UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IS YOUR KID A SUPERSTAR?! Let kids be kids…

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Or are we ‘helicopter parents’? Of course we think the world of our kids. If they are good at academics, we see them in IITs and IIMs and if they are good at sports we see the next ‘Sachins’ and ‘Messis’ coming up soon. There is a thin line between cheering and browbeating the kids. Which side of the line are you on?

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN When winning or losing is all that matters… Sometimes when a game is being played it is difficult to understand from the parent’s attitude whether it is a game or a battle. Often parents end up venting the frustration of their kid losing in a very negative manner, going as far as to humiliate them in front of friends. This leads to disinterest in the particular sport or subject. Does winning matter more to the child or to the parent?!

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN What about simply enjoying the activity? Today a simple game of table tennis assumes war-like proportions for over-ambitious parents. It is all about winning and nothing to do with enjoying the game. We end up emphasizing more on winning than on building self-esteem. No doubt some kids will end up as stars but right now let us give them a chance to grow and use these activities as wonderful opportunities to learn, enjoy and build self-confidence.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN SO WHAT SHOULD ACTIVITIES TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT LIFE? AS A SUPER PARENT HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR CHILD WIN THE GAME OF LIFE? Find a few pointers that you can use to guide your child…

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 1. Attitude is everything Be positive. Set high expectations. Picture yourself a winner. Replace negative thinking with a can-do attitude.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 2. Get in the game Anyone can watch a game, but real winners get off the sidelines and play. Don’t let fear of failure stop you from reaching your full potential.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 3. Winning is as much mental as physical Surround yourself with positive people. Control your emotions. Stay focused and remain disciplined.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 4. Master the fundamentals Practice, practice, practice. When you master the basics, and execute them well, there’s no need to worry about the score. It works like magic.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 5. Few things come easy in life Success is achieved through hard work and determination. If you want something, you have to put your heart into it. It takes many years to become an overnight success.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 6. Always do your best Aim high and never settle for second best. Strive for continuous improvement in everything that you do. As Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning is not everything — but making the effort to win is.” If you try your best, you’ll never have regrets.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 7. Be ready on game day Anyone can talk about playing a good game. What matters is what you do when it counts. There’s no dress rehearsal for life.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 8. Remain flexible and embrace change You can’t control the uncontrollable. So be prepared to expect the unexpected. People get injured. The weather doesn’t always cooperate. The ball won’t always come your way. Go with the flow.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 9. View obstacles as opportunities When barriers get in your way, find a way around them and use them to learn and develop. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Excuses don’t win games.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Know your strengths and the strengths of others You are only one person, so don’t try to win games by yourself. Trust and support your teammates and they’ll place their faith in you. That’s the making of a winning team.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Be a team player Winning takes teamwork. So be prepared to make personal sacrifices for the good of the team.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Keep your perspective Remain calm under pressure. Competition will test your limits. Be calm, strong, and in control when it matters most. When counting to ten doesn’t seem to work, try twenty.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Be a leader Become a good role model. Set high standards of excellence for yourself and others. Make people feel special and help bring out the best in everyone. Now that’s a superstar.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN If you can’t play fair, don’t play Integrity matters. Compete fairly and fully. When you resort to cheating, you’ve already lost.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Quitting is not an option There will be times when things get tough –– and it may even feel as though all is lost. Always keep hope alive and display confidence in the eye of defeat. As Morgan Freeman said, “The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit.”

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Accept responsibility for your actions You’re in the driver’s seat. Only you can decide how hard you’re willing to work to achieve your goals. If you succeed, the rewards are yours. If you fail, there’s always another day.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Learn to forgive Be loyal when the chips are down. Appreciate the special qualities of others, including your opponents. Forgive the mistakes of others. It may be your error that costs the team tomorrow.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Support others in need Real friends are available in good times and bad. So offer your teammates encouragement and support, especially when they have a bad day.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Look to the future rather than the past Don’t dwell on mistakes or past defeats. What’s done is done. Learn from the experience and move on.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Follow directions Listen to your coach and respect the call of a referee even if you disagree.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Compete against yourself Competing against others may be destructive if more effort is spent tearing others down than building yourself up. When you compete against yourself, however, you both win.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Raise your game Find a good role model. Don’t be shy to ask for help. Be open to feedback and put it to good use.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Say “no” to unhealthy behaviour Take care of your body. It’s the only one you’ve got. Abuse your body and pay the price.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Know that losing doesn’t make you a failure Be a good loser. Bounce back after a big loss. That’s the sign of a superstar.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Be a Good Winner Be a winner on and off the field. Be humble and quietly proud but never self- satisfied. And never let success go to your head.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Preparing Kids for the Game of Life Teach your child that success doesn’t come easily. Life is a continuing competition in which excellence wins. Therefore, it’s better to learn how to compete when the consequences are small. So if you aren’t using every opportunity to prepare your child for the game of life, your son or daughter is being cheated out of something very special.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN The bottom line is that kids aren’t born with self-confidence or a positive attitude; kids don’t automatically know how to conquer fear, accept feedback, overcome obstacles, or snatch victory from the jaws of defeat; kids don’t always know what it’s like to come back after failure, be a humble winner, or show grace after a terrible loss. These skills are learned.

UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN A SUPERSTAR IN LIFE! So do your child a favour and teach him or her the winning philosophy of great coaches — because even though it’s great to win the game, it’s even better to be a superstar in life.