| How many hours are wasted in front of the | | | | participants hone their skills in anything |
| television by kids who are bored during the | | | | from tennis to basketball to gymnastics.But |
| summer months when school is out of session? | | | | what if my child doesn't like sports? |
| Parents often find it difficult to get their | | | | |
| couch potato kids out of the house during the | | | | Obviously all sports aren't for all people. |
| hot summer months. Their kids' aspirations | | | | Someone who isn't much interested in getting |
| of earning spending money by mowing lawns or | | | | hit by a baseball might be glad to try a |
| doing other summertime work quickly too often | | | | sport where the ball isn't moving toward him |
| deteriorates into a migration to the couch | | | | so quickly, like soccer, volleyball, or |
| for three months of watching movies and | | | | basketball. Truthfully, it's hard for me to |
| playing video games. I'm sure you've seen | | | | imagine a young person who can't find some |
| this situation, and if you're like me, it can | | | | kind of sport that motivates him or her to |
| be frustrating to see perfectly capable | | | | want to improve physically. If your efforts |
| children rot in front of the television. A | | | | to motivate your child to play one sport or |
| great remedy for couch potato kids is to get | | | | another are being met with some resistance, |
| them involved in sports.Unless you live in | | | | encourage him to find one that interests him |
| the far reaches of the wilderness, there are | | | | the most, and help him go after it. You may |
| normally plenty of opportunities to get your | | | | have to think outside the box a bit, and |
| children involved in one sport or another | | | | possibly look at sports that aren't as |
| during the summer. While I was growing up in | | | | mainstream, such as rock climbing or golf.An |
| Florida, there was always a baseball, | | | | important consideration here is that habits |
| basketball, or soccer league around with | | | | developed in kids have a tendency to stick |
| coaches and teammates eager to have another | | | | around in the future. If you can encourage |
| participant them. My involvement in those | | | | your kids to get involved in healthy sports |
| teams provides some of my greatest memories | | | | and recreational activities now, especially |
| as a kid.If you are unsure of how to find a | | | | during the summer when their time isn't |
| summertime sport for your kids, I'd suggest | | | | consumed with school and other activities, |
| first checking with your town or city Parks | | | | you may be helping them in the future to |
| and Recreation department. If you have a | | | | avoid the health problems that come with |
| more competitive child, you can usually find | | | | sedentary lifestyles. Participation in |
| a league that fits his or her situation. You | | | | sports is also a great way for young people |
| may have to ask around among your child's | | | | to develop self-confidence, and it |
| friends' parents, or you can do a search on | | | | contributes to a more developed personality |
| the Internet. For more athletic kids, there | | | | and increased social skills. |
| are sports camps across the country that help | | | | |