Anyone with young athletes at home knows how quickly daily schedules fill up. To help kids balance school, sports and fun, Allyson Weldon, PhD, sports psychologist at Akron Children’s Hospital suggests teaching kids time management early so they are better at it as they grow. “Time management is a hard skill for many people to […]
Encourage performance, not perfection, in sports
Signs your child is passionate about a sport can often be seen in the number of hours they spend playing, watching or talking about it. When this passion turns into an unrealistic drive to perfect their game – throwing a no hitter every game or sticking the landing at every competition – parents should help […]
How to be the parent your student-athlete needs you to be
Being the parent your student-athlete needs you to be requires self-awareness, honesty, communications skills and tough love – What, that’s all? – according to an Akron Children’s Hospital sports psychologist. Allyson Weldon, PhD, provides some common scenarios and fundamental guidance for parents. Are they having fun? Is it their dream they’re living on the field, […]
Should I let my child quit sports?
Whether stemming from an injury, burnout or a disagreement with the coach, quitting a sport can have lasting effects on a child. As a parent or caregiver, understanding the repercussions of quitting can make you an asset to your child’s well-being when they contemplate leaving a sport. “It can be a huge loss of identity […]
COVID-19 is a lesson in resilience for young athletes
As coaches, parents and teammates balance the risk-reward of keeping sports seasons during the pandemic, they also need to make sure teams rally around players who step forward if they have COVID-19 symptoms rather than blaming them for missed practices or team quarantine. “It’s important that we all take a step-back and focus on the […]
Physical therapists play a key role in getting kids back in the game
At 13, Cassidy Wren has done more leaps, jumps, spikes and pirouettes than most people twice her age. The athletic 8th grader at Holy Family School has always given 100 percent on the court and dance floor, but a stress fracture in her lower back forced her to give 100 percent in a new arena […]
