Physical activity doesn’t stop just because the temperature has dropped. As the air becomes colder, it means winter sports season has arrived. In fact, the Physical Activity Council reports that winter sports are gaining in popularity with a 2% increase from last year. While the most popular winter youth sport is basketball, kids may also take part in ice hockey, skiing, and snowboarding.
Whether you are trading outdoor sports for an indoor ice rink or soccer for skis, your life is not any less busy than it was in the summer. Finding ways to add your kid’s winter sports activities into your already busy schedule can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are several things parents can do to alleviate some of the stress that comes along with extracurricular activities.
Plan Ahead with Calendar Apps
Anytime you add an extracurricular activity to your family’s schedule, you need to review the family calendar. Many families use shared calendar apps, such as Google calendar, to help keep everyone on the same page. With sports, you should note practices and games for each child. A shared family calendar will help you from scheduling too many events or overlapping activities (such as doctor’s appointments on the same day as the big game).
Purchase Proper Safety Gear
The gear your child will need depends on the winter sport he or she is participating in. However, the most important thing is to make sure the gear is purchased ahead of time and meets the safety protocols. This includes making sure the gear fits properly. Do not make the mistake of assuming last season’s gear still fits. Also, during the winter sports season, it is important for kids to dress in layers including winter coats.
Designate a Gear Drop Station
Winter sports gear tends to be bulky and takes up more space than other sports gear. For families, the gear alone can become an overwhelming obstacle. If you do not want the gear cluttering up your home or your children running around at the last minute trying to find the missing skate, you should designate a gear drop space. Make it a rule that all the sports gear is “dropped” in the same spot after each practice and game so that it can be quickly located before the next one. Plus, this keeps the gear from becoming a safety hazard or eyesore.
Make Time for Family Dinners
Kids’ sports can create havoc on your family’s schedule; however, it is still important to make sure you are being intentional about eating healthy. Since you are already busy, take away some of the stress by using a meal planning app such as the Mealime app. These apps will take one more thing off your plate. Along those same lines, be intentional about eating meals together as a family as often as possible. Review your shared calendar and look for the evenings when this is possible.
Find Carpool Solutions
Getting your kids to and from practice and games can be an added challenge, but we’ve got the perfect solution. GoKid has partnered with TeamSnap for the distinct purpose of helping parents find carpool solutions for sports activities. TeamSnap integrates your child’s sports team roster and schedule giving parents access to other parents they know and trust to form easy carpools ensuring kids make it to all their practices and games. What a relief!
What other tips do you have for fellow parents to make their lives easier this winter sports season?
