As parents, you could certainly leave teaching these important qualities up to your child's coaches, but there's also a lot you can do to supplement and encourage toughness.
Teach Them It's OK to Fall—and to Fail
1 of 7
What if instead of coddling your child every time they fell, you clapped for them and cheered them on instead? Falling and failing are just life's versions of strength training–the more you do it, the easier it gets to pick yourself back up. Be encouraging and loving in your approach, but don't enable your child to give up and make excuses.
Teach Them How to Get Back Up
2 of 7
As amazing a feeling as it is to succeed at something, it can be even more rewarding to fail, try again and then succeed. As the old saying goes, "What happens when we fall off the horse? We get back on!" Make sure the kiddos know they have a support group no matter what happens, and that minor setbacks are just the beginning of a major comeback.
Teach Them To Fight
3 of 7
No, not literally–but teach them to attack problems and setbacks with vigor instead of cowering away or giving up. This attribute can be taught through mirroring behavior. If your children see you fight and never give up, then they'll likely adopt the same mentality.
Teach Them Crying Doesn't Solve Problems
4 of 7
We're not saying kids these days are crybabies–but they might be crybabies. Observe any youth soccer game and you'll see kids crying all over the place for no reason at all. Being physically and mentally tough entails a certain amount of emotional control and, while crying is often a natural, involuntary response to pain, it shouldn't be encouraged for minor setbacks.
Instead of resolving their problems with tears, teach your child to communicate and respond with words or actions.
Teach Them Self-Confidence
5 of 7
Confidence is its own type of mental toughness that comes from knowing you can do anything you set your mind to. Consistently encourage your child to push themself and help them reach their goals. Help them build confidence by achieving small goals that lift them up and empower them. If your child believes in herself and her abilities, she won't let small hurdles–or even big challenges–stop her or bring her down.
Teach Them About the Importance of Competition
6 of 7
In most athletics, there can only be one winner, which means there's always going to be a (most likely disappointed) loser. Teach your kids that as many times as they lose, there will be just as many victories–if not more–if they learn to accept defeat graciously and learn from their mistakes. Instilling a strong love for competition will make your kid both mentally and physically tougher because they will understand each loss is a valuable opportunity to bounce back.
About the Author
Discuss This Article