As an adult, how would you feel if you came out of a huge presentation at work and had someone immediately going over every sentence?
How would it feel for someone to criticize your every word or move in your ear, going on and on?
What would happen, instead, if, after a game, we gave kids room to breathe; what if we let them marinate in knowing we simply enjoyed watching them play; what if, rather than giving them a lecture, we gave them permission to take it all in and have fun; what if we simply praised them for their effort.
Even when…they didn’t score.
Even when…they didn’t win.
Even if they turned over the ball, flubbed up, or missed the catch or basket.
This isn’t about giving false praise.
This isn’t about everyone getting a trophy for simply participating.
This isn’t about not supporting their athletic goals.
It’s about giving space for them to decompress, time to cool off RIGHT AFTER a performance.
Here is the original posting of this incredible article.
When Valli’s first child was identified with hearing loss, she traveled through stages of grief and arrived at a place of acceptance. And she decided no one should have to walk that path alone. A collection of personal, heartfelt stories from her blog, My Battle Call, she put into this book is for anyone moving through grief or difficult times and hoping to find a path forward: Through the Fog: Navigating life’s challenges while raising kids with hearing loss.
And she co-wrote a book with her daughter about her hearing loss journey: Now Hear This
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the latest news, articles, inspiration, stats, funny videos, tips and everything you need if you are a parent or coach in youth sports, delivered right to your inbox!