5 Reasons to Motivate Kids to Commit to Activities

Back in the day, my parents were quick to sign me up to lots of activities and sports, dancing, singing, swimming,
tennis, school choir. Now looking back as a child that participated in many activities, I’m realizing what a sacrifice my parents made for me! Squeezing in extra practice around their full-time work schedules, carpooling me and friends from school to activities, encouraging me to practice at home, and late-night meal prep. There had to be
reasons as to why, for my benefit, parents would add the extra workload and stress to their lives. When I put activities into perspective, I realize that kids are learning so much more than athletic, musical, or academic skills, and these are my top 5 reasons to motivate commitment in kid’s activities and sports.

Why is it so important to encourage this in our kids?

1. Learning the value of teamwork

We have heard the expression over and over again “There is no “I” in team” and while it can sound very cliché to us adults, this is significant phrase to teach to our kids. As children grow up and even into adulthood, they will have to be able to handle working with peers on school and work projects. Learning how to conduct yourself in a team and how to navigate different situations that may arise in teamwork as a child, will gear them up for future success in the workforce. Making sure our kids show up for weekly practice teaches them to be a reliable and supportive teammate. In our home, we also expect siblings to show up and show support for each other’s activities, teaching a different style of teamwork.

2. They are learning NOT to give up!

It’s discouraging when your kids can’t seem to achieve something they have been working on or if they are on a team that just can’t seem to win. As the parent you have driven them to every class/practice, you have encouraged them and helped them practice at home, and still every week you see your child getting upset or disappointed. Through all this discouragement your child is learning a valuable lesson. They are learning to keep showing up. In sport they are learning how to lose gracefully and with a good attitude. They are learning how to not quit when things get tough and to keep their chin high and keep trying time and time again until it becomes easier and you achieve what you are striving to do! A lesson once taught that will carry with your child into adulthood in challenging situations.

3. Learning how to achieve their goals

If your child is participating in an extracurricular activity or on a sports team, usually there is some sort of presentation or competition at the end of the year. By participating in this activity week after week, your child will learn how to set a goal and understand that to accomplish it they will have to invest time, practice, and commitment to see future results. Instant gratification is something that our children have been bombarded with in the days of technology, fast food, etc, so teaching them how patience and commitment results in future reward more important than ever.

4. The importance of taking on responsibility

How many Saturday mornings have seen parents rushing around trying to find leotards only to realize that the laundry never got switched over to the dryer?! When kids participate on a team, it is important to teach them to be responsible for their own things or equipment required to partake in that activity. If you have small children, you may start with having them set out their ballet clothes on the dresser Friday night in preparation for class the following day. Older kids can handle more responsibility and should be required to make sure their dirty leotards get put into the laundry post class so they are clean for the following week. They should also be responsible to have everything prepared for class/practice so they aren’t rushing around in a panic when you are ready to walk out the door. Children are also learning how to be responsible for their schedules; for example, making sure play dates and birthday parties don’t conflict with their classes and practices, so they don’t let down their fellow class mates/peers.

5. They are learning to respect authority

We have all been on the sidelines when the teacher or ref made a comment or call that you may not entirely agree with. The frustration that rises within us is valid, however, as the regulators of the activity or sport, they have the final say and we have to live with the consequences. When our children are part of a team, they are learning how to respect those in authority over them. On the field, those authorities are their coaches and referees. Sometimes our kids are blessed with excellent teachers/coaches whose passion to see the kids improve is palpable. Other times, it can be a struggle knowing that your child is not receiving the playing time or skills that they could be. In the future, our children may experience a less-than-wonderful boss or professor, and while they don’t need to agree with everything this authority figure does, they do need to have respect for their position. As far as refs of kids activities/sports go, we need to remember that they are just people who will make human mistakes, and we need to teach our children to have a right attitude towards them.

What’s the take away from this?

Looking back at the activities I have been involved in, I feel like the take away is that these lessons are deeply rooted within me, and children in the future will also take these lessons and always strive to do their own personal best.