Parent and Child Team Up

The next time you go to a youth sport game look at what makes your children excited about playing sports. Observe the making of friends, the mastering of techniques and the scoring of goals. But pay special attention to the pride in the children's faces as they watch their parents cheering from the sidelines. When parents get involved in their children's sports, they are playing a vital role in their child's development."When my daughter makes a good play, she looks to see if I'm watching." Explains parent Anthony Totera "How I react sets the pace of Jessie's game."

Totera knows that just by being there, he is laying the building blocks that'll aid his child throughout her life. The health benefits are obvious, but with her father's guidance, Jessie learns other skills that come from sport. Skills like dealing with pressure, accepting a challenge and the benefits of determination and hard work. Totera's involvement helps build his daughter's self-esteem and teaches her social skills like good sportmanship, responsibility, respect and integrity.

But most of all, Totera says the best benefit comes from the bonding between parent and child. "Soccer night is our special time. It's when Jessie and I spend quality time together." As far Totera's concerned, he and his daughter win every game.