For six years of my childhood I competed in figure skating. I remember going to school until 12:30 and then training on the ice from 1:00-5:00 p.m. every day, Monday through Friday. In the summer, I remember being on the ice at 5:00 a.m. every morning, Monday through Friday. As I reflect on this, I see how very formative and valuable it was to me. The physical training developed skills and habits in me like stamina, perseverance, hard work, and discipline. And, as I look at my life now and the success I have enjoyed thus far as a home school parent, I owe much of it to that regimen of athletic training. The lessons learned daily on the ice as a child have served me well as an adult.
After teaching my children from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., I sometimes am a little less than enthusiastic to get in the car and drive my children to their afternoon soccer practice or ballet class. But, it does not take me long to remember the benefits of sports and physical training. Beyond the social benefits it offers my children, these activities are formative in their lives and are a part of a living education. Below is a quote that I read recently about the value of sports in the lives of children.
“Courage is the foundation of all the virtues; unless a man has that virtue, said Doctor Johnson, he has no security for preserving any other. Athletics develop courage; they develop resource in the face of an emergency; they develop good sportsmanship, which consists in playing every game fairly, in respect and consideration for an opponent, in ability to take victory without conceit and defeat without excuse. They develop qualities of leadership, and qualities of obedience.”
-The Excitement of Teaching by William Lyon Phelps
The caution here is to keep sports in their proper balance and not to let them consume the lives of our children or override their school hours. We live in a time where sports have become a religion - almost everything in schools, even more than academics. But, as thoughtful parents we can see that the lasting benefits of sports have nothing to do with whether our children are the best player or on the best team.
“The danger in athletics is not the danger in studies. There is no danger that most boys or girls will study too much or give undue importance to the training of the mind or to the acquirement of knowledge. But there is danger always and everywhere that athletic sports will take a disproportionate place in the student’s mind.”
-The Excitement of Teaching by William Lyon Phelps
The life lessons of sports can be gained by participating in any local community team or organization. Just a quick Internet search can identify local teams for baseball, football, soccer, basketball or studios for ballet, clubs for gymnastics, karate, or tennis or swim teams. Yes, in most circumstances it means driving and if you have more than one child it can get a little tricky logistically. But, when one looks at the benefits and the life long lessons children will take with them beyond the stage or playing field, it seems a worthwhile endeavor.
- Annarose's blog
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