The Sport of Bedtime
As it comes to routines, time management and seasonal changes, there are several tips that Dr. Foster Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay give for managing involvement in sports in the book Parenting Teens with Love & Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood:
“Guard against parental over-involvement”
Whether you’re fighting against the clock in the morning or on the bleachers at your daughter’s basketball game, make sure your attitude, energy and words are not counterproductive (and embarrassing).
“When conflicts arise between teens and coaches, it’s usually more helpful for parents to suggest how teens should talk to their coach, rather than for parents to talk to the coach.”
Teens will best learn how to handle confrontation when they have practice. So, whether it is with a coach, a teammate, a boss, co-worker, teacher, friend or neighbor, talking situations out with your child before and after they happen will prepare them for interactions later in life.
“Teens should not engage in certain sports before their bodies have developed properly.”
Especially when a child is growing, undeveloped spins and certain muscle groups will be negatively impacted by certain activities. Just as nutrition and rest are important to a growing child, so is making wise choices and being educated, despite your teen’s wishes.
Easing kids back into the school year, sports and bedtime routines, think through your choices and encourage your teen to properly take care of themselves. “Through sports, teens can learn valuable lessons about their own identity, independence and skills. As in other areas of their teen’s lives that concern identity and independence, parents need to give their teens the freedom in sports to try, succeed and fail, and pick themselves up to try again” every morning.
To help you get into a back-to-school routine, print these FREE lists. There is a morning and nighttime routine for both you and your kids! Just print, add your own times and you are ready to go!
Resource used in this blog post: Dr. Foster Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay (1992). Parenting Teens with Love & Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood. Pinon Press, pages 244-46.
