Anonymous wrote:How do you encourage your child who is not naturally strong and fast but has done okay in sports due to hard work? They practice on their own every single day but then some kids can just jump into a sport and be really fast and strong without doing the work. DC is getting discouraged and saying things like maybe I should just concentrate on my school work because some subjects do come naturally to DC without studying.
We don't expect DC to play in college or anything but we'd like them to feel confident and enjoy sports as an adult in the future. How do you encourage your DC and make them understand that hard work for the sake of hard work is sometimes good and that you don't need to be at the top to enjoy something?
Maybe he should concentrate on schoolwork, if that is what will let him shine. This will build his confidence. I bet you there are currently many kids better than your son in the very subject he is talented in.
You are not building his confidence by making him work hard at something he is not talented in, and watching other boys leapfrogging him. Not sure your approach is going to make him enjoy sport as adult, either. Hard work without results does not make you confident.