child- the more likely they are to have fun and find a sport that they want to do, not what you want them to do.



I believe that once these basics are established, then its all about enjoyment! Hopefully the child is having fun, having success and getting a real buzz out of it!









I have included a few examples that help me to explain my points -



A good example of all of the above, particularly point 2, is when I was growing up.



My Dad would grab a cricket bat and send me up to the end of the yard and bowl a few to me.



My brother would usually then join in and we would have a knock about in the backyard, it was great fun. He would set the example, and ensure we had a basic and sound knowledge of what we had to do in terms of technique, so not only did we have fun, we had a bit of success, which also meant we where less likely to drop the bat and ball and head inside to watch the TV!



If we missed the ball or bowled it wide, we where not put down, Dad would explain why that happened and show us how to correct it.



The fact that he never said 'that was crap' or anything like that really helped in keeping us interested. He was always positive, and supporting. He still is! even though I am 26 now!







Also experiencing some success early on when trying to encourage children to take up sport it vital. I remember some kids in our junior cricket team that would get dis-couraged very quickly if they did not experience any success, wether it was on field or during practice, or at lunch having some fun.



Our coach would give our team drills, like throwing a ball at half pace, instead of bowling a cricket ball in the practice nets, to allow them to get a feel for hitting the ball. Some of these kids where not the most gifted, but after some practice and encouragement from everyone on our team, they experienced success, and their confidence and enthusiasm grew.



Their success made them to want to play, the more they played, the more they improved and the confidence grew. Its a cycle that keeps the interest going, and they really enjoyed it.



Happiness, as a child, breeds enthusiasm. If you are enthusiastic about something, you don't need any convincing to keep going with it



So if you want to encourage a child to take up sport, there is no right or wrong answer, but a combination of the above factors that will help encouraging children to take up sport that little bit easier.





p.s - sorry if this is a bit long, but my motto is if you are going to do it, then do it properly!



thanks for reading my reply.



Regards, Chris Edwards



chris_edwards_1980



email chris@colorondemand.com.au
RubberDucker
2006-10-16 04:41:20 UTC
Give opportunity at school !
jofrancisc
2006-10-16 04:21:51 UTC
Have good role models.



Net soos jy.
2006-10-15 13:58:10 UTC
If you are a parent, it's to do it yourself. When they see you doing it and enjoying it, they'll want to do it. Then, when they take it up, take an interest in it. Go and watch them, cheer them on. Take winning and losing in your stride and get them to do the same.
leslie c
2006-10-21 12:32:23 UTC
start by getting involved with there choosen sport, would be good
al f
2006-10-17 17:04:17 UTC
join in with them
2006-10-17 12:54:13 UTC
Bribe them with whatever they most want - always works!!!
2006-10-16 15:48:56 UTC
tell them it will make a better person of them and also keep them fit and healthy
gina
2006-10-16 10:31:59 UTC
IF IT WASN'T BE THAT EXPENSIVE,I THINK SO MANY CHILDREN WOULD JOINT THE CLUBS OF SPORT.I THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD THINK OF PAYING FOR CHILDREN SPORT AND I THINK THEY WILL BE SURPRISE HOW MANY CHILDREN JUST JOINT IN.
pomjon1
2006-10-15 22:25:30 UTC
Force - and golf isn't a sport it's a game
razor_daze
2006-10-21 09:00:15 UTC
Bribe them with sweets.
2006-10-20 09:15:23 UTC
I have no idea who you are, sorry, but just make it compulsory at school.
2006-10-16 16:06:24 UTC
i dont think you can if they dont want to. you cold ban all playstations etc and do it more school but thats about it
Magurdrac
2006-10-16 04:50:50 UTC
I would say "not making them watch golf".
2006-10-15 14:52:16 UTC
make them pick a sport that THEY like the most..



like maby if there a girl, she can take cheerleading or soemth ing and if he's a boy then maby football



Or tell him or her that..they will have tons of more freinds if they do and they will turn popular.. [ maby]
2006-10-17 18:57:22 UTC
Take away their scumpewtah.
elma m
2006-10-17 14:23:34 UTC
love sports, talk sports, see sports, do sports TOGETHER
Doctor Ashley
2006-10-17 13:59:21 UTC
give them a kick ball, and tell them to kick it until they are tired.
gmcb_1
2006-10-17 10:37:07 UTC
tell them it's a Playstation game..
2006-10-17 06:36:15 UTC
how about, real sports people, who don't take drugs???
2006-10-15 19:07:50 UTC
encourage by example
satyamrajput_0
2006-10-18 00:28:44 UTC
tell them the reason why are u send them
HANNAH P
2006-10-17 12:25:04 UTC
show them how its done, join in with them and make it fun,enjoyable and rewarding.
mojo
2006-10-16 12:46:54 UTC
Make sure they want to and make it fun!
IAN K
2006-10-22 03:07:54 UTC
make it fun and exciting and not to competitive
mattyatty
2006-10-17 08:59:48 UTC
give them a good kicking if they dont do it. that allways works.
♥new baby born xmas eve
2006-10-16 05:06:48 UTC
take thier tv's and playstations away from them!
2006-10-15 23:04:48 UTC
I hated sport!

Children should never be forced into it by some ****!

RoyS
matthossack
2006-10-19 17:38:56 UTC
get them really intrested in it when they are young
t3io
2006-10-18 04:49:25 UTC
by setting yourself as an example.
DeeDee
2006-10-16 19:14:22 UTC
Pay them
GERMAN N
2006-10-15 17:45:38 UTC
By telling them ,that if they do so, they will just look and be like their idols.
2006-10-21 18:52:34 UTC
shock tactics? show them what might happen to their bodies if they dont exercise!
roobies mam
2006-10-16 10:00:48 UTC
You do it with them and show them how enjoyable it is.
jacky
2006-10-16 03:13:45 UTC
by showing your own example
2006-10-20 05:29:34 UTC
give them some money, or give me some plz
cassiekennedy2001
2006-10-16 22:30:00 UTC
you should keep on telling them
Striker
2006-10-16 11:26:07 UTC
competition+rewards+appreciation
angelkiss2000
2006-10-16 11:02:23 UTC
start from home, then school....then everything follows next...
♥ DaaNaa ♥
2006-10-16 05:27:36 UTC
you should participate and meke that a habbit.
DOLL
2006-10-16 02:45:42 UTC
join in and in crurich them
lizella
2006-10-15 14:01:38 UTC
by taking part yourself and also making it fun

and enjoyable
2006-10-18 01:33:37 UTC
give away free stuff
Mintjulip
2006-10-16 02:58:48 UTC
have them meet me and then ask them if they want to turn out looking like me........
John T
2006-10-19 02:53:36 UTC
bribary
2006-10-17 17:01:30 UTC
start when they are young
2006-10-17 11:53:21 UTC
do it with them
KU
2006-10-16 10:31:59 UTC
make losing fun.
2006-10-17 16:04:05 UTC
throw balls at them
2006-10-16 01:43:12 UTC
cover it in chocolate
2006-10-15 22:51:36 UTC
I was hoping you could tell me!!! Ernie.

Seriously.....
2006-10-20 16:23:58 UTC
https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20061019200240AAXhAQU
LMH
2006-10-16 01:07:57 UTC
Ban it lol.
sqx90
2006-10-17 07:47:27 UTC
TAKE PART WITH THEM! (:
gary y
2006-10-19 03:47:35 UTC
with a big gun?
2006-10-15 15:34:52 UTC
tell them that they are not allowed to that should do the trick
2006-10-15 13:56:46 UTC
I would suggest you join in with them.
2006-10-17 09:53:39 UTC
pay them.
Anthony S
2006-10-16 20:07:16 UTC
what is theme?
2006-10-16 10:49:27 UTC
make it fun...
a a
2006-10-15 15:30:17 UTC
hmm... interesting. S'pose all's been done already over the years.



Why not re-invent the wheel!!!
Ladyfromdrum
2006-10-15 13:57:19 UTC
Pedal powered playstations!
2006-10-16 05:00:27 UTC
money!
canaries
2006-10-15 14:02:38 UTC
Ban them from ever doing it
2006-10-21 02:38:25 UTC
thanks
alex_marshall21
2006-10-19 12:16:00 UTC
Pay them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-15 14:09:53 UTC
Don't encourage them. It's a cause of accidents, and in later life, trouble with arthritis and other bone diseases. It's bad for them, in growing kids it causes stretch marks on their skin and can damage their spine and knee joints. Sport is also an excuse for not developing the academic skills. Don't encourage them.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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