Sports are beneficial to children's social, emotional and physical development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Sports can also be stressful, and there have been many highly publicized cases of athletes with eating disorders, depression and drug problems. When children develop anxiety and stress associated with their sports participation, the cause is rarely the sport itself but some smaller component, such as coach pressure, problems with teammates or fear of failure, according to the book "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child." There are several steps parents can take to help their children feel more confident when they participate in sports.
Social Anxiety
Shy or bullied children often develop anxiety when they play sports because they must interact with other children, according to the textbook "Child Psychology." If your child gets anxious before practices, games and conversations with teammates, her problem may be with the other children and not with the sport itself. Talk to your child and ask her what the specific problem is. If your child is being bullied, ask the coach to watch out for bullying and intervene when she sees it. If your child is shy or feels like she can't relate well to other kids, help your child practice conversations and interactions. Invite teammates out for pizza or over for play dates. "Child Psychology" explains that shy children often thrive in one-on-one interactions. Set up play dates with individual team members so that when your child is in a group she feels less alone.
Body Image Anxiety
Many athletes, especially preteens and teens, experience immense anxiety over the appearance of their body. Some sports are more likely to cause these problems. Gymnastics, for example, often requires that female participants be extraordinarily thin. Wrestling frequently requires participants to quickly lose large amounts of weight. Other sports may place pressure on children to become visibly muscular. If you notice that your child is suddenly very concerned about his weight, the problem may be the coach. Some coaches place immense pressure on players to meet unrealistic weight goals, according to sports journalist Joan Ryan in her book, "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes." Intervene if your child's coach is placing unreasonable pressure on him, and ask your child's pediatrician to talk to him about healthy weight, diet and exercise.
Performance Anxiety
Many child athletes become extremely stressed about their ability to excel at a sport. These children are most likely to exhibit anxiety before a game. This sort of anxiety can be difficult to alleviate, particularly if it is not coming from an external source such as a coach or teammate. Encourage your child to enjoy the sport for the sport's sake rather than to judge herself based upon performances. Some children with anxiety disorders are anxious about playing in front of other people. Meditation, deep breathing and adequate rest all help to alleviate these anxieties, according to "Child Psychology." If your child exhibits extreme anxiety before a sporting event, talk to your pediatrician. He may refer you to a child psychologist who can help your child cope with her anxiety.
Time Management Anxiety
Many child athletes struggle with the time required to participate in their sport. They might struggle to keep up with schoolwork, have difficulty making time for friends or grow resentful about the amount of time they must spend practicing. If your child seems to be having difficulty balancing sports and the rest of his life, talk to him to ensure he wants to continue in the sport. Help him devise reasonable schedules that allow time for school, friends and downtime in addition to sports practice. If he seems to dislike practicing, encourage him to take a break from the sport for a week, a month or even an entire season.
References
- "Little Girls In Pretty Boxes"; Joan Ryan; 2000
- "Child Psychology: Development in a Changing Society"; Robin Harwood, et al.; 2008
- "Caring For Your Baby and Young Child"; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009
- "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child"; Lynn R. Marotz; 2011
