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.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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!
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!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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!
Learn to Avoid Actions with Consequences
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor
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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!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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.
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
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
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