Child Development

Unstructured Free Play Important for Kids

Too often these days, parents feel they have no choice but to pack their child's schedules with adult-supervised, adult-driven activities such as organized sports. But, as a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) makes clear, such activities should not come at the expense of free and unstructured play, which is critical to healthy child development.

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Teaching honesty and integrity vs. winning at all cost.

This is the most recent post from my weekly blog, Sports Lessons For Life. You've heard Robert Fulghum's saying that All I Ever Need To Know About Life, I learned In Kindergarten. I contend that everything you need to succeed in life you can learn through sports. Please visit www.erinmirabella.com for more information.

Try This At Home……

(I know the description of the game below is long, but the actual game is short, so just stay with me. It’s worth it, I promise. Your kids will really get it.)

Should Sports be 'Dumbed Down?'

The idea of “dumbed down” sports is a scary concept for some. It can be hard for many adults, especially coaches, to accept. The mere idea of doing so can bring their coaching into question and evoke feelings of hesitation, resistance and fear. Many are often quick to admit, “My dad never ‘dumbed down’ sports for me, and I turned out fine.” However, watch a seasoned coach try to teach a young child without “dumbing down” sports, and they fail miserably. Still, purists claim “dumbed down” sports coaching is anything but natural.

...Equal Playing Time: Absolute or Within Certain Guidelines

I have the unique opportunity to discuss issues in sports and youth sports with a variety of individuals from all positions and viewpoints, some of whom have a good deal of experience as athletes, teachers, coaches, and parents of youth sports participants. Recently I was in a discussion with a mom/coach/teacher/parent who was frustrated over the absoluteness of their park districts rule that all must play equal time, no matter what.

NEW “BECOMING A TRUE CHAMPION” LIVE CHAT

WHAT: Live Chat
WHO: Kirk Mango
WHEN: Sunday Afternoons: 4:00 – 5:00 pm central time
Tuesday Evenings: 7:00 – 8:00 pm central time
Randomly: Evenings throughout the week & afternoons on weekends
WHERE: The Athlete's Sports Experience: Making a Difference

Conundrum: Student Athelete or Athletic Student?

Perhaps the finest conundrum of circular arguments is the classic chicken and egg argument. You know, "which came first, the chicken, or the egg?"

Two days ago, my 12 year old son had finally wrapped his mind around that and was able to do the abstract mental gymnastics to figure out the possible loop-holes and off-beat arguments for going either way on that classic question. But after last night's parent-teacher conferences at the middle-school, there's another conundrum we had to talk about: "Which comes first, being a student, or, being an athlete?"

In Case You Missed It!!! Kirk Mango on "The Sports Doctor"

Those of you who may have missed my interview on Chicago's WDCB FM radio show "The Sports Doctor" can click on the link below and listen to the show in its entirety. Your interest and feedback are welcome.

Link: Kirk Mango on The Sports Doctor

(The Link can take a minute or two)

40+ High School Athletes Suspended: What’s Changed? Part II

In Part I of 40+ High School Athletes Suspended: What’s Changed? I discussed the situation from which the title of this blog was created and referenced an earlier time to show some comparison. In this installment, I would like to actually answer the question posed in the subtitle, What’s Changed?

40+ High School Athletes Suspended: What’s Changed? Part I

Recently reported by Dana Kozlov on Chicago CBS local news, and in Bob Sakamoto’s article 43 York athletes suspended, was a story concerning the recent suspension of 43 high school athletes for breaking their school athletic code.

Non-Competitive Play Leads to More Physically Active Children, Researchers Say

A study presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in May 2008 established that the structuring of children's games has a significant effect on energy expenditure.
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