Should children follow the path of education or a sports career, which is still a difficult choice for many families in Vietnam, as the reality is that Vietnamese sports still have many issues and are not always rosy. However, if you choose the sports path, parents will need to know how to nurture from the smallest details.
Sports have moments of glory and can have a strong impact on young children's aspirations and determination to follow this path. At that time, how parents behave is a crucial factor, the starting point for the success or failure of a dream. When children are enthusiastic about sports and want to become an athlete, one way to think about it is that 'this is a great opportunity to establish healthy behaviors for them throughout their lives.'
However, the starting point is not expectation. For parents, the main message is to keep sports interesting and positive for your child. A 2016 study based on fathers whose children play soccer has identified 3 ways that parents can support their children in a healthy way.
One is empathetic communication. Parents listen to their children without judging, accept their difficulties, and provide unconditional support.
Two is a positive approach. This means cheering without advising (so that the child's coach can provide advice), always being positive regardless of the outcome, and praising smaller achievements rather than just big wins.
Three is reasonable expectations. Do not expect not to fail or exaggerate the results and do not require children to become something they are not. Remember, they are just children.
Experts have repeatedly emphasized that developing school sports is an important foundation for the development of the national sports industry, but Vietnamese sports are still unable to do so due to many difficulties.
