Being a PT/ football coach for a number of years has taught me so much about kids and all they want is your attention.
Working with kids
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They don’t need fancy new toys or the new model bike, phone or Pokémon cards. They just want attention and that is why they feel like they need these new things to get the attention of others.
When I used to coach kids from 18months – 5 years old all they were worried about was showing you their arm that they drew on or the same hat they wear every week. Those kids didn’t care about the $1 pen that they used to draw a tattoo on their arm like me or care about their $10 hat from Kmart. THEY JUST WANTED MY ATTENTION!
Over the years I’ve started working with older kids now from 5yrs-14 years old and most play at an elite level sport but guess what the attention aspect hasn’t changed.
My kids just want to talk to me and see what I am doing. They come talk to me about the most random of things! My little ones follow me around the gym when I was cleaning or training and you know what they wanted to help! YES a 4 year old follows me around cleaning not because it’s the actual task that is fun but they attention they get from me whilst doing it.
Same with my older kids, they love our PT sessions not purely based on the exercise because some sessions are hard and not the best fun as they want to be sick BUT the attention I give them by asking about school today, noticing their new indoor boots, seeing the name on the back of the jersey they are wearing and asking if that is their favourite player or noticing a new hair style. It is all about the attention you give them.
SO this is my advice to anyone out there that kids NEED and I personally believe DESERVE the exact same amount of attention, respect and time as any adult, job role or task anyone does during a day IF NOT MORE!
These are the kids that will shape our future and you have the opportunity to be a role model to them as they will watch and do what you do over what you say.
So if you ignore them and put your head into a phone or work they will do that when they grow up, they will keep their head down in public and ignore others because that’s what they have been shown.
Kids don’t need fancy they need your time.