Oh! The Places You’ll Go!--by the incomparable Dr. Seuss

Sometimes we forget to give our children a ton of inspiration enough to have them endure each day's negatives. We try hard at school but there are many challenges so its important for parents to fill them up with words of encouragement....enough to get them thru the day until they can get home and have you refill their confidence gas tank!!!
A great read for all, see the link to the side of this web page! We gave this book to my son as he graduated. Sound words regardless of their age, but let go we must!

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!"

Read the whole book at link provided.

Fall Theme Game Stations- 13 in all!

Young kids trust adults despite evidence to the contrary

USA Today

A Study: By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

Very young children are extraordinarily trusting of
what adults tell them, even if there is repeated
evidence to the contrary, finds a new study.

In what may be little surprise to many parents, Unive-
rsity of Virginia researchers found that 3-year-olds
placed more trust in information they are told than
information conveyed to them without words.

In this study, an adult showed children a red and a
yellow cup and then hid a sticker under the red cup.
Some children were told (incorrectly) that the sticker
was under the yellow cup, while other children saw
the adult place an arrow on the yellow cup without
saying anything. The children were told they could
look under one cup and keep the sticker if they
found it. The experiment was repeated eight times
with pairs of different colored cups.

The children who saw the adult place the arrow on
the incorrect cup quickly learned not to trust this
sign. But those who heard the adult say the sticker
was under a certain cup continued to believe that's
where they would find the sticker. Of those 16
children, nine never once found the sticker in eight
tries. (At the end of the game, all the children were
given stickers, whether they found them or not.)

The study appears in the journal Psychological
Science.

"Children have developed a specific bias to believe
what they're told. It's sort of a shortcut to keep them
from having to evaluate what people say. It's useful
because most of the time parents and caregivers tell
children things that they believe to be true," study
author Vikram K. Jaswal said in a journal news
release.

Let's talk about kids health

Last year was the first year of BMI testing done for the 1st grade at the Baker School and at all DY schools.

The results give us a snap shot of the health status of our children at one point in time last year. I personally feel that the testing gives us valuable data in which we should commence discussions about our communities health, our attitudes and what if anything can we do to affect change if we beleive change needs to occur.

Please email this site with your thoughts in an effort to open up some dialog about this important discussion.

Within MA the rate of overweight and obese children is approx. 30% to 33%!

Chocolate Milk Debate Rages On

Can chocolate milk really be healthy? An ad campaign promoting flavored milk in school lunch programs has some parents mooing in discontent.

Read the attached link and perhaps it isn't as bad as we think!

30% of overweight Americans think they're in normal range

See link to get full article. Recognizing obesity seems to be an important first step!

"Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, noted that "when (Dr. Everett Coop, surgeon general in the 1980s) wrote 'Shape Up America,' he said the biggest health problem facing America was not AIDS, not cancer, it's obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Since then ... we've seen nothing but a rise in obesity despite all of these efforts that have gone on now since the 1980s."

"The American public knows this but it's hard and it's something that they're not quite ready to do," Corso added. "This wake-up call still isn't ringing as loudly as it could."

Over one-third of MA students overweight/obese

WBZ News
9/8/2010
6:05 pm


State public health officials say that more than one-third of the students in 80 Massachusetts school districts are overweight or obese.


The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a study Wednesday of more than 100,000 students which found that 17.3 percent were obese and 16.9 percent were overweight.

The percentage of students overweight or obese ranged from a low of 9.6 percent in Arlington to a high of 46.6 percent in Lawrence.

The study measured students in the first, fourth, seventh and 10th grades. In all four grade levels measured, more boys were overweight or obese than girls.

The study was part of the state’s Mass in Motion initiative which tries to promote wellness and prevent obesity in Massachusetts.

ER visits for concussions soar among kid athletes

– Concussion-Care Guidelines .By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer – Mon Aug 30, 3:31 am ET
CHICAGO – Emergency room visits for school-age athletes with concussions has skyrocketed in recent years, suggesting the intensity of kids' sports has increased along with awareness of head injuries.

The findings in a study of national data don't necessarily mean that concussions are on the rise. However, many children aren't taken for medical treatment, so the numbers are likely only a snapshot of a much bigger problem, doctors say.

"It definitely is a disturbing trend," said lead author Dr. Lisa Bakhos, an ER physician in Neptune, N.J.

The study examined concussions in organized youth sports involving ages 8 to 19. ER visits for 14- to 19-year-olds more than tripled, from about 7,000 in 1997 to nearly 22,000 in 2007. Among ages 8 to 13, visits doubled, from 3,800 to almost 8,000.

While awareness has increased, many parents, coaches and players still don't understand how serious concussions can be, Bakhos said. Many often seem less concerned with the injury than with how soon kids can return to sports.

"They want to know if they can play tomorrow, and you're just like, 'No!'" she said. "It's not just as simple as get up, shake it off and you'll be fine.

"If they're not treated properly, with rest, then they can have long-term problems," Bakhos said. Those include learning difficulties, memory problems and chronic headaches.

The study appears in Pediatrics, published online Monday, along with a report about sports-related concussions from the American Academy of Pediatrics' sports medicine council.

A concussion means the brain has been jostled. Symptoms aren't always obvious. There usually is no loss of consciousness. And a concussion doesn't show up on an imaging scan unless there is bruising or bleeding.

Symptoms can include headache, nausea, dizziness and trouble concentrating, and may last about a week. Sometimes it can take months to recover.

Potential concussions should not be "toughed out," say the authors of the Pediatrics report. Affected athletes should always be examined by a doctor or someone else with medical expertise.

Treatment is mainly rest — both physically and mentally, avoiding activities that require concentration and focus. That may mean reducing schoolwork or staying home. Video games, computer use and TV can worsen symptoms and should be avoided, the academy report says. Some doctors advise against aspirin and similar painkillers right after a head injury because they might raise the risk for brain bleeding.

Above all, anyone with a concussion should not return to sports or other physical exertion until their symptoms have disappeared.

"If you go back in too early, that can be devastating," said Dr. Kevin Walter, co-author of the report and a concussions specialist at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Resuming sports too soon risks another concussion that could be deadly or cause permanent brain damage, he said.

A concussion should not be dismissed as "not a big deal," Walter said. "In my mind, how the hell can a brain injury not be big deal?" he said.

Sports-related concussions have made recent headlines because of research about brain damage, depression and memory problems including Alzheimer's disease in retired NFL players who had repeat concussions.

Researchers believe young athletes may be more vulnerable than adults to lasting damage from these head injuries because their brains are still developing. Several states have adopted or are considering tougher limits on when athletes can resume play after a concussion, as have some schools, amateur leagues and the NFL.

Dr. Michael Koester, chairman of a sports medicine committee at the National Federation of State High School Associations, said young athletes increasingly are playing and practicing year-round to stay competitive, a trend that increases chances for injury.

Evan Nolte, 16, a top high school basketball player in Atlanta, says the injuries "are more serious than people think."

Evan hit his head hard on the floor during a tournament earlier this year when he dived for a ball and another player landed on top of him. He didn't think he had a concussion, and only sat out several minutes before returning to the game.

A few days later, he was elbowed in the head in another game. Evan sat out the rest of the game, feeling disoriented. His doctor diagnosed a concussion the next day and told him to avoid sports for a few weeks. When Evan had trouble focusing in class, and complained that his head was spinning, his parents took him to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's concussion clinic.

The clinic is among an increasing number of centers nationwide that use computerized or written tests to measure mental function after concussions. Evan's results showed some deficits. His scores improved after several days, but it took him about a month to feel 100 percent.

Now he's back to training. At 6-feet-7, Evan plays competitively 10 months of the year and plans to play in college. Coaches from top schools have already shown interest.

Embrace Your Inner Child to Get in Shape- From Spark

This is a fun way to be active. At Baker many of the games focus the concepts mentioned here to keep "our" kids healthy in a fun way! It WORKS!!


8 Recess-Inspired Activities that are More than Kid's Play
-- By Jennipher Walters, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor
People advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more

Ever notice how you can’t spell "workout" without the word "work?" Most of us view work as something we have to do, not necessarily something that we want to do. It's the opposite of leisure and the killer of fun. We all know that we should exercise, but wouldn't being active be more fun if it was less like work and more like the recess you remember as a kid where you were dying to get outside to run around and play? When kids exercise, it’s called play! When adults exercise, it’s called working out. But what if you could recapture the fun and fitness benefits of play as an adult?

Workouts that mimic the games and activities of your childhood are a hot new trend in fitness. The nostalgic exercises are becoming popular because they feel more like fun than traditional fitness and take participants back to a carefree time when they didn't have to worry about bills, what to make for dinner, or acing that presentation at work. It's like being a kid again! Except this go around, you know that while you're having fun, you're also burning a bunch of calories, building muscles and strengthening your heart. Everyone wins!

If you’d like to add a little more fun to your fitness pursuits, these eight exercise ideas will turn your boring workout into a fun-filled recess activity. If you're looking for a full workout, you can put them all together for an extra good time! Or, if in a pinch, you can always do one or two of the exercises on their own for a quick -me-up any time, day or night. And as you can imagine, these are also perfect exercises to do with the entire family or a few friends in a team-like setting. So go ahead and blow that whistle—it's recess time!

1. Hula Hoop. More than child’s play, hula hooping is also an effective core workout that’s making a big comeback among adults. All that hip swiveling and rotating works all the muscles in your abs, including your transverse abdominals, which really help to tighten that tummy. And if you are good enough at hula hooping to do it for minutes at a time, you can burn about 200 calories for every 30 minutes spent hooping.

Try-It Tip: Try hooping during the commercials of your favorite TV show to increase your core strength. Adult sized and specially designed hula hoops (and fitness DVDs) are becoming more readily available these days, too.

2. Obstacle Course. Remember the obstacle courses that you used to do in elementary school? You'd break into a few teams and see who could run around the playground, dive under the big tires, skip around the big tree and go across the monkey bars the fastest? Well, why not fire up your competitive playful instincts again? Obstacle courses that feature a variety of activities can be great cross training and a fantastic functional workout because you're moving your body in so many natural ways. If you go all out through the course numerous times with small breaks between turns, you can even count it as interval training, which burns almost 10 calories a minute!

Try-It Tip: Hit your local elementary school's playground during off hours and challenge a friend to a circuit of monkey bars, climbing over the big tires and jogging or speed walking a lap or two around the blacktop.

3. Swing. Who didn't love swinging as a kid? Turns out flying high into the sky was great lower-intensity cardio that strengthened our cores and legs. The pumping motion of the legs strengthens both your quads and hamstrings and the balancing aspect of the swinging targets the core. It takes about an hour to burn 200 calories swinging, so it's not a fantastic calorie burner, but it's definitely good for the body and childlike spirit.

Try-It Tip: Hit the swings the next time you're at the park. Parks near middle schools and junior highs are likely to have swings designed for taller kids with longer legs. And if you can't find a swing to fit you, remember that pushing a child on the swing is good cardio that strengthens your upper body, too!

4. Jump Rope. There's no doubt that you can get a good workout with just a simple jump rope. Heck, unless you’re a professional boxer, just a few minutes of jumping rope is enough to get you sweating. In fact, this childhood "toy" equates to an almost 350-calorie burn per 30-minute jumping session. You can even throw in old school tricks to jazz it up, like jumping backwards, "double unders" (turning the rope twice for each jump) or crossing your rope while you jump.

Try-It Tip: Try SparkPeople’s 10-minute jump rope routine to test your jumping endurance! If jumping rope for just a minute or two is all you can muster, grab some pals and try double-dutch again. You won't burn as many calories as you take turns, but you probably will make up for that somewhat with all the laughing!

5. Dodgeball. Dodgeball is back—in a big way. Adult dodgeball leagues are popping up in workplaces and health clubs across the country, because this childhood game is a dynamic, interval-type activity that requires running, ducking, jumping, throwing and catching. Talk about functional and competitive! If you loved dodgeball in school, you're guaranteed to love it just as much now, especially because you can burn about 340 calories an hour by going after your friends (all in good fun, of course).

Try-It Tip: Find a local National Amateur Dodgeball Association member in your area and start playing! Or start up your own league with co-workers, friends and family members.

6. Simon Says. You remember how Simon Says works, right? If "Simon Says" then you can do something. If not, you can't—or aren't supposed to. This game is a perfect way to focus your mind on something other than working out because you're so focused on what Simon is saying. Organize a game of Simon Says where you stand on one leg, do lunges, jumping jacks, high knees, push-ups and any other fun exercise. If Simon picks a lot of high-energy moves, a 30-minute session of Simon Says can easily burn 300 calories.

Try-It Tip: Get a few friends together and take turns being "Simon." The sillier that Simon can be with his/her instructions, the more fun you’ll all have! You can even have those who do something that Simon didn't say do extra laps or push-ups!

7. Red Light, Green Light. This commonly played game is a fun way to get you moving. Gather a workout buddy or two and designate one person as "the light." Then have that person tell you "green light" to fast walk and "red light" to slow your pace down. Voila! It's a fun interval workout that can burn up to 300 calories an hour!

Try-It Tip: If you're a runner, you can still play Red Light, Green Light! Just make the Red Light be slow jogging, and the Green Light fast running or sprinting. You'll up your calorie burn to about a 100 per mile you cover!

8. Tag. If you remember playing tag as a kid, you probably remember being exhausted after a good game, especially if you were "It." Tag is basically an interval workout with lots of sprinting, running and recovery. The only equipment you need is some friends (or kids!) and a big backyard. If you keep moving the whole game, 20 minutes can easily burn 150 calories or more.

Try-It Tip: Be sure that you all take turns being "It." As an adult, being "It" is a good thing as you get the most activity and the best workout!

Reliving some of the most fun and carefree parts of your childhood can be good for your body and your mind. Hopefully these ideas spark some creative ways for you to take the work out of your workouts and turn your fitness pursuits into fun-filled play sessions!

Encouraging Sports Kids without Pressuring Them

Just how can sports parents encourage kids to take part in sports
and support them—without pressuring them?

That's a good question, and the answers are not so obvious. Read
on to get tips from Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse, who says his
parents knew just how to support him as he grew into an Olympic
athlete.

"I was very fortunate," he says. "My parents encouraged me to do
different things that I loved.”

The key, when kids are very young, he says, is to start slowly.

"When your kids are first trying a sport out, make sure they have
enough time to try it out and enjoy it. In the beginning, I
didn't like fencing. Over time, I realized I loved it.”

Starting slowly also means playing once a week or so, he says.
Too often, kids start playing two or three times a week. That's
too often, in his opinion. "See how it goes, evaluate it. After
three months, decide if you want to add practices.”

If your child enjoys the sport, it's a good idea to focus on the
importance of working hard. But that doesn't mean micro-managing
your child's experience, he says. That's where the delicate
balance between supporting and pressuring comes in.

"My parents encouraged me to work hard," he says. At the same
time, they wanted him to develop his own passions. For example,
he started out as a baseball player, then switched to fencing.
When he decided to switch, they supported him 100%.

Micro-managing, on the other hand, would involve attending kids'
games and yelling at them, Morehouse says.

Here at Kids' Sports Psychology, we agree that parents have to
strike a balance between pressuring their kids and supporting
them. We've got lots of additional tips for parents who aim to
support without pushing.

For example, you should set high, yet attainable goals for your
kids and offer them opportunities to fulfill their potential.

Focus on small improvements. For example, golfers can learn
simple tasks like keeping their heads down while putting. These
small improvements will help kids feel successful.

Want to learn more about how to motivate kids without pressuring
them?

At Kids' Sports Psychology, we suggest your check out this e-book:
"Motivate Young Athletes in Sports and Life." If you're already
an exclusive Kids' Sports Psychology member, you can download the
e-book for free.

Here's what people are saying about Kids' Sports Psychology:

"Using resources from the Kids' Sports Psychology website,
especially the worksheets, my son became much calmer and more
focused during competitions. He was able to perform instead of
worrying what others thought or what others were scoring."
~Sports Mom

Learn how to encourage your kids in sports without pressuring
them:

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/

Sincerely,

Lisa Cohn and Patrick Cohn, Ph.D.

P.S. If you're an exclusive Kids' Sports Psychology, visit this
page to access our e-book about positive motivation for kids:

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/members/267.

Basic Motivation for a Healthy Diet- from SPARK

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=82

Learn to Avoid Actions with Consequences
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor

SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more

Our bodies are very similar to our parents, teachers, bosses and coaches. They demand we make responsible choices and work hard to be successful. They expect us to wake up on time, show up when we’re suppose to and hand things in when they’re due. Our bodies are just as demanding. Our bodies expect us to eat balanced meals containing complex carbohydrates, protein, fruit and vegetables, healthy fat, and goodies every now and then. They also thrive on smaller meals throughout the day, the proper amount of calories for our body size and activity, and all the little things such as not eating at all hours of the night, not skipping meals and not loading our bodies with innutritious meals.

There are always consequences to your actions. Your mom yells at you when you don’t wake up on time. Your boss threatens to fire you if you don’t hand in the next assignment on time. Your body does the same thing through extra weight, decreased energy and low self-esteem–all results of irresponsible choices in our nutrition habits.

We are successful in so many other areas of our life–career, parenting, education, relationships and hobbies, but when it comes to eating healthy we are about as successful as that 12th grader who did whatever they wanted in high school. You know, the one who realized way too late you can’t have instant gratification all your life if you want to be successful. After realizing this they hoped to turn things around the last couple months after spending their entire high school career making irresponsible choices. How many times have we tried a fad diet or insisted we were going to eat healthy for a few weeks in hopes of changing all of our bad habits over the years.

It doesn’t work that way in life and it doesn’t work that way with our bodies if we want to be successful. Why don’t we go to the casinos more, sleep in until noon, not do laundry, stay up late at night… because there are consequences. Why do we eat 2,000 calories in one sitting, skip breakfast, eat junk food all day long and neglect the nutrients our bodies crave?

Demand more of yourself when it comes to nutrition. Our parents, teachers, bosses and coaches demand more and hold us accountable. Do the same for yourself. Be tolerant and understanding of your imperfections, but don’t justify and forgive yourself every chance you get. The most important consequences of our lives are staring us in the face – our healthy or unhealthy bodies!

Be creative when it comes to nutrition. If you eat chocolate every day, set a goal to eat it only 6 times a week. Slowly work your way down to a more manageable means. Along the way, set up systems that will help you achieve your goal. For example, the day you don’t eat chocolate, you’re probably going to have cravings. When you do, find something that helps you overcome those cravings. Maybe drink a fruit smoothie to combat the sugar craving or sit down and write out all the reasons why you want to stop eating chocolate. Find a way to help you build positive habits.

Make it fun! Get together with friends and family and figure out ways to help each other. We do this at work, school or for a social club, why shouldn’t we do it for our No. 1 priority – ourselves!

Field Day June 8th, 2010

Another school year is coming to an end and this is such an exciting time for the children. Field Day is always a day that the children look forward to, a fun filled day of fun games and challenges.
This year we have 13 stations for the children to challenge themselves and I might add that these stations are not your typical races. The children get a kick out of doing some of the unusual races and it always brings at least a few smiles to every child.
This year the Grades K & 1 will have their field day in the morning, 9:45ish to 11:00AM and Grades 2 & 3 will start at 1:30 to 3:00PM, followed by Popsicles for each session. So we hope parents can attend and sign up to help out, if they can, with stations, but more importantly, just being there for your children to share in their day is what its all about!
We hope you can attend and please feel free to call should you have any questions.

A strategy to help kids excel-By Dr. Patrick Cohn

A sports parent tells us her son really shines on the field
during practice. "He's way beyond all the other boys in terms of
technical and tactical skills during practice."

However, here's the "But." And it's a big one.

During a game, she says, you wouldn't know her son excels in
practice.

Does this sound familiar? Do your sports kids have trouble
transferring skills from practice to games? Read on to learn how
sports parents and coaches can conquer this challenge.

During a game, this parent says, her son plays with no
confidence. "He says he is afraid of losing the ball. He wouldn't
lose the ball if he applied his skills."

This sports parent put her finger right on a common problem: Fear
and lack of trust. That's often what holds kids back during
games. In fact, young athletes who are highly motivated and
--sometimes perfectionists-- experience this challenge.

These athletes love to train, but lack confidence during games.
They tend to analyze and question their technique at precisely
the wrong moment—when they're competing. They're afraid of making
mistakes.

In order to feel confident during games, young athletes need to
strike a balance between what we call the "practice" mindset and
the "performance" mindset.

Many motivated or goal-oriented athletes excel in practice. They
like to improve and love to train.. However, if they focus too
much on improving, they may lose faith in their skills during
competition. They lack trust in what they have learned.

Coaches and sports parents can undermine kids' trust in their
skills when they over-coach kids before games. When kids focus
too much on proper technique during games and attempt to be
"perfect" when performing, they can't react or perform from
memory.

Instead, you need to encourage kids to leave practice on the
field or court or in the gym. Help them switch to a "performer"
or "intuitive" mindset. They need to be more reactive and to keep
things simple. "See the ball and hit it."

Also, tell them to stop analyzing or judging their technique
during competition. They should accept that they can't be perfect.

Want to learn more about how to improve kids' confidence and
transfer what they've learned in practice to competition? Grab
our Kids' Sports Psychology e-book, "Twelve Pre-game Strategies
to Help Athletes Trust in Their Skills."

If you're already an exclusive Kids' Sports Psychology member,
you can download the e-book now. We also have other mental
toughness resources about this topic, including:

*Success stories from Kids' Sports Psychology Members

*Pre-competition Mental Game Review Sheets for Young Athletes

*Interviews with young athletes and our analysis of their mental
game ("Inside the Minds of Young Athletes")

This is just for starters. At Kids' Sports Psychology, you can
download loads of other resources--e-books, audios, videos and
articles designed to help instill confidence and success in young
athletes:

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/

Your Confidence Coaches,

Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. and Lisa Cohn

P.S. If you're already a Kids' Sports Psychology member, you can
visit this page to download our e-book, "Twelve Pre-game
Strategies to Help Athletes Trust in Their Skills:

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/public/449.cfm

Your Sports Kids Could Be Targets by Dr. Patrick Cohn

Thursday, May 20, 2010 ·

Your sports kids could be the targets of intimidation, harassment, exclusion, physical aggression and other forms of bullying—from athletes and/or coaches. And you might not even know it.

Why? Often, young athletes’ first reaction to being treated this way is shame, says Mark Hamilton, a professor of philosophy who teaches college courses in sports ethics at Ashland University.

Sports kids are embarrassed to talk about such treatment.

As a former college player and coach, a youth sports coach, and sports parent, Hamilton knows what he’s talking about. Read on to learn how to protect your kids and combat the bullying epidemic in sports.

Bullied sports kids feel as if they are guilty of something and actually caused kids to treat them badly, says Hamilton. “Victims often feel like it’s their fault and there’s something wrong with them.”

Hamilton saw the negative effects of bullying early on when his brother was ridiculed and pushed out of sports. Bullying in sports, he says, can be devastating.

In the least, harassment, intimidation and other forms of bullying will sink kids’ confidence and hurt their success and enjoyment of sports. At its worst, these aggressive behaviors can cause young athletes to drop out of sports and to feel depressed.

“They’ll want to quit the sport,” says Hamilton. Parents will often feel confused, and think their kids are wimping out, he says. That’s because kids are often too embarrassed to explain what’s happening to them on the court or field or in the gym.

All kinds of sports kids can be the targets of bullies….

1. Gifted athletes are often targeted because others are jealous.
2. Kids who are smaller and less physically advanced also can become the focus of bullies.
3. When kids are competing for a ladder position on a team, bullying is also common.

This behavior is rampant among both girls and boys.

What’s the solution?

Hamilton says parents need to be especially tuned into the possibility that their kids might be bullied. That means talking about it openly and establishing a family culture that encourages kids to talk about such treatment. But that’s not all. We need a revolution, he says. And everyone should be involved.

“The first step is revolutionize sports and teach people it’s unacceptable from player to player and coach to athlete and from coach or parent or any other person involved– including the officials,” he says.

Here at the Ultimate Sports Parent, we want to join the revolution and help wipe out bullying in sports. That’s why we’re about to release a new program:

“Helping Sports Kids Stay Confident and Mentally Tough in the Face of Bullying.”

We’ll have all the details for you on Monday, May 24, when we release our new program. Stay tuned….

Why do sports kids bully? by Lisa Cohn and Patrick Cohn, Ph.D.

(Video link of discussion provided in links section of this blog)

Judging from the many emails and comments we've received from
sports parents and coaches lately, bullying is an important
topic to you.

It should be. Bullying is rampant in sports--and kids don't like
to talk about it.

We just produced a new video on bullying for you. Whether you're
a sports parent concerned about how your kids are treated in
sports, or a coach who want what's best for your young athletes,
you need to watch this.

Today we're sharing an interview with Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D., a
psychologist with 25 years' experience and the author of "Why
Good Kids Act Cruel.”

In this interview--conducted by Lisa Cohn--Dr. Pickhardt explains
why kids bully and what issues make bullying worse. He reveals:

--> The five most typical bullying behaviors.

--> The developmental issues that cause kids to treat each other
badly—even when they're good kids.

--> What kids are looking for when they try to hurt each other.

--> When and how bullying behavior improves.

--> The critical role of coaches in either preventing or
exacerbating bullying in sports.

To see our video based on Lisa's interview with Dr. Pickhardt,
watch it on our blog:

http://youthsportspsychology.com/youth_sports_psychology_blog/?p=627

Sincerely,

Lisa Cohn and Patrick Cohn, Ph.D.

P.S. Thanks so much for all your emails and blog entries, which
we're incorporating into new resources aimed at fighting
bullying in sports.

If you have more to add to the conversation, please return this
email or post your anonymous comment on our blog:

http://youthsportspsychology.com/youth_sports_psychology_blog/?p=621

Fight Bullying in Sports by Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. and Lisa Cohn

Bullying is an epidemic in our society today. It's especially
rampant in sports.

A recent survey of high school students across the U.S. found
that 48% of respondents had been subjected to hazing--a form of
bullying in which kids are humiliated or required to take part
in dangerous activities. Much of this hazing happens in sports,
the study found.

Young athletes are bullied by adults as well as peers. Youth
coaches often yell at, tease, humiliate and intimidate kids.

Bullying is a sure-fire way to hurt young athletes' confidence
and enjoyment of sports. In fact, many kids who are bullied drop
out.

Parents have told us they don't know what to do to help their
kids cope with bullies--or how to prevent them from quitting
when they're targets.

Paul Coughlin, a sports dad and coach, says his son quit playing
soccer because two of the kids on the team picked on his son
repeatedly. "They made fun of his hair and what he was wearing,"
he says.

In this case, the bullies were physically advanced, and used
that power to put other kids down, he says. "It was awful for us
as parents. We felt powerless," says Coughlin, now an
anti-bullying advocate.

Not only are the less physically advanced athletes targets of
bullies. So are gifted athletes. Bullies try to hurt gifted
athletes because they're jealous.

Kirsten, a sports mom, says a group of jealous boys tried to
beat up her son. They also stole his belongings, damaged his
belongings, and described sexual acts to him.

Kids, parents and coaches should not tolerate bullies. But
dealing with them is tricky. That's because kids are afraid and
embarrassed to talk about being bullied.

What's more, bullies are crafty and it's hard to catch them. And
schools, sports teams and other organizations often turn a blind
eye to bullies.

Here at the Ultimate Sports Parent, we're developing a series of
resources to show parents and coaches how to help kids stay
mentally tough in the face of bullies.

We're also working on resources specifically for young athletes,
aimed at helping them stay mentally tough in the likely event
that they'll deal with this challenge at some point in sports.

We'll reveal more details of our new program later, but our aim
is to provide practical, proven sports psychology tips for
helping kids stay confident, focused and on track when bullies
target them.

Right now, we need your help!

Do you have any stories to share with us about bullying? You
might discuss the following:

*Have your kids or any of their friends ever been the target of
bullies—peers or coaches--in sports?

*How did this treatment affect the young athletes?

*How did you as parents and your kids' coaches address this?

*Were your efforts successful in putting an end to the bullying?

We'd appreciate it if you post your comments on our blog here:

http://www.youthsportspsychology.com/youth_sports_psychology_blog/?p=621

If you'd rather, you can also reply to this email with your
story.

Thanks for your input. Stay tuned for more bullying resources
very soon.


Sincerely,

Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. and Lisa Cohn


P.S. One last question: Do you suspect or worry your young
athlete may be bullied in sports, but feel he or she is too
embarrassed to tell you? Please post your comments on our blog
or return this email!

http://www.youthsportspsychology.com/youth_sports_psychology_blog/?p=621

Interesting E-mail- When Kids drop out!

Sent: Wed, April 14, 2010 10:00:00 AM

When kids drop out because of little playing time!
At first, Brian Sanders' son enjoyed sports. He had a coach who
gave all the kids equal playing time. The second year, the boy
dropped out of sports altogether because the coach gave him—and
other players—little playing time.

"Kids drop out because of these negative experiences," says
Sanders.

In fact, up to 75% of kids drop out of sports by the time they
are 13—mostly because they're not having fun anymore. Read on to
learn about how to keep kids in sports if they have little
playing time or are losing confidence.

Sanders is now president and CEO of I9 Sports, a fast-growing
sports franchise that gives all kids equal playing time. He says
equal playing time helps build their confidence and self-esteem.

Here at The Ultimate Sports Parent and Kids' Sports Psychology,
we agree that little playing time can hurt kids' confidence and
sometimes cause them to drop out. But not always. Why?

Often, when kids get little playing time, they feel unsupported
by their coaches. They begin to feel like they're bad players.
Or they develop fear of failure.

They're afraid that if they make mistakes, they'll get even less
playing time. This creates a negative cycle: They're so afraid
of making mistakes that they take no risks, play or perform
tentatively and aren't very effective.

The truth is, kids can still enjoy being on teams when they have
little playing time. It all depends on how the coach handles
this situation. If a coach is positive, supportive, builds team
unity and ensures the kids have fun, it's likely a child will
stay with the team.

It's your job as sports parents to find these coaches for your
sports kids. Read on to learn what to look for in a sports
experience.

We know one very popular basketball coach who recognizes each
child's strengths, focuses on them and tries to build on them.
He makes the team fun by joking around with his players.

What's more, if he puts a less skilled or less confident player
in a game, he tries to set up a situation that will allow the
player to feel successful. He always praises the players for
what they do well and points out ways they can grow or have
grown.

This coach emphasizes teamwork and creates a real "family" for
the team members. Many of the kids who spend most of their time
sitting on the bench don't want to miss one minute of practice
or any games with this coach!

Why? This coach makes them feel important, ensures they have fun
and boosts their confidence by pointing out their small but
important "wins." Such wins might include making lots of
rebounds or passing well.

In summary, if you're worried that your sports kids might drop
out, make sure their experience builds their confidence and
enjoyment of the game. Little playing time can hurt
confidence--but it can also spur kids to try harder and improve
their game. But that only happens if they're having fun.

Want to learn more about what to do when kids struggle with
little playing time or low confidence in sports?

At Kids' Sports Psychology, you can access many videos,
articles, audios and e-books that help you improve your sports
parenting skills and boost your child's success and enjoyment of
sports.

For example, here's just a sample of the resources that
might help kids with little playing time:

-->Audio: How lack of playing time affects kids' confidence

-->E-book for sports kids: Growing From Adversity: How to Stay
Confident After Failure

-->Audio interview with youth sports coach James Jackson: How to
keep young athletes engaged and ensure they're having fun

-->Article: Is winning more important than giving equal playing
time? Help your sports kids enjoy all the benefits of taking
part in sports and ensure they stay in sports!

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/

Here's what parents are saying about our resources:

"We appreciate your work so much. Especially with our son an
elite athlete, it helps us understand how he thinks, what he
needs, and how not to become one of those typical sports
parents.”
~Kristen Lenko, a sports mom in Canada

Sincerely,

Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. and Lisa Cohn

P.S. If you're already a Kids' Sports Psychology member, you can
visit this page to listen to our audio about how lack of playing
time affects kids' confidence in sports:

http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/members/148.cfm

BMI rates in Dennis-Yarmouth Schools?

According to recent literature, the obesity rate for children in MA, ages 10 to 17 years, is at 30% obesity. Some articles are provided in our Link sections for your review. Given the schools recent mandate this year to commence BMI tracking on our 1st graders, it will be important to monitor how our town children are doing in comparison to state wide percentages and to see where our children score at this early age. The BMI score is an excellent point in which to begin our discussions about how best to educate our children and families about promoting a healthy life style and weight focusing on nutrition and being active.
Within the Physical Education program, getting children active, improving their endurance and strength, while making it fun is a key ingredient to developing a child's life long love for staying active. Educating them about healthy lifestyles is also a key ingredient in our class discussions about eating healthy and making healthy choices.
Your questions and comments are welcome as we work together to address this epidemic of obesity, a challenge for all of us.

LET'S START JUMPING!

This week April 12 to April 16 is our week to do Jump Rope For Heart! We have decided to have every gym class participate in an obstacle course format. There are 18 fun stations in which each student will perform some type of challenge, for example: bouncing on a bouncy ball around cones, jumping on trampolines, bouncing 1 or 2 balls at once, swinging on a rope, climbing and jumping off our mountain, jumping rope....and more.
The children were given fundraising envelopes to bring home, and were told that each family will make their own decision as to whether to donate to this cause or to their own personal charity. Children who do collect money should have the envelopes back to school by April 27Th! We will then mail all of the collections to the American Heart Association and should get back the children's prizes by approx.
June 4Th, at which time we will distribute them to the children who earned prizes by their collections.
Thanks so much once again, and hope that we can, again, make a generous donation on behalf of the school's students to this worthy charity.

Jump Rope Inspiration!

Watch the two videos on jump roping by the Kings Firecrackers, an 8th grade jump group of students, who perform at college games! Simply Amazing! We'll soon be starting our Jump Rope for Heart and would love to have the children develop a love for jump roping! We will be working on developing basic skills and with some students who show an interest, attempt to help them to move on to more difficult jumps. Let's All Get Jumping!

Physical Education has a key role in schools!

Please take a moment to read the article on "Combating Childhood Obesity With Physical Play Opportunities". With all the emphasis on testing and grades in our schools, physical education and recess are often looked at as places to cut education but as this article indicates, the lack of these programs has long term health implications.

We are fortunate that at DY schools, this has remained a priority in our schools and this article provides further support that our schools decision to maintain these programs is right on track with current medical thinking.

Here is an excerpt from this article and it is well worth reading!:

"When considering ’solutions’ for the childhood obesity problem, the basic factors involved in obesity must be considered. These include genetics, emotional stability, hormone levels, and intake-activity relationships. For the majority of people involved with children, the intake-activity relationship is the only factor with which it is possible to engage. And of that factor, only the ’activity’ aspect is within reach. But increasing the physical activity level among children is complicated. Schools, under pressure to increase test scores, are decreasing children’s opportunities to participate in recess and physical education (PE). In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that PE classes are disappearing from schools in the United States, as evidenced by the drop in percentage of schools that have PE programs. In the 1990’s alone, the percentage of schools that offer PE classes dropped from over 40% to around 25%, and that number is still on the decline. As a result, schools are increasing the amount of time children’s bodies remain relatively stationary. Reductions in the amount of physical activity in schools may be leading to serious consequences. Researchers have found that children who were not engaged in a PE program at school gained 1 inch more around the waist and 2 pounds more overall than those who were involved in a PE curriculum."

January Review

In December, we focused on Holiday games emphasizing team play, endurance and sportsmanship. Upon returning back to school in January, our P.E. classes have concentrated on Rope climbing, Cargo net climbing, throwing games and Pillow Polo.
The rope climbing emphasis has introduced the children to a strength activity which requires some agility in climbing the ropes which has challenged the children to take supervised risks. As with the cargo net, their is a degree of supervised risk taking, in which the children have to develop a sense of confidence to attempt climbing the rope/cargo net. Many children have a cautious approach to climbing and heights and so this provides them with an opportunity to explore their capabilities in a safe environment. The children all must make an attempt to climb but the height and degree to which they achieve climbing is dependent upon their comfort level. No one fails in climbing but rather, we focus on accepting a challenge to do their best of their ability and knowing that, with time and practice, that they will do better.
The games focused on large muscle development, game strategy, having fun, and improving their throwing skills for distance and accuracy. Pillow Polo was introduced and the children loved the hockey type game. They learned stick handling skills, aggressive play on the ball, team work, sportsmanship, and offensive and defensive positions.
Grades are being completed and parents are encouraged to talk to their children about why they earned the grade that they received. Within the P.E. class we have discussed the whys of getting certain grades and that the children take the responsibility for their grades. Their perception about their grades is an important element in knowing about their performance and what actions they must change in order to improve their grades. Poor listening, fooling around with friends, lack of effort, and not following directions all contribute to a lower grade.
Should you or your child have questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help your child understand what they have to do to improve.
Their self evaluation about how they are doing and learning how they can achieve better grades is our focus and the real learning point.