kids and sports

10 Ways to Enjoy Sports With Your Kids

Baseball historian George Will writes about Ted Williams, a perennial All-Star and one of the greatest baseball hitters ever: “He used a postal scale to check that humidity had not added an ounce to the weight of his bats. Challenged to find from among six bats the one that was half an ounce heavier than the others, he quickly did. He once returned to the maker a batch of his Louisville Sluggers because he sensed that the handles were not quite right.Sports are designed to teach children how to persevere and to just be plain fun, not stressful. The handles were off by five-thousandths of an inch.”

Williams was an outstanding hitter. And obsessive. This trait made him hard to deal with – both on and off the field. Don’t let that be your kids. Sports are designed to teach children how to persevere and to just be plain fun, not stressful. Here are 10 ways to enjoy sports with your kids.

1. Jerseys

Wear the jerseys of your favorite sports team while you watch the game.

2. Go to a Game

Attend at least one game of your favorite sports team every year. Don’t have a professional sports team near you? Then visit a local minor league team.

3. Follow a Player

Pick a player with strong character on your favorite team and make your child a fan of him.

4. Trading Cards

Start a family collection of trading cards for your favorite players and teams.

5. Memorabilia

Write your team’s Community Relations Department asking for team memorabilia and possibly scheduling a player to appear at your child’s school.

6. Record Games

Record the game and then watch later so you can fast-forward through the commercials, but don’t peek at the final score!

7. Reenact the Game

After the game, go out in the front yard and reenact your favorite plays.

8. Invite Friends

Let each of your kids invite a friend over to watch the game and “tailgate” with you.

9. Involve the Grandparents

Invite your parents over to enjoy the game with you all.

10. Study Sports History

Have your family become your team’s local historians by reading all about them on the Internet and in books.

Sound off: What is your favorite thing to do with your kids when it comes to sports?

Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Do you really like playing sports, or would you like to do something else?”