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MNHQ

Share your tips on encouraging your children to learn new skills with the England and Wales Cricket Board - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

190 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 03/04/2017 08:26

As we know, children are constantly acquiring new skills and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are now launching their All Stars Cricket initiative, to ensure that children are learning sport and social skills across the UK. To help celebrate this, they’d love to hear your tips on how you encourage your DCs to always be learning new skills.

Here’s what the ECB have to say: ‘All Stars Cricket is a brand new initiative from the England and Wales Cricket Board aimed at providing children aged 5 to 8 with a great first experience in cricket. The programme is delivered across England and Wales at over 1,500 fully accredited All Stars Cricket centres. It is a fun and active way to develop your child’s skills, and through our 8-week programme they will learn lots – as well as make new friends – in a safe and inclusive environment. All girls and boys are welcome, and each registered child will receive a pack of cricket goodies including a cricket bat, ball, backpack, water bottle, personalised shirt and cap to keep so that they can continue their love of cricket when they go home.’

So how do you inspire your DC to start learning a new skill, and make sure they persevere and don’t give up? Do you make sure your kids join teams and group activities where they can be motivated by their peers? Or maybe they’re encouraged to keep trying by you always making sure to attend their events and competitions?

Whatever your techniques for making your kids feel like they can do anything if they keep practicing, share them with ECB in the thread below for your chance to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

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Share your tips on encouraging your children to learn new skills with the England and Wales Cricket Board - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED
Share your tips on encouraging your children to learn new skills with the England and Wales Cricket Board - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED
Share your tips on encouraging your children to learn new skills with the England and Wales Cricket Board - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
AutumnElla · 13/04/2017 22:28

I don't push any new skills or activities on my children. I let them choose what they want to try out and if it turns out they don't like it they don't have to go back. They can do as many or as few activities as they like.

Hopezibah · 13/04/2017 23:06

I think it is important to keep giving children different opportunities in all areas of life - not just sports. Some of the activities and clubs that my kids have stuck with the longest and enjoyed the most have been the things that I would have predicted they would hate - so I was really surprised and it just goes to show that it is important to offer the opportunity and not judge it based on your own views.

when my kids say they 'can't ' do something - I encourage them by telling them that they CAN do it, even if it is not yet - but with practice they will get there.

One of my son's teachers always says the word IMPOSSIBLE is actually I'm Possible and I love that!

Dessallara · 14/04/2017 07:52

Don't be pushy, try to make it fun.

freedomofspeech · 14/04/2017 08:07

I always act like it's not too serious and make it fun, so they don't get bored or give up. Set challenges and games.

zebedee01 · 14/04/2017 10:59

This is actually something I struggle with!
However, I think it is important to give your child lots of praise, tell them how well they are doing and what they are good at. Also, encourage them to do the things they actually enjoy and have a genuine interest in.

windowmouse · 14/04/2017 11:03

Support them and give them confidence to try new things. If they are nervous give them time to adjust.

Lasplin84 · 14/04/2017 13:51

We try activities as a family to see if they enjoy them :)

meggysar · 14/04/2017 16:10

We always make sporting activities a pleasure and never a chore. If they aren't enjoying an activity then we look for an alternative.

mumpetuk1 · 14/04/2017 16:16

We send ours to the local sports camp in the holidays and they always come back enthusiastic about new sports games and skills

katieskatie82 · 14/04/2017 20:51

My ds has just joined our local junior football team. All his friends play for the team as well. Lots of praise and encouragement goes a long way. Praise and encouragement even if they don't win as well!

Gill81uk · 14/04/2017 21:03

I listen to them and try and pick up on what might interest them. I give my son and daughter the same opportunities and let them try anything and everything to see if they enjoy it. I've been fortunate that they have really enjoyed everything they've tried so far but if they really disliked it and I felt they'd given it a good go then I wouldn't force them to continue. I think it's great for them to attend clubs away from school so that they make a new bunch of friends and broaden their circles.

clareycat · 14/04/2017 22:44

My DD is obsessed with jigsaws at the moment and is learning so much by doing them i.e. observation and problem solving. Our local library loans out jigsaws so we are visiting every week to get new ones to keep her interested.

Unescorted · 14/04/2017 22:56

Spend time with them. Give them the tools to do what they like doing. Support them and allow them to fail in a safe and supportive environment. Don't expect anything and be amazed by their talent. I can assure you you will be amazed by what they can achieve when they are doing what they like.

jamielmdjs · 15/04/2017 00:02

playgroups and clubs help as a great place to try new things. when we go on days out, we always try to have an element of trying new things in the activities we choose

user1472646069 · 15/04/2017 07:56

Giving children lots of different experiences in a fun way is so important. Different size balls, rackets and bats or when they are younger balloons indoors to play with. Anything with balls helps later with all kinds of sports. Running is also so important for all sports.

Emmamaryd · 15/04/2017 09:33

Just encourage them to take an interest. Definitely don't push them. Positive attitude is v important.

adjogl · 15/04/2017 10:14

I always find the best way is to just leave new things available, don't even mention them, this sparks their curiosity. Hopefully they come and ask how to use them and then their already excited to try!

RhubarbAndMustard · 15/04/2017 11:34

I've just signed my son up to this! It's great value and I hope to be a good introduction for him. He loves dancing so we encourage him to do that - he has a street dance class every week- and last year he tried a week long tennis course in the school holidays. I think it's important to give children a taster of different sports and then let them decide what they want to continue.

Jocelynne123 · 15/04/2017 12:03

I have never forced her to do an activity she doesn't want to do. I find that letting her go with a friend has always helped. We also discuss responsibility. If you are part of a team you can't let the team down xx

KatherinaMinola · 15/04/2017 14:32

I'm sure someone else has said this in seven pages of comments, but it might be more encouraging if one of the pictures showed a girl centre-stage (rather than boys in each case).

That would be my advice to All Stars Cricket - market the sport equally to girls and boys.

ElizaW922 · 15/04/2017 14:45

I'm always supportive of them wanting to try new things, but I don't make them feel pressured to win. I don't want them to feel failures if they try something and aren't the best.

ha2el · 15/04/2017 15:51

Children are easily motivated by enthusiasm. We are constantly enthusiastic about new experiences and also introduce the children to people who are taking part in new things and who are enjoying it.

molly57 · 15/04/2017 17:12

Encourage them to follow people they like as long as what they do is healthy.

clarabella12 · 15/04/2017 17:51

we do alot of it as a family, visiting trampoline parks and adventure zones together, if they see mum doing it they're more than happy to show they can do it too.

natholland82 · 15/04/2017 18:34

My son is a keen runner. I used to be as a child too...but I gave up. Then as an adult, I started again and within 18 months, ran several 10ks, two half marathons and a marathon in 3hrs 50, (I know, even new runners quickly get obsessed with their times!) :).
I try and instill in him the belief that you really can do whatever you put your mind to, you just have to dedicate yourself to it and keep going, even when there is a massive temptation to give in.

I often go running at 6am in the morning and the other day he joined me - not running, because that would be too far at his stage - but he came on his scooter.

I think if habits can be formed at a young age, they can stick - and that includes being focused and motivated towards a goal.

I didn't really have that much direction when I was a child, I was supported, but not necessarily encouraged to stick with things and didn't see that in what my parents were doing.
I think if you're a role model to your kids - they see what you are doing and they want to copy you!
So, first and foremost... if you want to see your kids to be passionate and interested in things, then demonstrate that you are passionate about things too and that you can achieve great things.