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Guide your kids so they succeed in sports

(NC) Kids who participate in hockey and other youth sports are learning just as much from the frustrations as they are from the fun. This may be hard for parents to witness however.
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(NC) Kids who participate in hockey and other youth sports are learning just as much from the frustrations as they are from the fun. This may be hard for parents to witness however.
Looking at sports through the lens of a protective parent – from all the bumps, bruises and scrapes, to getting benched by the coach – is not the way an enthusiastic child sees this chance to participate. So encourage your children to play the sports they love and remember that bumps-and-bruises are some of the best learning moments of all. 
A lot of it will be out of your control, but what you can do is lay the groundwork for your child to succeed in any and all of their athletic interests, starting with this:
Knowing right versus wrong
Fostering good habits at home will help your children develop into healthy, productive and well-balanced adults. Teaching right versus wrong gives them a sense of moral judgment in sports, but also in the daily choices they make. That means not succumbing to peer pressure to smoke or drink alcohol.
Eating healthfully
Providing proper nutrition not only fuels young bodies and minds, but also allows for the muscles and brain to recover quickly from stress, injury, or fatigue. Make sure your children are getting enough essential vitamins and nutrients. Stock your fridge with pre-cut fresh fruits and veggies and sneak extra vegetables into their favourite foods, like spaghetti. To help fill in potential nutritional gaps, provide a multivitamin and mineral supplement that includes vitamin D and calcium to help them develop physically—and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which has been shown to have neuroprotective benefits for the brain. 
“If you include DHA in a healthy diet during a young athlete’s grade school and high school years, it can aid in proper brain development and functioning,” says Dr. Majid Fotuhi, founder and chief medical officer of the NeurExpand Brain Center.
Participating in activities off the ice
Engagement in other activities beyond sports is important for young athletes. Recent research looked at a possible connection between an extracurricular activity and school performance. The overwhelming conclusion: those who participate in a club, sport, or arts program have better attendance, better grades and have a greater desire to continue on to college.
Valuing diversity
As in their future professional life, working alongside many different people (and personalities) helps young athletes work toward a common goal. They learn to treat teammates, classmates and friends with a common respect, and learn to listen to and respect their coaches, teachers, or the adults in charge. During the unlucky bounces and bad calls, they learn the importance of rallying together to overcome adversity.
These are experiences your children will not have if you keep them in a bubble, or in front of the television. Do what you can as a parent and watch your children grow in ways that will benefit them long after they hang up their skates.