W.L. Morse Parent Tips

Teaching Children Sportsmanship
Team sports are great for children.  They provide physical exercise and help build self-esteem and leadership skills.  Sports are competitive and there’s nothing like winning, but it is also important to be a good loser.

Certain character traits must be learned, and good sportsmanship is one of them.  We cannot take it for granted that our kids will learn such traditional values without our help and instruction.  Therefore, we must teach the following sportsmanship essentials.

• Commit yourself to following the rules of the game

• Share in the responsibility of the team

• Play fair

• Follow the coach’s directions, and accept his or her calls

• Respect the players of the other team

• When you lose, shake hands with the winners and congratulate them.

• If you win, be proud of your team’s efforts but don’t gloat.

Being a good sport includes having a positive attitude, empathy and respect for others, setting a good example, and being a leader.  If your child plays sports, model the correct attitude and teach him or her to be gracious.

It’s a no-lose situation!

Discussing Reading with Your Child
The following questions are a good way for parents or teachers to encourage children to discuss what they have been reading.

• What is your purpose in reading the book?

• Do you enjoy reading about that subject?

• How do you predict the book will end? 

• How would you end the story?

• If you do not like the book, will you quit reading or press on?

• What is your opinion about the book? 

• Would you encourage others to read it?

• What are your favorite subjects?

• Who is your favorite author? 

• If you had a choice, would you rather read or have someone read to you?

Charity Begins at Home: Teaching Kids to Give
The holiday season is about giving – not only tangible gifts, but also gifts of spirit, time, and self.

Here are some suggestions to encourage children to become selfless, giving people. 

• Emphasize to your children that kindness and selflessness are valuable traits.

• Give children small jobs around the house so they can earn money to buy gifts for others.

• Model an example of charity.  Children watch their parents for clues about how to behave.

• Ask your children to help prepare and distribute gift baskets for the needy.

• Take your children to visit nursing homes and homebound neighbors and relatives.

• Help your children give.  When you go shopping, allow them to choose and help pay for a gift for the Toys For Tots campaign, or some other organized effort to help the less fortunate.

Charity begins at home, but it doesn’t end there.  It is never too soon for children to learn the value of giving.