Despite some might think sports are only a mere way of entertainment, it actually holds within its practice relevant features for children’s life development, such as helping them grow physical skills, make friends, get exercise, have fun, learn to play fair, learn to play as a member of a team and improve self-esteem.

Nonetheless, in contemporary society, sports culture has turn out to be more of a money making business thing rather than a means of having fun and learning, what becomes evident through the highly stressful, competitive, “win at all costs” approach which have been spread at colleges and even within the professional athletic environment.

The sad thing about this all is that these attitudes have a relevant impact on the world of children’s sports and athletics, creating an unhealthy environment where negative behaviours taught to children will be carried over by them to adult life.

Given this, it is up to parents to take an active role in creating the best way for their child to develop good sportsmanship, which includes a series of factors such as the following:

• Provide your children with emotional support and complimentary feedback.
• Keep your feet on the ground: have realistic expectations for them.
• Be present at some games and be sure to talk about their performances afterwards.
• Make an effort to learn about your children’s sport and support their involvement in it.
• Help them open up themselves with you about their experiences with the coach and the other team members.
• Teach them to be resilient: they must learn how to handle disappointments and to lose.
• Be an example: model respectful spectator behaviour.

Copyright: NataSnow

It is comprehensive that, in order to follow all these factors, time and work schedule are required; however, once you dive into it, you are certainly going to become more knowledgeable about the coaching, team values, behaviors, and attitudes. Your child’s behavior and attitude are nothing but a combination of the coaching and your discussions about good sportsmanship and fair play.

Another important thing to be taken into account is talking about what your child observes in sports events. For example, whenever bad sportsmanship occurs, discuss other alternatives through which the situation could have been faced. At first you may assume that in the heat of the competition it might be difficult to maintain both control and respect for others; however, stressing that disrespectful behavior is unacceptable is of utmost importance. Keep in mind that success doesn’t mean winning and failure doesn’t mean losing.

It is also very meaningful observing the methods used by your child’s coach. Whether you disagree with something, you both, as adults, might have a conversation about what is relevant for the children to learn. If the issue might not be changed, at least you have clearly shown how you would like your child to be taught. On the other hand, if you find the coach irresponsible, you might want to discuss the matter with those in control of the school or the league activities, and if the problem persists, you might want to withdraw your child.

Among other aspects, that is what it means to be a parent: being actively involved and talking with your children about their lives. Being proud of accomplishments, sharing in wins and defeats, and talking to them about what has happened leads them to grow within themselves skills and capacities for succeeding in life. Every lesson learnt during children’s sports have the power to shape values and behaviors for adult life.

The post The Impacts of Sports upon Children’s Lives and Parenting appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Taking a child to his or her first professional sporting event can be fun and exhilarating but can also be nerve-wrecking and overwhelming. That is why it’s important to be prepared before you go to make the occasion as memorable and positive as possible.

What is the right age to bring your child to a sporting event? Unfortunately there’s typically no rule to follow for that so use your best judgment and make sure your child is at the age that both you, and he or she, will be comfortable. Take into consideration how loud the event may be – should you bring headphones just in case to protect your child’s ears? Also be wary of climate conditions – don’t forget to hydrate, use sunscreen or bring a jacket, depending on the forecast. If your child is comfortable in his or her surroundings, it’ll make the event way more fun for all!

Most children will be too young to really understand and follow what’s going on at a sporting event, so how do you keep them entertained? Snacks are always a must! And getting them a piece of memorabilia from the team shop (like a flag, ball or toy car) will keep them occupied and is a great souvenir from your time together.

If you’re a diehard sports fan, you have to come to terms with the fact that you probably won’t be paying much attention to the game if you’ve brought your child. But this is your opportunity to take your focus away from the score and teach your child about what’s going on and the rules of the game. This special bonding time is priceless.

Also, don’t forget a camera – you will definitely want to capture all of the memories! Going with my 3-year-old cousin to his first professional baseball game is something I’ll never forget because of the great pictures I captured. His favorite part of the game was definitely doing the “Mexican wave” but I know he also enjoyed learning all about the sport in person from his dad and the atmosphere around him.

Have you taken your child to his or her first sporting event? Or, do you remember yours as a child? Share your memories in the comment section below!

The post Your Child’s First Sporting Event appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Throughout our lives, we are surrounded by people who tell us that we are not good enough, that we can’t do it, that we’re not talented enough. And somewhere, along the line, we start to believe them, and begin to embrace being average. We forget our childhood dreams. We forget all about astronauts, unknown lands, miraculous discoveries, impossible accomplishments. We forget that boys and girls can dream the same dreams and have the same goals. It’s so much easier, isn’t? To play the standard role. But, from time to time, there is someone who reminds us that we all should strive for greatness. One of those people is 9-year old Milla Bizzotto.

Hey guys! I am so honored to be featured as one of the "Extreme Kids" on NBC's Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist this Sunday, Aug 7th, 8am EST! Hope you guys can tune in! #ocrtraining #iamtheantibully #fma #extremekids #kidswithamessage #kidswithdetermination #kidswhoinspire #inspirationfortheipadgeneration #keepinspiring

A post shared by Milla Star (@millastarfma) on Aug 4, 2016 at 10:53am PDT

Little Milla, who weighs 24 kilograms, has finished the 24-hour Battlefrog challenge – a U.S Navy-designed obstacle course. She became the youngest competitor in the Battlefrog race and to prepare, she had to train for 9 months, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day. She decided the only hero she needed was herself. . Like every strong protagonist, she has had to deal with adversity which has motivated her to rise to greatness. Milla was a victim of bullying in school and decided to become empowered through physical fitness.

Stretching anywhere!!! #InspirationForTheIpadGeneration #Spartan #race #run #running #ocr #workout #training #spartanrace #abs #fit #fitgirls #kids #fitkids #beast #beastmode #gym #gymlife #gymrat #gymmotivation #dedication #headstand #workhard #fitFAM #FMA #igfitness #igmiami #fitlife #lifestyle #love #workhard

A photo posted by Milla Star (@millastarfma) on Jan 12, 2016 at 3:32pm PST

Coach Christian Bizotto, from South Florida,who runs a gym, began training with Milla and her father,  and says she wishes to lead a positive movement that will inspire the ‘ipad generation.’

I think the bullying thing has died down without her having to take physical action just because her outlook is so much different now that she knows how to defend herself, her father said.

Working on our handstand push-ups ??? #ifatfirstyoudontsucceed #dontgiveup #inspirationfortheipadgeneration #teamantibully #iamtheantibully

A photo posted by Milla Star (@millastarfma) on Jun 3, 2016 at 2:10pm PDT

I don’t want to play video games. I don’t want to Hoverboard. I don’t want to do things to make life easier. I want to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I have one body and it’s all I want and all I love, she recently told the Miami Herald

This little girl also finished the Spartan race last year with her grandma and her father crossing the finishing line together holding hands. Milla told CBS Miami Local:

I don’t want people to quit because they don’t believe in themselves because someone else says that they can believe in themselves.

Once I heard someone say how adversity causes some to break, others to break records. Learning to deal with and overcome adversity is what builds character and resilience. Bad things will happen, it’s inevitable. And when they do happen we are presented with a choice – to crumble down or rise above and become a stronger and wiser.

Are you going to be the hero of your story or are you just waiting to be saved?

The post 9-year Old Girl Completed US Navy Seals Obstacle Course appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

From my early childhood I had a great interest in sports and outdoor activities, such as playing with my friends in the park or at the local playground. I was lucky enough that my parents supported me in almost everything, including sports, so they helped me find the activity that would be just right for me.

Even before I reached school age, I practiced tennis. However, team sports were more appealing to me, so  I started with volleyball, and after a while turned to basketball. I remember I spent a lot of time on basketball courts during my school years. There were no gadgets, ipads, and other similar things. All the kids had fun outside. Good old times, I would say. Although I didn’t become a professional athlete, I’m glad my parents let me engage in sports which I much enjoyed. They helped me develop physically in the best possible way and shaped my personality in a good and healthy environment.

If you have children, you should introduce sports into their lives. However, make sure you aren’t pushing them too hard. Instead, be patient and  encourage them to try everything they like because that is the only way to spark interest in them.  Not only will they enjoy doing things they like but they will also be more physically active and will spend less time in front of the screen. That is a win-win situation, don’t you think?

However, the right timing is crucial here.

So when should kids start playing sports, given that their physical and mental development is highly individual?

It’s not possible to determine universal rule regarding this issue. Australian experts say children are generally ready to practice sports at 8-10 years. Researchers at Mayo Clinic in the USA believe that kids at the age of six are physically and mentally prepared to engage in team sports.  On the other hand, according to Serbian doctors, the best time for children to start playing sports is when they are seven, right after they enter primary school.

Sport fills children with  self confidence, it nurtures their team spirit, and equips them with the right set of skills to help them overcome any obstacles or difficulties the life may bring, like starting school for the first time.

Copyright: Zurijeta

What to do when your child shows an interest in sports? How you can encourage him to start practicing?

First of all, don’t force your child to hold a tennis racket if he would gladly kick the ball on the football field instead. This can be counterproductive and it could make him unwilling to practice particular sport. Put yourself into  his shoes for a second and imagine you dream to become a pro golfer, and someone tells you it’s better to be a swimmer.

Don’t chase your lost dreams!  Let your kids express their own individuality.  Let them  choose the sport they want, and explain to them  that sport is a great opportunity for them to engage in, to have fun and make new friends.

If your child shows no interest in sports, try to find the cause for this. Perhaps he or she are  just shy, scared or have some other minor problems (lack of confidence, for example). Be patient and try to help your child to start believing in himself and his abilities.

Copyright: Brocreative

What sport should your kid play first?

If we take into account development of basic motor skills, athletics should be on top of the list, being the best in this aspect. Children learn running techniques, develop speed and agility, balance and coordination, accuracy of movements, flexibility – everything they need to know before they continue to   another sport.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet 13-year-old Mina Gajic. She has been practicing athletics since she was eight. However, she didn’t start with the athletics first. The first sport she got exposed to was  gymnastics, but she found that she didn’t enjoy it as much as she should have and decided to pursue  running instead. Since then she has won nearly 200 medals in various competitions in Serbia (mostly in the 600 meters), leaving behind her three year older opponents.

But  the medals were not the reason why Mina decided to engage in athletics. It was her love for the sport. She achieved success only after a lot of hard work, apart from being a unique athletic talent.

If your child chooses any other sport, coaches should help him develop basic sports skills in the beginning. Otherwise, your child won’t get much from their training. If proper habits and abilities in terms of basic motor skills are not mastered and developed in time, then technical and tactical skills essential for any sport can’t be improved in the right way either, as adequate motor skills are lacking to support these demands.

Copyright: Pressmaster

Finally, what the child wants should count most

It’s important that the particular sport matches with the child’s personality style, athletic ability and interest level. Wrong choices bring unequal chances for success in the sports field, increase the  risk of injuries, lead to a loss of interest in sports, and can cause great anxiety and frustration.

What’s even more important is to NOT  force your children to become STAR ATHLETES such as Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Lionel Messi or Usain Bolt. Many parents make mistakes by automatically enrolling their kids into the sport they once used to practice. This negatively affects their children’s personality. It also makes them feel not good enough if they are not able to satisfy their parents’ expectations and be the best players on the court.

Remember: any kind of physical activity or exercise is better than no physical activity at all. Every child is different. Based on his personality and motor skills he will be more or less interested in sports and prefer team sports rather than individual ones and vice versa.

When children are having a great time, it means they are playing, and they are able to do their best. Thus, they can keep developing and progressing and finally reach their full potentials.

Copyright: Kaderov Andrii

Special thanks to Tamara Stojmenović, MD for her help and support in writing this article.

The post When Should Kids Start Playing Sports? appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

From the moment Harrison Saladini picked up a racquet, the passion for tennis was clear.    On more than one occasion, he has described the court as a place where he feels free and completely at peace.  This may seem counterintuitive considering the enormous pressures youngsters face not only on their bodies but also on every moment of their time.

To me, tennis is a driving force, a channel for emotion, an underlying quest for excellence that demands just a little more each and every day and settles for nothing less than the very best you can be.  There is no cover and there are no excuses, it is combat where only one will survive.  Most importantly, it is a community of other players and coaches who share this ideology, says Harrison.

Harrison practices five-days a week and has tournaments  most holidays and weekends.  Given it is a year-round sport, there is very little down-time  for a 12-year-old.  Yet, he greets each day with the same determination and enthusiasm for his training and academics as the day before.

Since the very first day, I knew  that tennis was no ordinary sport and that the challenges would be many but the rewards most worthwhile. Tennis not only has kept me in optimal physical condition, it has sharpened my focus and heightened my emotional and mental acuity.  In so doing, I have learned many valuable lessons such as the tremendous power of composure, persistence even for seemingly unachievable tasks, the setting of short and long term goals, and an unyielding work ethic, he explains.

Harrison has very high aspirations both academically and athletically and takes his responsibilities very seriously.He has earned many academic awards such as The National Social Studies Award three years in a row including a perfect score in 2008 as well as recognition for outstanding achievement on a multitude of National exams.  He has also earned recognition for his tremendous integrity and honesty including academic honor and kindness awards as well as a good sportsmanship award at the USTA National tournament this past August. To hone his creative skills, he studied theater and voice since the age of five and had the great honor of being one of five children chosen to sing in the 2012 Kenny Rogers Christmas concert.

As a Mensan since the age of five and lifetime inductee to Intertel, 14-hour days are typical and working hard on and off the court is a daily reality.  As a result, Harrison says he  has  learned to be  impeccably organized and self-motivated.  By making the very best use of his time, he has not only learned to be highly efficient but, to never take a single minute for granted.

Tennis has taught me the true meaning of sacrifice and to appreciate not only my success but to learn from my setbacks. Whether I hit a winner or ace a test, the court has led me to the very best I can be,  he says.

Young  Harrison Saladini trains with  his coach and mentor Sergei Igel who not only trains and instructs him but also imparts invaluable wisdom.

As an inspiration, my coach regularly idealizes my role model, Novak Djokovic, who embodies the very essence of a champion not only athletically but, as a person. Novak is a  tremendous example not only as an athlete but as a person of the highest integrity. Tennis is at its very best when it is being enjoyed not only by the players but by all who embrace the sport and  Novak, always brings a smile to the court!

The post In the Spotlight: Young Tennis Talent, Harrison Saladini appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Heroes are made, not born.

And only few Filipinos can exemplify this quote better than Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines’ primary source of pride and inspiration. From an impoverished life he fought his way to the top, emerging as the first and only eight-division world champion with ten world titles under his belt. Thanks to his achievements, Pacquiao has gained multitude of fans from around the world, with some experts describing him as the history’s finest boxer.

But what makes Manny Pacquiao one-of-a-kind? What are the forces that have pushed him to excel in boxing and even explore music, basketball, and politics among others?

A Manny Pacquiao fight may last only for 36 minutes.

But in those 36 minutes, crime rate drops to zero.

In those 36 minutes, peace reigns in the Philippines.

In those 36 minutes,  Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao makes the Filipinos forget there ever was a problem of poverty in their homeland.

Manny Pacquiao took the road less travelled to where he is now. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how far this man has come with all the millions, cars, houses and huge entourages he now rolls with. But before he was appearing in movies, commercials and donning the covers of magazines around the world, Pacquiao was busy hustling the streets of General Santos City to find something to eat.

Growing up exposed to the realities of poverty and hunger, Manny’s first dream he remembered having as a child was that of a “table of bowls overflowing with food“ and his family smiling as “they ate their fill, and their stomachs were content for an entire day.

Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon in MIndanao here in the Philippines. Born of a typical poverty-stricken Filipino family, Manny Pacquiao left elementary school when his father left his mother to be with another woman.

He was skinny. He was lost. And just like a lot of adolescent kids in the Philippines, he was an out-of-school youth. But one thing Pacquiao wasn’t and still is not, is lazy. Pacquiao always tried to find ways to better himself based on what he knew. He tried his hand at selling cigarettes and donuts and repacking garlic to re-sell so he can make some coin. He tried doing construction work and moved to Manila to find money making opportunities. And then he found boxing.

When not wandering the streets to sell his merchandise, he would be seen visiting other nearby villages and towns to compete for boxing matches most especially during town fiestas for a reward of just P150 (~US$3) for winners and P100 (~US$2) for the loser. The money that he gets would be a great help for his mom to support their living expenses, and for buying rice.

Sadly, the brutality of Pacquiao’s early years, Dickensian to most western eyes, is far from unusual in his home country of the Philippines, where nearly 6% of children are orphaned and 40% of its 90 million people wallow in abject poverty.

Work Hard if  You Want Success

Such a childhood helped him learn many important lessons. The first of all – for success you need to work hard. Poverty, the lack of opportunity, not having education, these are all challenges. They are not reasons to concede defeat. If you work hard, good things will happen. We all have our gifts and talents. When the means are not there for you, you have to make it for yourself.

Furthermore, when asked about his formula for success, Manny often says dedication, perseverance, courage, extreme self-discipline and prayer are his secrets. He called the system the “Power Three.” This three-step process involves:

1.      Your goals
2.     A  system to reach those goals
3.     Discipline to maintain your system until you reach your goals.

He once claimed:

Anyone will succeed in whatever field of endeavor in life by acquiring the same virtues and character that boxing world champions do.

Truly, Manny Pacquiao is one of the best athletes in the world not only in his profession but also to his friends as well. Although he is universally considered the best boxer in the world and ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 6th wealthiest athlete, he never flashed his money, never wore gold and diamonds to brag to his friends, nor he treated people like they are inferior to him. He kept his same old friends, and these friends are poor, some are missing a tooth, barefooted, and wrinkled shirts with old stains on them. He welcomed them to his mansion, played basketball in the shantytowns of his hometown, and always gives credits to the people who are the dearest to him.

Manny is a pioneer for young individuals who seeks success in life, respect for others, and is a symbol of modesty and professionalism!

The Importance of Education

The other lesson he learned is the importance of education. In spite of having millions, Manny always wanted to improve, to learn, to work on himself, to be a better man. Therefore he wished to continue with schooling he once left.

Pacquiao completed his elementary education at Saavedra Saway Elementary School in General Santos City, but dropped out of high school due to extreme poverty. He left his home at age 14 because his mother, who had six children, was not making enough money to support her family. But, in February 2007 he took, and passed, a high school equivalency exam making him eligible for college education. He was awarded with a high school diploma by the Department of Education. Pacquiao enrolled for a college degree in business management at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) in his hometown in General Santos City. On February 18, 2009, Pacquiao was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) by Southwestern University (SWU) at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino in Lahug, Cebu City in recognition of his boxing achievements and humanitarian work.

In preparation for his career as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Pacquiao enrolled in the Certificate Course in Development, Legislation and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines ““ Graduate School of Public and Development Management (DAP-GSPDM).

Purpose  of Life Is to Be Useful

Ralph Waldo Emerson, famous poet, once said:

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

Manny may never heard of  Emerson, but he lives just according to these quotes.

He came from extreme poverty. Now that he has everything in life he still practices that extreme humbleness in his heart. That’s why he is so loved by people in Philippines.

As a philanthropist, he is spending hundreds of thousands of his own dollars to help those in need. Manny returned to Barangay Tango in Glan, Sarangani, the Filipino village where he grew up, to offer free housing to the impoverished people who currently reside there. The project will benefit an estimated 94 families and cost the pugilist over $2 million. The boxer told his constituents that they would be allowed to live for free but that they must help build their own houses. He helped people who lost their homes after floods ravished the Philippines, donating money he earned from his fights. He donates one million pesos to a hospital in GenSan every time he has a fight.

When one of his sparring partners said he was getting married, Pacquiao helped the newlyweds buy a house. When the poor province in which he grew up in the Philippines needed a hospital, he ponied up some of the money for one. When his country had elections, Pacquiao ran twice for and finally won a post in congress. He helped start one program to give cattle to farmers and another to give small motors to fishermen for their boats.

Manny Pacquiao owns a lottery outlet for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, but this isn’t just a regular lottery outlet. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is actually the charity arm of the government, which means that a lot of money that is made from the lottery is put to good use. The money is often reinvested back into public services, such as health care and welfare, and it wouldn’t be as successful without Manny Pacquiao’s name attached to it.

This is just one of the many ways he gives back to his country via charity, as he has also established his Foundation to support underprivileged individuals in the Philippines.

Remember the information from the beginning of the article, regarding the crime rate? Let’s get back to it. Well, when Manny fights, the crime rate goes down, because the entire country watches “” literally. The police in Manila say that crimes drop drastically during his fights, which means that even criminals stop their dirty work to watch. There are also regular squabbles between communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists, but even they put their battles on ice to watch him.

In simpler terms, nearly the entire country of roughly 90.5 million people stops to watch the Pac-Man fight, which is simply astounding.

Whenever he’s got a championship fight, the whole of the Philippines grinds to a halt. Rebels put down their guns, everything stops in the towns and cities as people gather around TVs, radios and in movie houses. But, it’s the same in London: whenever there’s a Manny fight, Filipinos gather in the early evening and spend a sleepless night waiting for him to enter the ring. What Manny means to people is pride.

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Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino world champion professional boxer. At 32 he was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives. He has also been involved in basketball, acting, and is a retired singer. He is the first and only eight-division world champion, in which he has won ten world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. According to Forbes, he was the 14th highest paid athlete in the world as of 2013. Pacquiao’s purse for his May 2 welterweight title bout in Las Vegas against Floyd Mayweather Jr. may reach $120 million.

The post MANNY PACQUIAO: You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Superhero appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Every parent wants to help their children improve their learning abilities. The good news is there are many ways that you can hone intellectual abilities of your children and help them develop their motivation, attention, comprehension, organization, and creativity.

How can you, as a parent, make sure that your child is living up to his or her full potential? What can you do to start developing your child’s learning abilities? Understanding the stages of child development surely helps, but actually being there for your child and actively participating in their upbringing is what will make the biggest impact on their future.

Parents Are Each Child’s First and Favorite Teacher

Parents play a crucial role in providing inputs and activities children need during critical stages of development. It is important that parents become involved in their children’s cognitive skills development by motivating them to exercise, or by taking part in their activities and competitive sports.

There are many ways you, as a parent, can help your child, and here are some suggestions:

• Play sports with them: Many studies have shown that exercises increase energy, improve children’s well being, reduce stress and fatigue, and encourage interconnection of neurons that improve their intellectual abilities. There are many sport games you can choose from; not only will the two of you have fun, but you will also work on honing your child’s intellectual abilities – don’t forget that!
• Music: Psychologists have found that introducing your child to music, from an early age, will help it improve its memory and learning abilities. Deep breathing and therapeutic exercises have shown similar benefits.
• Do whatever is necessary for them to have a good night’s sleep, because it allows their brain and body to recover.
• Play! Children learn through games which increase their brain efficiency. Puzzles, riddles and enigma questions stimulate their creative thinking.
• Draw. Children love drawing because that is how they express themselves. You might not think of this activity as something important, but it is an essential educational tool for them. You can even use our tips to learn how to decode their drawings and help them  adjust themselves to the world easily.

Do Not Underestimate the Importance of Preschool

Remember that the learning environment for your child begins in preschool. Primary and secondary education increase only 25% of your child’s brain capacity. Therefore it is extremely important for a child to have a high quality preschool education.

Intelligence and education have been studied together for a long time. Researchers have found that children’s IQ score is closely connected to the amount of time they generally spend in school. The likely explanation for this finding is that children are being trained to think, answer factual questions, solve problems, and learn specific bodies of knowledge in schools, consequently preparing them to answer questions appearing in IQ tests which are formulated in a similar way.

Isn’t this enough reason to start teaching your child from an early age?

We give you 5 tips that you, as a parent, can use to help your child develop:

1) Watch educational TV programs and cartoons: According to American Academy of Pediatrics, television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2. However, once children come to the preschool age, an hour of television is OK, as long as it is high quality children’s television. When watching TV, children should be allowed to see only educational TV programs and cartoons. Here are some recommended shows: The Backyardigans (Nickelodeon), Super Why (PBS Kids), Bubble Guppies (Nickelodeon), Team Umizoomi (Nickelodeon), Dora The Explorer (Nickelodeon), Between the Lions (Nickelodeon) and etc. You can find more ideas on his list. YouTube also has a plenty of educational videos that are good for your child. Here is an example of a video that can help your child learn their ABCs while simultaneously learning about animals and nature (good for babies, toddlers, infants and preschoolers):

2) Limiting kids’ computer time: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents establish “screen-free” zones in their homes by making sure there are no televisions, computers, or video games in children’s bedrooms, and by turning off the TV during dinner. The way and the amount of time your children spend in front of a computer is important for their proper physical and emotional health. A child should not spend more than an hour a day in front of a screen. Even that can be extensive, if the child is not regularly involved in other daily outdoor and gross motor activities, or associative thinking tasks.

3)  Outdoor games and Nature activities: Preschool children should spend more time playing ball games in nature, or using a jumping rope and rubber band for various group activities. Here is a great link where you can get some ideas about good activities for children ages 0-5.

4) Gross motor activities and balancing games: Children should be involved in as many gross motor activities as possible, such as running, jumping or hopping. Gross motor skills can be learned and improved with practice and children should be given plenty of opportunities to exercise these skills.

PBS Kids proposes an interesting balancing game called Hankie Hop. To play, the first player of each team has to balance a handkerchief on his foot and hop to the finish line and back. Then the following person in line goes next. If a player drops the hankie, he has to start over. The first team to have all players successfully balance the handkerchief wins.

5) Memory learning games: Children demonstrate the ability to recognize complex abstract concepts from an early age, such as car brands or country flags; however, this ability should be further developed through memory learning games and puzzles. Discovering the missing item in a puzzle will be fun for your child while helping them develop reasoning skills. You can go to this website and play memory games with your child for free – it will be fun for both of you. Test each other’s memory and maybe even do a mock competition to see who is better in memory games. You might be surprised how well your child remembers things.

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What do you do to help your child develop? Do you have any suggestions for other parents?

The post 5 TIPS that Can Help Your Child Learn Better appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

We all know that everybody is different, but it’s also important to remember that every body is different. People come in all shapes and sizes and healthy weight varies from person to person. The same goes for children. Children who maintain a healthy weight are often more fit, healthy, self-confident and less likely to have health problems as they get older.

Calculating BMI

BMI (body mass index) is the best way to see if you and your child are at healthy weight for your height and age. To calculate, use one of these great tools online for  adults  [1] and  children.[2] The range you fall under will also tell you if you are in a risk of serious health problems, such are type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. For adults:

• BMI below 18.5 means you may be underweight
• BMI between 18.5-24.9 is a healthy range, meaning you’re at a healthy weight for your height
• BMI of 25 or more means you may be overweight
• BMI of 30 or more is classified as obesity and puts you at risk of health problems

BMI centile is used for children older than 2 years and there are various interpretations of the results. When calculating, doctors typically take into consideration age and gender in order to see if a child is at a healthy weight. It is important to note that, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, healthy BMI range varies depending on the ethnicity as well. Therefore, it is best to consult your doctor when calculating your own and your child’s BMI.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight

Whether your child is overweight or at a healthy weight according to BMI, you still need to make an effort together in order to stay healthy. Here are the five best ways to help your children maintain a healthy weight:[3]

• Encourage exercising: According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, children need at least 60 minutes of exercise each day [4], though not necessarily all at once – to achieve a greater effect, make sure to spread out your child’s activities throughout the day. Activities can include playing ball, riding a bike, walking a dog or playing sports.

• Mind the portion sizes: To avoid overfeeding your child, start with small portions. Children will ask for more if they are still hungry. And if they are full, don’t force them to finish everything on their plates. Eat as a family and enjoy this time together. Having a conversation about your day over dinner will also encourage children to eat slowly.

• Stick to a healthy eating regime: Children should eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day in order to get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals. This can be easily achieved by having cereals with fruit for breakfast, vegetables as an addition to the main course for lunch, a smoothie as a snack, and salad for dinner. It’s important to avert your children from eating high-fat and sugary things like sodas, desserts and candy.

• Promote less screen time and more sleep: Watching television and playing video games means being stationary. Being active is always a better option for children and will also increase the quality of sleep at night. Lack of sleep causes children to be sulky and lowers their focus in school.

• Be a good role model: Children pick up eating habits from the people around them. Make the right eating decisions in your own life to set a good example.

The easiest way to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle is by working towards it together. Work as a family to make the right eating habits and reach healthy weight.

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The good news is that young children have a natural desire to be active. Before they are five years old, kids will already be walking, climbing, and jumping. Kids want to explore the world around them so parents should encourage their children to make activity a daily habit.

It is important to find the right activities for children according to their age. Babies should spend time each day crawling, grasping, and reaching in a contained environment. Once a child is able to walk without assistance, he should spend at least 3 hours per day doing light activity. This could consist of walking around the house or climbing on the playground. Toddlers can also dance or skip rope if they prefer more energetic activity.

Parents should pair exercise with lessons on proper nutrition. After kids finish playing, they should eat healthy snacks like carrots, apple slices, or celery sticks. Doctors recommend that preschoolers eat at least 1.5 cups of fruits and vegetables every day. Children are much more likely to maintain a proper weight if parents also model healthy eating habits.

Youngsters will enjoy activities most when other kids are present. Parents should organize play-dates where kids can engage in group activities. Toddlers will observe their peers and want to learn new abilities. These sessions will build self-esteem and social skills. Kids will also be exposed to different sports and better understand activities they may want to try when they are older. Your son may have a natural ability to throw. Or your daughter may love to kick a ball. The key is to create an environment where children feel safe and encouraged to expand their horizons.

Parents may be tempted to entertain their children with TV or video games. However, the National Association of Sports and Physical Education cautions that preschoolers should not be inactive for more than an hour per day (except when sleeping). Families can stay active by playing together. If it is nighttime, families can build an obstacle course around the house or play sports using foam balls. If families are enjoying a favorite TV program together, they can do jumping jacks or light jogging during commercial breaks. Any activity that gets kids moving will be better than hours of sitting on the couch. In an age consumed by technology, parents need to be creative to foster positive habits in their kids. In the long run, children will be healthier, sleep better, and give their parents some rest of their own.

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DID YOU KNOW that when Shaquille O’Neal was drafted to NBA, he spent the first million he earned within 30 minutes. O’Neal then received a phone call from his banker, who scolded him, and told him that he would end up joining the list of former athletes who ended up broke if he continued with this kind of behavior.

That prompted O’Neal to go back to school and work more on his education.  He  completed his Bachelor degree, followed by his M.B.A, and lastly, his Ed.D. Today Shaquille O’Neal  is Dr. Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaq is also the successful businessman. He is the joint owner of 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants, 17 Auntie Annie’s Pretzels restaurants, 150 car washes, 40 24-hour fitness centers, a shopping center, a movie theater, and several Las Vegas nightclubs. He obtained knowledge and education that helped him protect all that he earned as a basketball player, and that made him a full, independent and intellectually strong person.

This is just one example how sports and education can and must go hand in hand.

The next story is about the basketball club “Sava” from Belgrade, Serbia. They’re connected in a way, you’ll see.  

All matches of the basketball club “žSava” in the category of cadets and juniors have been cancelled until further notice. The reason for this is that a big  number of players have  earned bad grades at school. Matches will be scheduled and played later on, only if they fix them. We are aware of possible consequences this decision might have for our club, but we’re convinced that the academic success of the players is far more important.

This warning on the board at the entrance to the basketball court was not a prank. The coach Milos Ristic was serious in his mission to raise awareness of these young athletes for the importance of education. “Only if you have good grades, you can be in the team, and deserve the status of the top basketball player”, he said.

“Coach, I got a good grade in math! Instead of C, I now have an A“,  speaks a blond boy with a bag over his shoulder, as he enters the club before the training session. There comes another one. He takes off headphones, and politely greets the coach.

His name is Ilija Gunjic. He has all A’s in school and has taken two classes at once. He wants to finish school earlier, in order to enroll in college as soon as possible.There are many other whom we are proud of, like Milos Gvozdenovic, the second best young physicist in Serbia. Other players are doing just fine, as well. It shows school and sports can work together just fine  – says Ristic.

Coaches in the club keep a record  of  all 121 children  who are part of  the  club with detailed reports of their grades, behavior at school, school attendance, absences for the period before the quarter, after and at the end of the school year. They talk to each player about the things they have to learn at school, helping them to be better students. On the other hand, players collaborate among themselves, and function as a team. It is nice to see how older ones advise and help younger players while sitting at lunch, just outside the court after practice. There are no cell phones, no quarrels or conflicts. You can only hear something that has to do with trigonometry, math, geometry”¦ or basketball. Most of the time the kids do their homework at the club, and study together, in groups. This helps them to perform well when they go to school.

But, the education they take care of in this club is not just about fractions. Attention is paid also to proper nutrition, history, biology, life, family, respect, tradition, and music.

“When we heard that our players were listening to folk music in the locker room, we let them be. But, then one of the coaches took them to another room and played them music of Jim Morrison and the Doors. He wanted to show them that there are different types and styles of music, apart from the songs they have listened. We did not want to force them to change their mind. We just wanted to give them the opportunity to learn something new and then make their own choices”.

So what is the whole point of this text? It is to show you that education and sports can, in fact, go hand in hand and supplement one another. Education is as essential for sport, as sport is for education. Sport teaches you many valuable lessons, but paired with education, it gives you the edge to succeed in  life. And isn’t that what we all strive for?  

In the end, it doesn’t matter how much money the basketball player will earn one day, or how popular he will be. More important is to get good education in time, and master various skills that will help you face any future challenges. Even if a talented kid plays one day for the biggest club in the world, and becomes enormously rich without knowledge to support all that, he can easily lose everything. In no time. Education will prevent such things. Education can only help.

In Shaq’s own words:

“It is not about how much money you make. The question is are you educated enough to KEEP it.”

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