How To Engage Parents In Your Sport & Physical Activity Message...

As a Sport Activity Leader encouraging children to maintain an active lifestyle is vital. Equally it is best to get the parents on board as with more understanding from home the higher the chances of continuing activities. Fortunately, many parents are very clued up about their children's sport or physical activity. At the same time there are those who have little or no understanding. But how can these parents give guidance on health benefits of sport to your pupils if they don't know this information themselves? 

Since not everyone is always familiar with certain terminologies used in reference to health and physical activity; to engage parents you should also provide generic information about your sport, physical activity and its benefits that it entails. A lot of parents may prefer someone who knows what they are talking about to directly speak to their child. However, this is no reason at all that you cannot involve the parents in the process of communicating your message beyond the sports hall or wherever the sessions are taking place. Admittedly, some parents may see it as your job to this but others will appreciate the information you make available. What ever the case it is good practice.

You can provide a handout after or before each lesson which outlines the following:

(A) Generic term and definition of the activity, technique and/or skill that was performed or practiced in the session.

(B) Brief explanation of why/how/when this particular activity, skill and/or technique is applied.

(C) What are the benefits of the practicing the particular activity, skill and/or technique.

(D) How the parent can help their child practice it with small adaptations.

(E) What social, psychological, physical and technical skills will their child learn?

(F) How will their child's health and fitness improve as a result? 

(G) A personal account of their child's development in the sport or physical activity

(F) Easy and practical ways their child can be supported.

Some of the above can also be constructed as Key Learning points. Alternatively, you could provide a small document which demonstrates the programmes which their child will be taking participating in in the long term. This will give parents a good indication of what is to come ahead and how it relates to their child's health benefits. If you do not have the resources for the latter you could clearly place the information on a notice board for everyone to see. When writing the information avoid using jargon and write it in a way where anyone is able to pick the piece of information up and understand it.

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