Don't Break a Sweat: Navigating Youth Sports

With hyper-competitive leagues for kids as young as six years old—and hours of practice even during the off season—youth sports aren’t just fun and games. We talked with Jon Solomon, former sports journalist and editorial director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program, about how families can best navigate this aspect of their kids’ lives. He offers advice for talking with tough coaches and helping your child find balance between athletics and academics. Resources Explore the Healthy Sports Index to learn the benefits and risks of specific sports to help determine the best choice for your child! Use the Project Play Parent Checklists to ask yourself 10 questions that will help ensure your child has positive sports experiences. Discover more about the benefits of free play in our episode, “Recess – is it just for play? Follow Jon Solomon and the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program on Twitter at @JonSolomonAspen and @AspenInstSports Like this episode? Share your thoughts with us via social media @NationalPTA, using #BackpackNotes. Be sure to visit NotesFromTheBackpack.com for more resources from this episode.