World cup happens every four years and you’ll agree, it’s the most manic game to watch. It is the one time families may unanimously gather round their TV sets to watch a game of football. There’s no pressure to support league teams but people show patriotism towards their country, continent or loyalty as a fan. It’s that time family fights have a happy ending. It’s also the time you’ll notice daddy comes home early from work and plays with the kids before the game. It’s also the the time when mama participates to cheer the game till late without complaining. These 31 days of football fever are sure to bring happiness into many homes and there are lessons that we could pick for parenting our kids.
Argentinian fans can relate. Despite having star players on the squad, their record hasn’t been as expected. Their lucky stars have managed to get them to the last 16(wish them luck all the way). It’s so important for kids to know that giving up is never an option. And not just that, nothing in life comes easy including a goal.
3. Good players practice until they get it right. Great players practice until they never get it wrong.
World cup is a perfect opportunity to understand why some players are said to be great and are celebrated world over. It’s all in their effort, passion, enthusiasm, grit and love of the game and how they play. Children need to understand the purpose of practice and exercise in keeping fit and accumulating the knowledge they need to master a thing.
4. Keep your eye on the ball and the goal.
Focus is key to making it in life and it’s a good way to challenge our kids to maintain focus in instruction, a sport they play, homework and so much more as a good way of achieving success. On the flip side, kids can learn that winning isn’t everything. In spite of it, they have to do their best. Passion and loving what they do is as important as what they do.
5. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Sometimes siblings fight or you find children being out rightly selfish. Team sports encourages values such as sharing, kindness, sacrifice for others and lifting others up instead of only seeing faults. These traits can go a long way in teaching kids their valuable contributions to the family or helping out other kids in studies. Kids need to know how to respect team members for their different strengths and that life isn’t just about them.
6. Attacking others from behind never ends well.
Sometimes we celebrate people and at times we back stab them. It happens to adults and kids too. And there are times we want to play rough in the name of winning. Upholding values is a key component to character building such as integrity, leadership, playing by the rules or supporting a team member. Kids can learn from the yellow cards, red cards and penalties when they make unprofitable attacks.
7. Falling isn’t all that bad.
With all the running around in the field, the players fall, rise up and move on. Wasting time on the field is penalised unless one is really hurt. This offers a big lesson to children on rising up when you fall. Children can be made to learn that in life, people fall but the glory is in picking themselves up and keep pressing on. Young children can learn not to take falling as something they always have to cry about because grown men fall too. and that’s OK.
8. The world is a global village.
You don’t have to travel the world for your children to appreciate other people from other parts of the world. It’s a time they can learn geography of countries and continents. It’s also a time where you can take interests in appreciating other country’s strengths. For example, the Kenyan team may not be in the world cup but we still make the best marathoners in the world.
What other lessons can our kids learn from the World Cup? Please share in the comment section below. Thanks and may the best team win.
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