| Youth is a time of imagination and play and | | | | is not overdoing it and actually makes the |
| prepares youngsters to manage their lives | | | | sport more enjoyable. |
| more successfully as adults. Most adults see | | | | |
| play time as something less productive, | | | | You as a parent can still shape the |
| however your child needs to act out and | | | | imagination of your child and use football |
| practice the tasks and activities in their | | | | merchandise to do it such as kids football |
| own unique way. Their budding sense of | | | | uniform sets, hats, plastic helmets, shoulder |
| individuality gives them purpose and drive | | | | pads, jerseys, pants, and even funny fan |
| which they wouldn't have if they were a | | | | faces. Your child will only pick up on the |
| carbon copy of other kids. | | | | idea that they're doing something fun and |
| | | | that learning to catch and throw a football |
| Kids need to establish an identity that is | | | | can be a fun activity to do with other kids |
| unique and meaningful in terms of their own | | | | their age. It's not about idolizing players |
| lives yet it still needs to be relevant to | | | | or increasing NFL football team product |
| society and their own peer group. You | | | | sales, it's about giving meaning to a |
| establish the context for their lives and | | | | sporting activity which keeps them healthy |
| it's a unique context, whether you live in | | | | and active. Without this sort of inspiration, |
| Dallas, New York, Miami or Detroit. The | | | | there is little reason to catch or throw a |
| sports your kids play from bicycling, to | | | | football. That is why some people don't watch |
| basketball, baseball or football, creates the | | | | or participate in sports such as football. |
| context for which they'll have time and | | | | There is no context to give it meaning. By |
| opportunity to use their imagination and | | | | introducing big league oversized football to |
| achieve something meaningful, even if it is | | | | your child, they will understand the culture |
| symbolic. Imagination and even spirit doesn't | | | | of the game, its history, the players |
| evolve from nothing. It requires something to | | | | involved, the challenges of playing a team |
| make it happen and make it meaningful. | | | | sport, and an awareness of the world outside |
| Without a football and teams playing the | | | | of your city. |
| sport, there won't be cheering fans and | | | | |
| adoring parents in the bleachers. And with | | | | If dad cheers for a particular team such as |
| people, the context for community and family | | | | the Dallas Cowboys or New England Patriots, |
| spirit is much deeper and complex. For kids, | | | | then his son will be able to share in the |
| identification with sports players is simple | | | | spirit of it. With all these images in his |
| and straightforward and allows them to | | | | head, he is going to be motivated to do well. |
| identify with other inspiring people later in | | | | It's the same for any other activity a child |
| their lives. | | | | takes part in. If their imagination is |
| | | | strong, they are going to learn faster and be |
| Catching a football may not seem too | | | | more successful. It's all in the context the |
| important to most adults but for a boy, it is | | | | parent creates. |
| a test of their physical coordination and | | | | |
| sense of achievement. Their need for | | | | So, rather than a wasteful outburst of |
| confidence demands the development of skills, | | | | physical energy, your child's play time is |
| and for kids, physical coordination and | | | | actually preparing them for a more successful |
| overcoming fear are two big challenges they | | | | adjustment to life. Many parent's first |
| want to successfully achieve. | | | | response to buying a child a baseball cap or |
| | | | a football jersey, is "my child doesn't need |
| If you could view a child's imagination when | | | | it. He'll do fine without." Now you know |
| they catch a football or hit a baseball, | | | | those children that go without don't do as |
| you'd see more than hands receiving a ball or | | | | well, and many end up wanting those football |
| the ball flying through the air. There are an | | | | apparel items too much. Aside from peer |
| additional complex of images such as other | | | | pressure and the need to belong, they just |
| kids present, fans cheering, scoreboards, and | | | | want to feel special and attached to an |
| admiring parents glowing in the glory of | | | | inspiring idea. |
| their big play. So the emotional and mental | | | | |
| aspects of your childs play activities is | | | | The great thing about kids football apparel |
| very important. Without it, these physical | | | | such as jerseys, pants, helmets, and pants |
| skills and the drive to accomplish and | | | | are that they're very inexpensive. Some youth |
| succeed may not be there. Competitiveness has | | | | football uniforms can cost less than $40 and |
| to be kept under reign but if a child can't | | | | some may even double as pajamas and Halloween |
| identify with a reason to succeed, they will | | | | costumes. You can even buy shoulder pads for |
| probably not do as well as other kids with | | | | an extra small amount. The overall value then |
| fuelled imaginations. | | | | is very good with these youth football |
| | | | merchandise. And play time in the backyard or |
| We all frown on materialism or the idea that | | | | just walking to the mall takes on a whole new |
| we need the merchandise from NFL football or | | | | meaning for them when they're wearing their |
| NCAA football teams to provide inspiration to | | | | football jersey or uniform. |
| cheer during football games or any other | | | | |
| sporting event for that matter. Perhaps | | | | It's all just for play, but play and fantasy |
| because of how advertising is done today, | | | | are a very important part of your child's |
| people sense that it's not about the kids, | | | | development. A little outside help in the |
| it's about NFL profits and broadcasters need | | | | form of jerseys, caps, helmets, can go a long |
| for more ad revenue. It kind of sours the | | | | way to helping them learn spirit, team |
| feeling of camaraderie of a community or even | | | | identification, desire to achieve, desire to |
| boys cheering for a particular NFL or NCAA | | | | conform, and yet still build self-confidence |
| football team. You need to look beyond the | | | | and independence. And with their new |
| motivations of corporations and recognize | | | | Halloween costume, they're going to have a |
| that donning your favourite player's number | | | | lot of fun this Hallow's eve. |