As a coach I have had the luxury of witnessing the full gamut of parenting styles. Over the past 10 years I have been able to learn from some amazing parents, and also learned what I will try to avoid doing as I father my own kids. With my second child due in a week, this is an exciting time for us, and also a time to reflect on my role as coach, father, and influencer. I can say with 100% certainty I am deeply concerned about the loss of independence kids of this generation experience. As the cliches go, ‘when I was young’ I had a lot more freedom. Freedom to explore. Freedom to take risks. Freedom to fail. Freedom to decide to overcome said failure. As a youth hockey coach I get the chance, an hour at a time, to encourage kids to try new moves, tricks, to fall down, and to fail. I also get the chance to celebrate when I catch players being awesome!
Free Range Kids:
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I must confess I obsessively use my car rides to rinks to listen to podcasts, expanding my knowledge and authority on coaching, entrepreneurship, blogging, and recently, parenting. Today I am jacked up and excited to have discovered my latest authority on parenting (thanks to my child care providers Roy and Heather). How cool is it that my own daycare has put me on to ‘The World’s Worst Mom’, Lenore Skenazy, and I am grateful! I’m grateful that my kids spend my working days in a home that encourages exploration, the odd boo boo, and I’m sure, the odd disappointment/self-discovery/failure/(insert other words here that describe events that will shape my children’s characters). Lenore’s latest book, Free Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-reliant Children (Without Going Nuts With Worry) is ordered, shipped, and I can’t wait to read more. I’ve been on her blog for the last hour and feel calm just reading as my head nods “YES!”
This post is relevant for parents and coaches. As coaches we have a significant window of opportunity to influence world views of children. We are influencers in their lives they will remember for ever. For better, or for worse. Be the positive chance you want to see in the world!
MEET LENORE SKENAZY from DAVID SCHULDER on Vimeo.
Hi Nate,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the tip! I find it interesting that when I was a kid all the stuff she talks about was just common sense and the way kids were treated.
I think it’s much healthier for everyone when parents can relax and let kids explore the world around them and learn from what they find. It helps kids become more confident in themselves, too. Of course I wouldn’t send a one year old on the Skytrain by himself, but he sure does love seeing if he can climb on that piece of playground equipment. He beams with excitement every time he finds out he really CAN go higher and further than he thought!
Isn’t that truly what every parent wants for their kid – to grow up confident, knowing they are loved in their core, and not afraid to try new things?
Thank you for the lovely compliment and for sharing a great article with us!
-Heather