STEP TWO: CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS (8-12)
When you got started, you probably discovered competition through friends, through older siblings participation, at school and/or your parents introduced you to it. Hopefully, you found it to be lots of fun. You may have started participating on a recreational level, or jumped right into it on a more competitive, high level basis.
In some cases, you may have asked to get involved; in other cases your parents may have signed you up for it so you could try it out. In any case, the reasons that you got started can vary greatly. The best reason of all would be that you wanted to do and you enjoyed it!
Now, whether you are a boy or girl, whether for recreational/social and/or to challenge yourself, there are things that change from the time that you start until you become an adolescent. You are/will be physically, emotional and intellectually changing. Normally, you get bigger, grow stronger, acquire better control of you emotions and you will learning and getting smarter. That’s all natural and normal! So far, so good.
Now, we want to share a few things with you – WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT! It is totally okay to be you. You might want to grow up to be like someone else, but you will always be you, not them.
BE PROUD OF YOU! DON’T LET OTHERS JUDGE YOU.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY FINE & UNIQUE THE WAY YOU ARE!
As youngsters, some kids grow faster, get bigger and stronger and acquire skills earlier. Your physical development may happen sooner, it may happen later – and what you become is what you are. The same for your emotional control development and smarts – there isn’t one single way that it happens – and while you might envy someone else’s way, the might envy your way! Bullies might tease and torment you, that’s because they mistakenly think they are somehow better than you and others. Tell your parents or a trusted adult if you think you are being bullied.
Now, you have your own reasons why you decided to become involved in sports or other forms of youth competition, but here’s a secret that we want to share. Always keep your gratitude higher than you expectations and don’t be too hard on yourself. We grow and learn from our shortcoming and disappointment – that’s a good thing. It is how we all get better!
If you aren’t particularly good at it, or you don’t like – or, instead, you love it – learn from it. If you don’t always win, then it can be fun to try to get better. If you want to get better and enjoy it, HAVE IT!
If it isn’t for you, then maybe your participation can help you figure out what you are good at and what you really want to do. You are going to have lots of experiences to help you figure that out – sports and competition is just one of those ways.
Here’s the thing kiddo, as we grow older our feelings and interests change. There are usually sacrifices involved in competition. You may miss sleep-overs and/or doing things with your friends. How do YOU feel about that? Truth is, as a kid, those feelings can be misleading. Mom and dad usually know what is best for you …be sure to always share your feelings with them (don’t ever give-up talking and sharing). You may think they aren’t listening at times – and they might not be – but keep trying. Together, you and your family will experience your childhood together,
Enjoy your early journey …it passes, but as long as it lasts, if you enjoy doing it,
HAVE A BLAST & MAKE REALLY GOOD, SPECIAL LIFELONG MEMORIES!