Charles Water Karate: Welcome to Parent’s Corner!
Welcome to Parent’s Corner!
Parenting advice is never one-size-fits-all, and let’s face it—raising kids isn’t always easy. Yet, somehow, our own parents made it look effortless!
Question of the Day:
How can I help my child pay better attention when playing sports?
A key strategy for nurturing a child’s development in athletics is the positivity sandwich—leading with encouragement, offering constructive feedback, and closing with more praise. This method helps boost confidence, improve focus, and enhance overall performance.
Why Positivity Matters
1️⃣ Creates a Supportive Atmosphere – Starting and ending with praise fosters a positive environment, making children feel safe and motivated.
2️⃣ Boosts Engagement – Kids are more likely to stay focused and put in effort when they feel valued and recognized.
3️⃣ Encourages Learning – Framing feedback within positive reinforcement makes children more receptive to guidance rather than feeling discouraged.
How to Apply This Strategy
✔ Be Specific with Praise: Instead of a generic "Good job," highlight something concrete, like "I loved how you encouraged your teammates today!"
✔ Make Corrections Constructive: Instead of saying, "You weren’t paying attention," try "Let’s work on staying focused so you can make even more great plays!"
✔ Reiterate Strengths: After offering feedback, reinforce what they did well. For example, "You handled the pressure so well in that last quarter. I’m really proud of your determination!"
Example Conversation:
"Hey Johnny, you put in great effort today! I loved how you supported your teammates. Just remember to stay focused during those key moments so you can make those awesome plays more often. Overall, I’m really proud of how far you’ve come!"
By consistently using this approach, parents can help their children build resilience, confidence, and focus—not just in sports but in all aspects of life. Encouraging a healthy balance between success and growth is one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.
To your success,
Charles Water
Charles Water Karate & Fitness
