Youth, School, and Kids Sports

Joining a sports team encourages your child to be active, make friends, try new skills and learn sportsmanship. So choose sports for kids with care.

With kids starting soccer at 3 and swim team at 5, teaching sportsmanship is more important than ever. Forty million kids are playing youth sports today. This means a greater emphasis on winning, but also offers an opportunity to teach sportsmanship early and often. The best time to instill values is when kids are younger.

Find 10 ways to save money on youth sports, from registering early to snagging a scholarship.

Find the best ways to respond to "I quit!" Before you say no, try to find the underlying reason.

Dealing with disappointment in sports is an opportunity for kids to learn character traits like resilience, determination, and good sportsmanship.

Is your child facing problems on the playing field? Talk to the coach to help resolve problems and help your child succeed in youth sports.

Youth sports provide many benefits. Here's how youth sports parents can make sure young athletes are getting the most from their participation.

When you support the coach, your child learns more and will likely enjoy sports more too. You can help support coaches even if you don't know anything about your child's sport.

Whether you were a girl athlete, you're the parent of one, or both, share your thoughts: What benefits do sports bring to girls? Why are sports important for girls, or for you or your daughter in particular?

Learn what healthy snacks to give kids before a game, after a game, and at half-time. Kids' nutritional needs are different in the hours before and after physical activity, so provide healthy snacks that give young athletes the nutrients they need.

Improve half-time or post-game sports snacks by asking your child's league to institute a healthy snack policy. This sample letter to parents will get you started.

Win or lose, boost your child's self-esteem with supportive comments and questions after games, races, and other sporting events.

When one kid has practice here and another has a game waaay over there , at the same time, what's a parent to do? It's true that kids' sports and other activities can wreak havoc on the family schedule, especially when you have more than one child. These time management tips will help you organize your family schedule so you can fit in the...

After a sports practice or extended play session, or any time your child's muscles feel tense or tight, encourage her to try some simple kids' stretching exercises. She should stretch when her muscles are warmed up. These kids' stretching exercises are easy to do and feel good.

A sports summer camp program can help your child gain confidence, improve skills, and build strength. This guide offers advice, and resources for all aspects of sports camps.

A summer sports camp can help your child strengthen skills, meet new people, learn new things, and have fun. Learn more about how to choose the right camp for your sports-loving kid.

Shuttling kids to lessons, classes, and other events can leave sports parents with lots of waiting time to fill. Not every activity is drop-and-go or something kids can attend right after school. Experienced sports parents learn this early and come prepared. Here are 10 things sports parents can do during a child's practice time (during games, your job is to cheer for your kid!).

Toddlers and preschoolers spend a lot of time tagging along after their siblings. Many parents have little choice but to bring younger children along when they drive older ones to sports practices and other activities. If you have tag-along toddlers, be prepared. These toys, games, and activities will help keep them busy.

Guide review of Soccer for Moms: Game & Parenting Essentials for Healthy Kids by Kerrie Paige, published by Plain White Press.