Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Skill set addressed:
Social (Interpersonal)

Project instructions or description of technique:
Being part of a sports team is a great way for your child to learn social skills. Sports teach kids to play fair, to play for the love of the game and to play cooperatively with a group.

1. If your child has expressed an interest in joining a sports league, have a discussion about the commitment that he or she will have to make.

2. Make sure that your child is willing to practice.

3. Discuss how the practices are going.

4. Be supportive and attend your child? games. Be sure to help your child understand that although winning is great, working as a team is the real accomplishment.

5. Encourage your child to accept that on a team, no one person can have all the attention. Cooperation is crucial to success!

6. Go to sports events with your child to improve his or her knowledge of the game and (hopefully) good sportsmanship.

7. Make time to play sports with your child to improve his or her skills as well as create a special bond between the two of you.