by janetedgette | Jul 9, 2017 | Boys and sports, Kids who are afraid to play sports, Kids who don't like sports, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys
Your son is making it very clear that he doesn’t want to play or go to practice. He might be adamant, anxious, even tearful. Saying to him Okay, we’ll pass on it feels too soft and all but promises a repeat performance the next time your son’s supposed to...
by janetedgette | Jul 9, 2017 | Boys and sports, Kids who are afraid to play sports, Kids who don't like sports, Male athletics, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys, Sportsmanship
You’re getting ready to load your son and his gear into the car and notice that he’s gone back into the house for what must be his fifteenth trip to the bathroom. When he comes out, his eyes are red and watery. He tells you that he doesn’t feel well....
by janetedgette | Mar 7, 2017 | Boys, Boys and sports, Bullying, Coaching kids and teens, Kids who are afraid to play sports, Kids who don't like sports, Male athletics, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys, Parent-Child communication, Parenting, Self-esteem, Sportsmanship
You are teaching him… that you respect him, even if you don’t understand his choices. that you will listen closely to what he says and take it at face value. that it pays to speak up. that he doesn’t have to disguise his real feelings in order to gain or...
by janetedgette | Dec 17, 2016 | Boys and sports, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys
Don’t All Boys Like to Play Sports? It’s hard for some people to imagine that sports and physical games don’t appeal to every boy. But as soon as we take into account boys’ unique temperaments, personalities, and physiques, all that variance among...
by janetedgette | Dec 10, 2016 | Boys and sports, Coaching kids and teens, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys, Self-esteem, Sportsmanship
I’ve never been a boy, but boy do I know all about being the last kid picked! I was always non-athletic. (In fact, until very recently, I still described myself as “one of the most non-athletic people you’ll ever meet.”) I wasn’t interested in sports and I wasn’t good...
by janetedgette | Nov 8, 2016 | Boys and sports, Bullying, Masculinity, Nonathletic boys
On a spectacular spring day several years ago, my nine-year-old son, Jake, and I stepped into an elevator following a routine dentist’s appointment, headed for home. Jake, by the way, is one of those boys who doesn’t like sports, isn’t any good at them, and avoids...
