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A Lifetime of Learning

Blogging from the University of Maryland

« April 2008   

Sports help Raise a Child

I have worked in the schools and am currently attending the University of Maryland to get my degree in early childhood education. Being in the schools is a really great opportunity as a parent. Before working in the schools, I did not really have any idea about how important rest, structure, and good solid meals are to children. It shows the most in the children who are struggling at school. For the most part, these are the children who have very unstable home lives, complain frequently of being tired and hungry, and many times are not even clean. It is sad to see the way these factors affect their school performance, even on the lowest levels.

As a mother of 4 I find it extremely important to have my kids involved in extra curricular activities. Sports especially give them the structure and balance they need to succeed in life. I know it may sound strange, but sports teach them excellent skills that they can use. Skills like getting along with others, listening to authority, and how to be a good winner and loser. Not to mention the benefits of getting out and getting some exercise and fresh air in our very sedentary society.

While other kids are sitting around watching television and playing video games, mine are out on the soccer field exercising and learning. Quite honestly, from a parent's perspective it would be much easier for me if we were home every evening. I mean between going to school all day and taking care of the house, I really don't need to spend every afternoon and evening running to ball fields to pick up this one and drop off that one. I know that someday all my hard work will pay off, but right now it seems that I am always running off somewhere. Fortunately, I do get a little socialization from being on the fields every evening, at least with all the parents who spend their evenings the same as I do.

I do often wonder why they don't do more of the recreational sports for children during the summer months when they are out of school. It seems to me that we spend every spring and fall, running and trying to fit in homework, bedtimes, and baths (even dinner quite frankly doesn't work into this schedule very well), yet summer hits and all the activities and school end, and I am left with four kids who have nothing to do. It really seems to me that at the younger ages especially, they should do more sports during the times while school is out. This would provide a little more structure to our summer and a little less chaos in our spring and fall.

Some people say that it is just too hot for the kids in summertime, but they could definitely play in the early mornings and evenings when it is a little cooler. I just know that at least for my kids it would provide them a little structure during a time when life becomes a free for all.

Finding the balance between sports and school is tricky. Most parents have their children involved in extra curricular activities because studies show that students who are involved in other activities are more balanced, more disciplined and over all better students. These extra activities are also considered by colleges as pluses for a student. As parents, where do we draw the line? How much running is too much on a school night? Isn't an 8:00pm ball game on a school night a little too late for a nine year old? I know it is a little too late for me, and I am just sitting on the sidelines. Imagine how tired those little kids are playing baseball for 7 innings!

Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:29 PM by Carol Ann

A Parenting Dilemma

My oldest son is a very talented 12 year old. He is an excellent athlete, singer and musician. He is funny and very smart. For some reason he is really struggling in school at the present time. I am not sure whether it has been the transition to middle school that has just thrown him, or what. I value education as does his father and we are constantly on him about how important school work and grades are to his future. I may as well face the fact that at 12 that doesn't amount to a hill of beans. He does want good things for his future, however, he is thinking like a pre teen and not an adult. I have met with his teachers 4 times this school year, and although we all agree that he has a huge amount of potential, we are struggling to get him to attain it. I have threatened to take away just about everything, but this method does not motivate him to do better, it just makes him rebel more.

At school the other day, someone asked me why I did not take his soccer away, after all it is the thing he loves the most. I said honestly, that he really needs this, it keeps him balanced. If he is worked up about something, when he comes home from school, when he gets back from soccer he is much more calm and rational. The structure and discipline of soccer, is important to his development and I am not willing to take it away, so I don't threaten to. Also, he has a one year commitment to be on this team, and I won't let him break this commitment. I have told him that if he doesn't get it together soon, that he will not be allowed to try out for travel soccer again next month. I really won't be able to let him, but it will break my heart.

I have always vowed to do whatever I can for my kids, no matter how much it kills me. So even if I have to cry in my pillow every night I will stand by my commitment to push this child to do his best.

Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:38 PM by Carol Ann

Summer Break Family Style

I am in the process of trying to plan a vacation for my family while I am on break this holidays. It is great to be in school at the same time as the kids this way we are all off at the same time and we can do things together. It is difficult to find a vacation destination that won't cost too much and will provide a fun time for the whole family. Having 4 children makes it difficult to stay in an average sized hotel room. Finding accommodations can be a difficult task. When our family was smaller, my husband and I used to fly off to different places, but now even cheap flights get expensive when you need 6 round trip fares. It is just too expensive so we must drive to wherever we will be vacationing. My limit is about 6 hours in the car, if you have ridden in the car with four children, you understand my limits. In any case, I have been considering a trip to either the Great Wolf Lodge in VA or to Virginia Beach. Both of these locations are within a reasonable driving distance for us, and I think they will provide enough entertainment for the younger ones 7 & 9 and the older ones 12 & 14. Both have accommodations that will provide us enough room for the whole family to stay in one room.

The Great Wolf Lodge offers a full indoor water park, right in the hotel. It also offers an interactive game that the kids can play. The water park admission is included in the price of the room and you can go there everyday for as long as you are at the hotel. They have several hotels right on the premises which makes this very attractive as we won't have to keep the kids entertained, there will be plenty of stuff right on site to keep them entertained. Also, since the whole place is geared towards kids, they won't have to be quite or worry about disturbing others, which can be a big problem when you are traveling to grownup hotels with 4 children. It becomes very uncomfortable for us to stay in hotels where the kids are expected to be quiet all the time. It starts to be a lot of pressure for the parents, which means no relaxation for my husband and I.

Virginia Beach also offers some larger family accommodations and of course the beach is always fun for all. The only thing is that VA Beach will be little further of a drive for us, and also it is obviously the type of vacation that could be a disaster if the weather is bad. I mean does anyone really want to spend a vacation with 4 kids locked in a hotel room? Not me, that is for sure.

I think that maybe we will go with the Great Wolf Lodge and see how that goes. It will be less traveling and will not be weather dependent which is a big plus. We will go for a week at the end of June and we'll see if it really is all they say it is!

Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 9:36 PM by Carol Ann