Ways to Encourage Kids to Love Sports

In this day and age of  WII , XBOX and play stations, what are the ways to encourage kids to love sports. And by sports, I meant, the real one - sports which can actually make the kids perspire, touch the ball or actually run around and go some actual distance. 

Since it was National Sports Holiday in Qatar recently and our Kylie just finished her school's Sports Day before the half-term break, we are so focused into sports. Here goes our recommended ways to encourage kids to love sports. It worked for us well, maybe it will work for other kids. 

1. Do not buy WII, XBOX or Playstations. Or if you have already, just get rid of it. Organize a Yard Sale and sell them at  great prices. People without kids would love them for sure. Seriously, kids of early age don't need them just yet. Maybe when they reach their teens. But by then they would have been completely passionate about sports already. These electronic gadgets are way overrated, we think. Can't live without them to entertain kids? Yeah, right? WRONG! We live in a desert and we don't own one. There are lots of things to do other than gadgets. 

2. Spend time playing outdoors with them. Sports for kids doesn't have to be structured yet. Just get out and play with kids. Run after them. Let them run after you. Kick the ball. Chase the ball. Pass the ball. Shoot the ball. Dodge. Oh, the endless ways to play with kids outdoors. 

3. Spend time playing indoors with them. When the heat becomes unbearable outside (or cold, depends on what part of the world you come from!) play indoors. Run around. Chase the ball. Pass the ball. But be careful not to break any furniture and appliances  or what the heck! Another skills kids could master, being gentle in sports. If it is too much  of a risk to play sports at home, be resourceful in finding an indoor sports club! 

4. Cheer! Once in school, encourage them to participate in sports activities.And always make sure to be there for them when they join sports competition. To encourage kids in any activities, we need to spend time with them, parents need to give attention. Cheeeeeerrrrr for them! In all aspects of life, a little cheer goes a long way. It's true in life and very true with kids.

5. Have Fun.  Don't force sports to kids. Just show them how fun sports could be and they will start enjoying these activities. Fun is the key word. Discontinue if you don't find the kids enjoying things. They may like other activities, yes, but this does not necessarily mean that they hate other sports. 

6. Expose to all form of sports. Don't limit to one type of sports only. Provide opportunity for them to enjoy variety of sports - basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, gymnastics and of course, football. Who knows what sports they would really really love. Sometimes we have to say no to the good, to find a YES for the best. 

Playball 

7. Read about sports and famous people in sports.  As we have developed already the love for books, it is just fitting to use this love to find another love. Reading stimulate ideas and desire for kids. Keep reading Step-Into-Reading books like  Babe Ruth Saves Baseball! (Step into Reading 3) and Baseball's Best: Five True Stories (Step-Into-Reading, Step 5). These books give lots of ideas about sports and how athletes become so successful in life because of sports. And ended up not having to work all their lives because they are doing something they really LOVE. And we all know how most of the athletes are well paid and has a well-rounded life. (well, at least, that's what we intend to believe.) 

8. Watch Sports live and in TV. As I have mentioned in our posts about Qatar National Sports Day, we are very lucky that the country supports sports and there are lots of activities in sports that families could participate in. We started watching football since Azkals, the Filipino team was competing. We were a little biased but it was a good start. We'll try to watch more sports in the future and this will not be limited to football. We just can't wait for World Cup 2022 in Qatar! This means lots of sports event leading to that major event. For the mean time, we justify watching TV for movies like Space Jam! That movie is a classic in learning how to love sports, right? 

9. Provide role model. Parents should join sports, too. Good for the heart, good for the mind. And great if kids could watch how parents enjoy sports as well. Yes, we did a little bit of this too  as the hubby joined the mini-marathon during the Sports Day. Again, fingers crossed, we'll try to join for activities like this and make sure the kids are watching. Monkey see, monkey do. Here's us hoping that we don't consider watching football on TV and other sports as part of participation. As I have said, monkey see, monkey do. 

10. Dream. Let the kids imagine themselves as a famous sports personality when they grow up.  This would encourage them to practice while there are young. Setting a vision and a dream is never too early. 

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AZKALS IN DOHA!

AZKALS IN DOHA! We did watch them and had lots of fun. After all, we were gearing up for the SPORTS IS LIFE attitude since Qatar is so conducive to this with the Qatar National Sports Day and other event s going on in the country (Hello, Qatar 2022!)

ready for the Azkals game in Doha! x

It was the first for all of us to watch a football match. For the husband, it was his first time to witness how passionate Filipinos are when it comes to BASKETBALL! (Damn right, basketball it is - imagine the crowd cheering "travelling" and DEFENSE! among other basket ball terms! - LOL!)

we support AZKALS all the way! HOORAAAH

But I suppose it's a good start for Philippine Football. AZKALS won 3-1! Could have been more if the players didn't aim for the basket instead of the goalie (our not-so private joke during the game- haha!) The husband was surprised the Pinoy team actually won. And NOW he believes that the team would actually create another market for the game. And that there's going to be a rematch next year! YAY!

Kylie definitely enjoyed her first football match; Kerim enjoyed eating during the game (well, we all did.) He did enjoy cheering with the crowd.

Kylie: I like No. 12, he's cute! OH BOY!

TATA Charissa definitely had her eyes on NO. 12. Phil, I suppose. Never mind the football, just the pretty face! Oh boy!

By the time the football grow so much popularity, here's us hoping that Kerim would be one of those Pinoy football player with the pretty face.

Start kicking, our Kerimpot! Woohoo!

Kerim won a face towel from PHIL! WOOHOO! Lucky catch!

For all of us, it was a perfect night to enjoy our first football match, - perfect companions, perfect weather, perfect score, perfect team!

the Turknoys and their nannies - love it!

We are looking forward to more games in the future.


GO AZKALS!


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So How Was Your Qatar National Sports Day 2012?

So how was your Qatar National Sports Day 2012? According to most of our friends in Qatar, they all had a blast. It was a great holiday in Qatar and everybody had great fun living the "SPORTS IS A LIFESTYLE" mantra.

We explored the choice of going to Katara or Corniche but eventually ended up in Aspire. Katara all day activities received such great feedback as well as the Corniche events. As for us, we endured a loongggggg and grueling QNB Mini- Marathon in Aspire. It was such a lousy organization on the part of QNB. They did ask participants to register online yet ended up accepting registration during the day which resulted in way too many participants that they can handle as well as well the long wait. Seriously, two hours of lining up in the registration is just too much. And the husband ended up not getting give aways for participants. It was not really worth it.

And after the mini-marathon, it almost got violent as they can't decide who actually won the race or who is eligible for "prizes". Seriously, I thought stampede will actually happen. Actually, seemed that there was already, the place was such a mess indeed. LOUSY!

While the husband was in queue, Mommy and the kids went to the closest bouncy castles in Aspire. The area we went to had a big crowd - magic show, free food and mascots. It was so unsafe though to go through the bouncy castles. The power went on and off - hence, the bouncy castles got inflated while kids were playing on it - Danger Galore! But other wise, it's okay. But of course, I mind a lot about the kids bumping their head and body in the event of deflated bouncy castle - so we didn't enjoy it much. Picture the frustration in the kids as their mother drag them out of the bouncy castle minute after they started playing. Oh gosh!

kids having fun for one full minute before this gets deflated - bummer!

Well, there are mascots and free rides - this we get to enjoy a bit.

Anyway, rant over.

Moving on to the KIDS LESSONS for the day - SPORTS IS FUN, HEALTHY AND COMPETITION AGAINST YOURSELF IS THE BEST! 


We didn't focus on their father winning the race, but more on TRYING HARD to complete the race.  Rest  assured that we would be participating in more races and marathons and the kids will be joining too. Living in Qatar has lots of perks, including the opportunity to teach the importance of sports. 

start of the race - all smiles!

"I made it to the finish line!"

"Can I die now? "

It was an awesome day! Thank you, Qatar!




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Qatar National Sports Day 2012

It's official! Qatar National Sports Day on the 14th February 2012 is Qatar's National Holiday. And since it's the first time this year of this holiday, it is promising to be a holiday to remember already.

Emiri Decision No. 80 of 2011: Second Tuesday of February every year shall be observed as the National Sports Day. All government ministries and agencies and firms and establishments in the private sector shall do the needful to organise a wide range of sports activities on that day for different age groups. It shall be deemed as an official paid holiday. 

So what to do on this holiday which happened to be coinciding this year with Valentine's Day? There are really lots of choices. Top of our choice is the activities laid out by Katara. 

The day will kick start with a relaxing session of Yoga on the beach followed by a second ladies only yoga session, which will take place as part of the women’s fitness day. Ladies only activities include Zumba and a full body work out. Concurrently, a Katara Mini Marathon will also take place including a special run for under 16’s which will take place between 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The day will feature a table tennis zone and games of beach volleyball and beach football in addition to an exclusive football match that will add to the excitement. The match will host the former national Qatari team who will take on the current national team. Several professional fencing athletes will also compete in a fencing show which will take place outside of the amphitheater at 2:00pm and 5:00pm.

On the other hand, Katara’s Kidszone will offer games and activities for different age groups, including competitions, running and jumping ropes. To ensure a memorable experience, 150 bicycles will be on display and available free of charge for visitors to enjoy the breathtaking views of Katara.

Second choice will be at Aspire where the Turk might be joining the fun run (finger crossed that he pushed through with this!) .

The highlight of Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) celebrations will be an open-to-all public walkathon “Discover Aspire Zone Facilities” where participants will have the opportunity to involve themselves in a relaxed, non-competitive 3km walk around the award-winning stadia and venues and learn about the world-class facilities that exist at AZF. 

A special feature of the National Sports Day celebrations within the Aspire Zone will be the launching of Qatar’s 2020 Olympic Games application file, which will begin its journey to the IOC in Switzerland on this day. 

And there's also a walkathon arranged in Corniche.


We'll just choose the one with less traffic and probably decide on the spot!


Happy National Sports Day, Qatar!

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