TeamSnap Logo
Log inFind My Team
  • Products
    • Organizations logoClubs & Leagues

      For clubs, leagues & associations with multiple teams

      • Sports
      • Features
      • Get a demo
    • Teams logoTeams

      The easiest way to manage a team

      • Sports
      • Features
    • Tournaments logoTournaments

      Build and manage your events in a snap

      • Scheduling
      • Registration
  • Pricing
  • About Us
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Community Impact
    • Off-Season
    • Coaches’ Corner
    • Clubs & Leagues Resources
    • TeamSnap Updates
    • Help Center
    • API Docs
  • For Brands
  • Careers

Find My Team

Sign upLog in
Sign upLog in
BlogGeneral Sports
  • General Sports
  • Health and Safety
  • Coaching
  • Clubs & Leagues
  • Announcements

Aug 08, 2018 • 2 min read

How to Prepare Your Child for a New Year

/images/teamsnap-badge.png
Janis B. Meredith

Posted in:
  • General Sports
  • Sports Parents

As a new school year gets underway, your children may face changes. Do they have a new coach? New school? New teacher? Children react differently to change. One may have no trouble at all while another may have feelings of anxiety or hesitation.

What newness is your child facing this fall? Here are some ways to help them adapt to change:

Look for Sameness

Not everything has to change when there’s a change. Look for things that can stay the same. Keep pre-game or pre-practice routines the same. Keep the morning or afternoon schedule the same.

Validate Your Child’s Disappointment

Your child may grieve because they are leaving something familiar behind and heading into something new. Don’t diminish their emotions, listen to how they feel, and gently remind them of the positives.

Give Your Child a Little Extra Love

Because change can stir up feelings of uncertainty and insecurity, a little extra attention from mom and dad will help your child deal with the stress. Be intentional about spending extra time with your child in the first few weeks of newness.

Look for Ways to Help Your Child Connect

Is your child playing on a new team? Invite one or two teammates over after practice to hang out or have a team cookout at your home.

Talk Through Your Child’s Fears

Your child’s newness may come with new fears and insecurities: Will I make friends? Will I be labeled as dumb or not athletic? Stereotyped because of my size or appearance? What if I fail?

When your child is facing a new situation, it’s time for your parent radar to kick in. Observe your child’s actions, habits, reactions, and unusual behaviors, and ask questions to help them process what they are feeling.

Janis B. Meredith, sports mom and coach’s wife, writes a sports parenting blog called jbmthinks.com. Her new book, 11 Habits for Happy and Positive Sports Parents, is on Amazon.


Download our app

app-storegoogle-play

Share this post


Create Your Team Today!

It’s Free and Free is Good!

Sign Up Your Team!Free and Paid Plans Available
Products
Club or League Administrators
  • Get a demo
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Tournaments
  • FAQs
Coaches or Team Managers
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Tournaments
  • Get Started
Parents or Athletes
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Find My Team
  • Get Started
Sports
Clubs & Leagues
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
Teams
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • +100s more
Resources
  • Blog
  • Coaches’ Corner
  • Return To Play
  • Clubs & Leagues Resource Library
  • Skills & Drills
  • Press Releases
  • TeamSnap Updates
  • TeamSnap Help Center
  • Community
  • Why TeamSnap?
Company
  • About
  • CareersHiring!
  • For Brands
  • Partners
  • TeamSnap API
  • Responsible Disclosure Policy
  • Youth sports team and sports org app Apple App Store Logo
  • Youth sports team and sports org app Google Play Store Logo
  • social-media-facebook
  • social-media-twitter
  • social-pinterest
  • social-instagram
  • social-video-youtube
  • professional-network-linkedin
  • social-tiktok

TeamSnap Footer Logo

Copyright © 2005–2023 TeamSnap, Inc.

  • Sitemap
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy
  • Do not sell my personal information – CA resident only