Once upon a time, I was a figure skater. But these days, the only triple Salchow I perform is getting three kinds of milk for three different kids (well, two kids and a husband). And I miss spending day after day on the ice--I really do! But there's something I don't' miss about it.
A persnickety ankle.
Now, every once in a while, when I've gone on a particularly long run, that ankle will ache, but it's not the same as the chronic injury that plagued most of my skating career. And when I think back to all the skating, training, and eventually coaching that I used to do in one week, I sometimes wonder...
Was I overdoing it...just a bit?
That's a tough question to answer in a society that believes practices makes perfect, because wouldn't that mean that more practice makes more perfect? We overdo, overbuy, overstep, overeat, and maybe, just maybe, push ourselves (and eventually, perhaps our kiddos) a little too hard.
"What?" you ask. "Do you expect me to tell my kids to lie around on the couch so they never get hurt?"
Don't be silly. Sports are awesome. Sports will develop coordination, strength, teamwork, flexibility, (deep breath), perseverance, confidence, etc., etc., etc.
And working hard is a must. Believe me, five-thousand hip bruises later, I know what it takes to master something, to become stronger. But when it comes to your child, you are the best person to keep tabs on his or her well-being. Sports professionals are fantastic, and great for getting advice, but you are the person who knows your child best.
Keeping that in mind, here are two types of injuries to consider and some effective ways for preventing and handling them.
Accidental (or acute) injury - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers three steps for preventing this type of injury: 1) Gear up, 2) Use the right stuff, and 3) Pay attention to temperature. This means that it's your responsibility to know what type of safety gear is needed, to ensure gear is up-to-date (not broken or the wrong size), and to do things like keeping kids bundled up in the cold and hydrated no matter the temperature. Yes, that's a hefty list, but it may save you a trip to the emergency room.
And keep an eye on your child's energy level, says Yolanda Thomas, Director of the Lil' Kickers program at SoccerCity in Oklahoma City. "Many injuries are caused by fatigue," she warns.
Chronic injury - The other type of injury, the one I was whining about, is chronic. Basically, these type of injuries are often caused by overuse. On its list of preventing sports injury, the CDC does say "practice makes perfect," and despite my concerns with the phrase, they explain it this way: "Have children practice proper form – this can prevent injuries during baseball, softball, and many other activities. Also, be sure to safely and slowly increase activities to improve physical fitness; being in good condition can protect kids from injury."
Jackie Brenner, Skating Director at Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond, says that professionals can help you understand the risk of chronic injury. In skating, making sure muscles are balanced, as well as stretching out the other direction (especially in a somewhat one-sided sport like figure skating), is critical to the body's health.
And finally, don't be afraid for your kid to take a small break or even try something different for a little while. Any type of sport will lead to better conditioning for all athletic activities, and at the end of the day, teaching a child the importance and satisfaction of a lifetime of physical activity is more important than a few more trophies on the shelf.
Showing posts with label injury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injury. Show all posts
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pushing your kids--how much is too much? Three signs that you're turning into THAT parent
This month, in honor of the Olympics, I've been chatting about getting those kiddos into sports at a young age. And based on the information I found out last week, some sports (think gymnastics and soccer) are great outlets for the little ones, as long as the activity is done in moderation and with a whole bunch of fun.
But it doesn't take much for a mom or dad with good intentions to become competitive on their children's behalf, and even though we know we need to stay on top of those kids (I mean, kids have it pretty swell these days, hey? An IPhone at four, right?) to keep them from becoming entitled lazy heads, it's easy to go the other way and cross a few lines that might make us more of a "Dance Mom" than our kids' best advocates.
I talked to several coaches who work with a variety of levels and ages in their respective sports programs, and here's a few signs that you may be turning into someone that makes other people shake their heads and click their tongues. Come on, you know what I'm talking about! You've seen those parents too!
1. Your kid doesn't want to go. When I talked to certain program directors, burn out was one of the biggest signs that a kid may be overdoing it. Jackie Brenner, Director of Figure Skating at Arctic Edge in Edmond, says a parent may be pushing too hard "when your child isn't having fun and doesn't want to practice anymore." She says it's okay to seek out a professional to understand the appropriate practice amount for your child's age and level.
At Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics, owner Steve Hoehner strongly recommends that parents place preschoolers in the program only one day a week. "You have to remember that a child's mind is different from a parent's mind. We think more is better. But confidence will go out the window if a kid is pushed too far, too soon."
2. You're thinking too much about the future. Olympic medals? Major league sports opportunities? College scholarships? If you've put your kid in a sport for any of the above reasons, you may need to adjust your attitude, or your child may hate the very thing you're hoping will bring him or her success. Yolanda Thomas, Director of the Lil' Kickers program at SoccerCity, says parents should ask themselves this: "Why am I putting my kid in this?" If it's to build confidence, strength, coordination, and skills, then great. If the parent did the sport and wants to share it with his or her child, that's also a good reason, but remember this: "Children learn while they're having fun," says Thomas.
3. Your kid is starting to deal with injuries. The problem with setting expectations too high and scheduling too much practice? Chronic injuries from overuse or accidental injures from exhaustion. The consensus from all the sports directors was that a parent who has the wrong focus will push a kid too far, and this could result in injury.
But on the other side of that are those kids who push themselves, who need you to be the one to keep them from burning out or hurting themselves, both of which will lead to the worst outcome: inactivity. And if there's any question, schedule a doctor's visit right away, says Chris Berry, Associate Executive at the Edmond YMCA. A medical professional can help you pinpoint what may be causing an injury and how to prevent it without forcing your child to give up something he or she enjoys doing.
So don't be the type of parent a reality series would love to showcase. We all know what we think of them. Be the type of parents who look out for their kids, and if those kids do make it to the top of their sport, they'll be able to say "Thanks" for all the right reasons.
But it doesn't take much for a mom or dad with good intentions to become competitive on their children's behalf, and even though we know we need to stay on top of those kids (I mean, kids have it pretty swell these days, hey? An IPhone at four, right?) to keep them from becoming entitled lazy heads, it's easy to go the other way and cross a few lines that might make us more of a "Dance Mom" than our kids' best advocates.
I talked to several coaches who work with a variety of levels and ages in their respective sports programs, and here's a few signs that you may be turning into someone that makes other people shake their heads and click their tongues. Come on, you know what I'm talking about! You've seen those parents too!
1. Your kid doesn't want to go. When I talked to certain program directors, burn out was one of the biggest signs that a kid may be overdoing it. Jackie Brenner, Director of Figure Skating at Arctic Edge in Edmond, says a parent may be pushing too hard "when your child isn't having fun and doesn't want to practice anymore." She says it's okay to seek out a professional to understand the appropriate practice amount for your child's age and level.
At Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics, owner Steve Hoehner strongly recommends that parents place preschoolers in the program only one day a week. "You have to remember that a child's mind is different from a parent's mind. We think more is better. But confidence will go out the window if a kid is pushed too far, too soon."
2. You're thinking too much about the future. Olympic medals? Major league sports opportunities? College scholarships? If you've put your kid in a sport for any of the above reasons, you may need to adjust your attitude, or your child may hate the very thing you're hoping will bring him or her success. Yolanda Thomas, Director of the Lil' Kickers program at SoccerCity, says parents should ask themselves this: "Why am I putting my kid in this?" If it's to build confidence, strength, coordination, and skills, then great. If the parent did the sport and wants to share it with his or her child, that's also a good reason, but remember this: "Children learn while they're having fun," says Thomas.
3. Your kid is starting to deal with injuries. The problem with setting expectations too high and scheduling too much practice? Chronic injuries from overuse or accidental injures from exhaustion. The consensus from all the sports directors was that a parent who has the wrong focus will push a kid too far, and this could result in injury.
But on the other side of that are those kids who push themselves, who need you to be the one to keep them from burning out or hurting themselves, both of which will lead to the worst outcome: inactivity. And if there's any question, schedule a doctor's visit right away, says Chris Berry, Associate Executive at the Edmond YMCA. A medical professional can help you pinpoint what may be causing an injury and how to prevent it without forcing your child to give up something he or she enjoys doing.
So don't be the type of parent a reality series would love to showcase. We all know what we think of them. Be the type of parents who look out for their kids, and if those kids do make it to the top of their sport, they'll be able to say "Thanks" for all the right reasons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)