JustTRAC

Kids in extreme sports: a piece for parents

Being a parent is not easy. Being a parent of a kid who is on the more adventurous side of life – come with more challenges than the average parent must face.

Be real, what beats the thrill of zooming down a ramp or a hill at 30km per hour? Like all things in the world, there are big positives and big negatives, and we’ll get into those but first, let’s talk about the appeal of doing an extreme sport:

– It is undeniably FUN
– It is challenging and always brings something new to learn
– It offers kids a way to express their individuality
– It offers kids their independence while allowing them a strong sense of community with those around them.
– It is a cool sport and kids want to be cool!

While the obvious risks to doing an extreme sport is the very real risk of injury, it leads every parent in this situation to have a story of cuts and bruises, of stitches and broken bones but let’s be honest, risk is a simple fact of life and there is risk everywhere. Which is why it is important to have guidance from parents as kids often lack the ability to judge risks and understand the potential consequences thereof.

Proper safety gear, knowledge and understanding of the rules of your sport and being taught how to take a proper fall and interact with the other players are essential in ensuring the best possible outcomes in these activities. The best parent you can be, is a supportive one!

You will have many days where you are scared, being forced to make tough decisions and sacrifices but on the other hand, being supportive and involved in your child’s choice of a non-traditional sport has many a positive benefit. Not only will you be forced to face your own fears and rise above them to encourage your child’s dream but you will create an unbreakable bond with them in which they feel accepted and understood. There is a real sense of family teamwork with these sports with family offering support and encouragement without putting pressure on kids like you usually find in team-based sports such as soccer and rugby.

The best experiences for children are those that are personal, tactile and slow. Although extreme sports are certainly not slow, they are personal and extremely stimulating. These sports keep kids active and involved. This is especially important as we are in a society where screens are the norm. Lack of movement has often been linked to a decrease in attention span. An increase of awareness comes hand in hand with extreme sports and combats this effectively.

Although the sports are risky, it keeps them involved and if kids are not challenged by their activities, they lose interest. These sports teach them to navigate their fears and push their limits, trying something that is scary they realize they can overcome their fears and experience what lays on the other side of it, which is fundamental to their development.

As parents, you must learn to be proud of who they are going to be as it takes drive and great discipline to do adrenaline driven sports. Encouraging your kids to do what they love makes a difference, be that difference.