Young Champions
I want to address the subject of early child specialization in regards to sport and some of my findings. I get calls all the time that parents want lessons for their 5, 6 or 7 year olds. I believe this is okay but it is not that necessary at that age. The most important aspect is that the kids should get out and have fun. Don’t worry about whether they are doing it right, but about whether they are enjoying the sport. Make up games and keep their interest. Let them make the rules and define the game.
There is no supporting evidence that focusing on one sport or that early champions go on to become world class athletes. There are the exceptions like Tiger Woods and Wayne Gretzky but most world class athletes played a number of sports and then started to specialize later on. Get your kids involved in as many activities as you can but not too many that they are extremely busy and let them play. Let them be creative and they will develop a passion for the activity.
I am not saying coaching or supervision is not necessary, but it should be kept to the right amount based on each individual’s character. Again the most important factor is the child’s enjoyment. Being a young champion has no bearing on whether they go on to become champions later. Actually early success could lead to the child feeling too much pressure to perform based on their label of being talented or gifted. Fun, enjoyment, creativity and variety are some of the main ingredients in giving them a chance to excel at a certain activity.
