| It is almost a universal fact nowadays that a lot of | | | | strain the joints or the muscles too much while |
| parents and their kids are having \"communication | | | | providing great cardio training. Swimming is also an |
| problems\", meaning that they don\'t or intentionally | | | | invaluable skill to learn, the difference between knowing |
| won\'t meet eye to eye on some subjects. That\'s | | | | and not knowing how can very well save one\'s life. |
| pretty normal but it doesn\'t mean that the situation | | | | Pretty cheap sport, all one will need would be a pair of |
| can\'t be improved. | | | | good goggles, a bathing suit or trunks and a flotation |
| What are the things parents and kids commonly | | | | device (if required by the instructor) and access to a |
| disagree on? For younger kids, it is usually the lack of | | | | pool, Olympic size preferably. Highly recommended to |
| discipline. Children aged 5 and up are usually found tied | | | | kids with asthma or bronchial conditions. |
| to the TV, the computer or their gaming consoles. | | | | Cons: Fun factor medium at best, since there is no |
| Rooms are left messy, they refuse to eat their meals | | | | \"game\" element to the sport. There is a risk of |
| and refuse to sleep early. Good news though, all of | | | | contracting some ear and skin infections (swimmer\'s |
| these can easily be solved! | | | | ear) when swimming in a public pool. There is also risk |
| How about teens? Now there\'s a truly | | | | of drowning, although very very minimal. |
| PROBLEMATIC stage! Not only is there a lack of | | | | Sports of similar vein: Cycling, Running (sprint, |
| discipline but seemingly a lack of purpose as well. | | | | marathon), Rock climbing. |
| During the teenage years, the body and the mind is in | | | | BASKETBALL |
| turmoil, all sorts of adjustment and growth is happening | | | | Pros: Very popular sport, has a high fun factor. It is a |
| and there is a tremendous amount of energy available. | | | | team sport which can help your child make friends and |
| Think of a fireman\'s hose spitting out torrents but with | | | | learn how to be a team player. Has a cerebral factor |
| no one to hold it down. | | | | to it and will train the player to strategize under |
| Raising a kid is pretty much like tending a bonsai tree. | | | | pressure. Lots of sports scholarship and career |
| A lot of things are obviously parallel. First, it takes time, | | | | opportunities for those who wish to pursue it |
| a WHOLE LOT of time. It will surely take years, | | | | professionally. |
| decades even. Secondly, It is hard, tedious work. Like | | | | Cons: Height is a huge determining factor, although a lot |
| the branches of a plant, you will have to train it | | | | of small players throughout history have found their |
| consistently, applying the wires of tough love every | | | | way and prospered in the NBA. There is medium risk |
| step of the way. Neglect it for just a while and it may | | | | of injury as it is a rough sport. The training and the |
| grow in an unwanted fashion. Force it back after it has | | | | sport itself focuses mainly on the development of the |
| grown and the branch will just break. Finally, to achieve | | | | arms and calves, there is considerably high impact on |
| the desired result, you will have to start as early as | | | | the ankle and foot joints. It being a team sport is a |
| possible. | | | | double edged sword. If he happens to be physically |
| Now bending your child into shape sounds like military | | | | inferior, there is a possibility that he will lose interest in |
| school! Not necessarily. There is a way to instill | | | | the sport as he may not be able to get picked into |
| discipline and purpose into your child, a way that is not | | | | games. |
| only fun and rewarding but will also bring you closer | | | | Alternatives you may wish to explore: Baseball, Pro |
| together as well. | | | | football, Futbol (soccer), Ice Hockey. |
| Get him into sports! | | | | LAWN TENNIS |
| Now how does this work? | | | | Pros: Pretty enjoyable sport, usually learned first |
| Sports is undoubtedly fun, I would like to think that it | | | | individually. Pro tennis is enjoying a resurfacing |
| was created mainly for the fun factor. One of it\'s | | | | popularity worldwide and is one of the most lucrative |
| main, if not primary objectives would also be to | | | | sports today, it is another sport which can be a great |
| exercise the body and mind. The objective in most | | | | professional career option. Can be played indoor or |
| popular sports would be to win, which gives it it\'s | | | | outdoor. Provides very good training for stamina. |
| \"thrill\". To win of course, you will have to better than | | | | Cons: An expensive sport. A decent, entry level tennis |
| your opponent. This will involve practicing and honing | | | | racquet costs around $60 up, owning a backup |
| skills which are previously unnatural, which in turn will | | | | racquet is advisable. Balls around $10 which have to be |
| require patience, perseverance and dedication. | | | | replaced almost every other 3 games. Bags, playing |
| Does this sound like what the doctor ordered? Sports | | | | uniform shoes are a must. Probably the one you will |
| has proven to be beneficial to most people and I would | | | | have to shell out the most for would be the tennis |
| recommend that it be something that you and your kid | | | | court, which is usually situated in a country club. |
| partake of together. However if you do not have the | | | | Instructor fees, court rental fees, accessories (strings, |
| time, it is quite alright that your child go at it by himself. | | | | grips etc) might make you reconsider. However if you |
| Just make sure that you will always be there to | | | | are the type who has a membership to a country club, |
| support him otherwise he might lose interest in the | | | | most probably money would not be a problem. |
| endeavor. | | | | Like flying solo? Check out: Badminton, Table Tennis, |
| There\'s a lot to be gained by participating in sports. | | | | Squash. |
| Improvement in health and overall physical well-being is | | | | MARTIAL ARTS |
| always a given. As mentioned earlier, the participant will | | | | Pros: There are a lot of martial arts to learn but for |
| learn discipline, perseverance etc. Aside from achieving | | | | children to teens, I would like to suggest 3 types as of |
| a sense of purpose and accomplishment, there are | | | | now: Judo, Aikido and TaeKwonDo . By far the |
| also surprisingly good bonuses. Lots of scholastic and | | | | cheapest sport among those I have already |
| career opportunities await those who are physically | | | | mentioned, as it only requires a \"gi\" or whatever |
| gifted and talented (perhaps to a lesser extent, those | | | | uniform is prescribed, aside from the lessons. I would |
| who are ardently persistent). Lots of universities offer | | | | definitely recommend this for girls and women as it is a |
| \"sports scholarships\" to those who are exceptional in | | | | good way to learn how to defend oneself against |
| their chosen sport, obviously so because sports like | | | | rape or any kind of violence. This is possibly the only |
| football, basketball, soccer (futbol) is big business both | | | | sport which requires its students to adhere to a certain |
| for the school and the athlete. We need not mention | | | | \"code of conduct\" if you will, as the almost any |
| how much Shaq made playing in college alone, aside | | | | martial art is inextricably tied to a philosophy. I would go |
| from all the endorsements and whatnot. | | | | as far as to say that the martial arts is not merely a |
| Now certainly not all kids can be like Mike but I know | | | | sport or a way of self defense, rather it is a complete |
| you do get the picture of the potential harvest in | | | | mentality and way of life. By far this is the best way to |
| sports. Disadvantages are clearly outweighed, but | | | | instill discipline, especially to kids who are somewhat |
| we\'ll talk about that later. | | | | incorrigible. Great way to build flexibility and conditioning. |
| Now what are some sports that you may want to get | | | | Cons: Fun factor quite low. Judo and Aikido come |
| your child into? Here are some popular suggestions as | | | | from Japan and TaeKwondo is from Korea. Lessons |
| well as some \"pros\" and \"cons\" that you will have | | | | are held in a \"dojo\" where the mood is pretty somber |
| to take into consideration. | | | | or reserved all throughout the sessions, which is very |
| SWIMMING | | | | characteristic of temperaments from the country of |
| Pros: Swimming can very well be considered the | | | | origin. Teachers or \"sensei\" are very strict. High risk |
| \"ultimate workout\". The 4 strokes or styles of | | | | of injuries if the students are required to spar. |
| swimming, namely Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke | | | | Frustrating to learn at first, especially Aikido. |
| and Butterfly utilizes all the parts of the body | | | | If you\'re pretty somber yourself, try: Archery, |
| simultaneously. Water gives ample resistance to | | | | Equestrianism, Ballet. |
| provide a low impact workout, meaning that it does not | | | | |
