Am I A Positive Role Model For My Athletic Child?

Do you make your child comfortable to talk about goals?

Are you more focused on teaching your child values and life skills, such as honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and teamwork, instead of focusing on winning and losing?

Do you avoid setting unrealistic expectations?

Do you regulate your emotions, and rather focus on self-control and sportsmanship than yell or criticize at the sideline?

Do you show empathy and encourage your child to be empathetic as well?

Based on your answers, unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you are a positive role model for your (athletic) child.

Based on your answers, you are displaying a few signs of a positive role model for your (athletic) child, however, there is a lot of room for improvements. A role model is someone who serves as an example by influencing other people. For most children, their parents or caregivers are the most important role models. Throughout this journey as a parent, you will not only provide a healthy environment for your young athlete to thrive in, you will also act as a role model for the values you want to instill. If you lead by example you will make sure your kids develop the kind of behavior you want them to adopt.

Based on your answers, you are displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who are a positive role model for their (athletic) child. That is, of course, the result we all would like to see! A rolemodel is described as a person who serves as an example by influencing others. For most children, their parents are the most important role model. For parents it is therefore crucial to lead by example. It’s essential for parents to take a look at the way they are living their own lives and understand what behaviors and attitudes they want their children to develop. Just like positive role models, negative role models can also have a huge influence on children.